Cynicism at Its Best

I Never Read Those Things

2011-12-07T22:10:00.003-06:00

Just noticed MSN has Hot Guys Doing Horoscopes… hilarious! Clicked on it, of course. Hope that blonde guy is always going my Leo. RAWR!

The Proverbial Calm

2011-08-27T15:22:00.004-05:00

There's been some rain but mostly today it's overcast but bright out. Currently some birds are singing. Hard to believe what's just south of me.

The reporters out on the front lines are pretty brave. Most are being fairly objective considering. There's still that line between warning http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifand sensationalization. One reporter in Virginia Beach got tongue-tied which this flasher made a well-timed appearance in…

The worst for me will be tomorrow morning. See how long the power holds out…

Irene, She is a Comin!

2011-08-26T15:18:00.002-05:00

Periodically checking in on CNN's live report and taking in the ExxonMobil advertisements. I guess it's been a decade since Bob visited so there's some anxiety in the air. Local supermarket was packed and most of the gallon+ water containers were gone. Buses and trains shut down tomorrow at noon with taxis going until the Mayor says stop.

Have most of the basic supplies lined up. Found the local hurricane information online. Looks like the area evacuation center is a high school a few blocks away. I'm pretty far into north Brooklyn so I don't expect much, thankfully. Apparently some of the high risk areas have mandatory evacuations declared.

Currently the storm is a Category 2 though it's expected to be a Category 1 once it makes landfall south of the state. See what happens in the next twenty-four hours.

Should check on some of the fundamentalists. I'm willing to bet they attribute the earthquake earlier this week and the Irene's impending visit to the Marriage Equality Act…

Sebastian (When Everybody Knows) (1995)

2011-08-25T19:09:00.002-05:00

Vänskap eller kärlek? (Swedish: Friendship or love?)

When 16-year-old Sebastian (Hampus Björck) plants a kiss on his best friend, Ulf (Nicolai Cleve Broch), he surprises himself almost as much as he does his pal -- an experience that ignites a spark in Sebastian he didn't even know existed. Now, pining for Ulf and worrying about how his friends and family will react to the news of his sexual orientation, Sebastian fails to see that he's his own harshest judge.

UR | 88 minutes | This movie is: Feel-good | Swedish
© Nexflix

1 to 10? 7 | Tears? No | Gay? Endearing | LOL? Amusing | See-Thru Plot? Obvious | Worth a DVD? No

Most Favorite Moment: Head down and crying continuously, Sebastian's mother claims, "I'm not crying." (41:43)
Least Favorite Moment: Angsty and misunderstood, Sebastian exclaims to the parents, "I had no idea you were so damn stupid!" (20:57)

I'm guessing this was some sort of made-for-TV movie for Swedish peoples as it's pretty uninspired. Very little actually happens where there was potential. Yet it's fun and fluffy and novel for being sixteen years old. Plus it's in Swedish! And there were waffles…

Netflix | IMDB

The Sum of Us (1994)

2011-08-21T18:31:00.005-05:00

Not your typical father and son story.

In this Australian comedy based on David Stevens's stage play, Jeff (Russell Crowe) is a young gay man living with his widowed father, Harry (Jack Thompson). Although Harry has always accepted the fact that his son is openly gay, his acceptance is challenged. Jeff brings home a potential lover one night, and in turn, when Harry gets involved with Joyce, a divorcée he met through a dating service, she and Jeff can't see eye-to-eye.

R | 99 minutes | This movie is: Emotional, Heartfelt
© Nexflix

1 to 10? 9 | Tears? Moist | Gay? Endearing | LOL? Amusing | See-Thru Plot? Obvious | Worth a DVD? Yes

Most Favorite Moment: Russell Crowe's character throwing his arms out, asking for his father's approval with, "How do I look, god's gift?" (17:10)
Least Favorite Moment: Jeff's heart attack after Joyce drives off hurt and angry was obvious and over-theatrical. (1:11:22)

At some point I think my sister recommended this movie to me though I never got around to seeing it. She is a huge Russell Crowe so her bias might have let it slip my mind. Shame on me! While it was novel to see Crowe kissing another guy there was a lot here. Excellent adaptation of a theatrical production.

Netflix | IMDB

All She's Got?

2011-02-02T22:41:00.003-06:00

Google is featuring some thing on their page… Museums of the World - now introducing the Art Project, powered by Google. Yet when I clicked it, Google power seemed weak:

Letters Home from an American Expatriate in Cancerland

2011-01-06T17:40:00.000-06:00

Peter Freundlich, former news writer for Anderson Cooper, died last month after struggling with esophageal cancer. He left behind a blog he called Esoph's Fables. I strive for his level of eloquence and pith.

Umbrella

2010-12-12T12:29:00.001-06:00

This isn't snow, it's rain! Nature fails.

Hint Hint!

2010-10-21T22:40:00.000-05:00

On the side of a bus: Your roommate is dating the flu.

Bonding with the T-Virus

2010-09-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

Ugh. Processing a bit of a hang-over so I'm making this Resident Evil Day. Going to watch all three movies in anticipation of Afterlife coming out this Friday.

Missed

2010-07-23T12:40:00.000-05:00

On the train today four French-speaking tourists got on and sat nearby. I love listening to French… nothing like native speakers to remind me how poorly I speak it. They were rattling on as if no one around could understand them—mostly true. They were annoyed with the weather and hoping to find Times Square. I almost spoke up.

Unfortunately I remember the polite but pained expressions of my friends from Lausanne when I butchered their language. Plus the guy sitting next to me was way too cute (dark features with pale blue eyes!!). So I sat there with a bemused expression on my face while picking out snatches of meaning from their prattle.

My courage finally peaked a few seconds after I got off the train. *sigh* Won't let that happen again! Next time, cute or not, I will frighten tourists with my boldness and poor ability to communicate.

Failure?

2010-07-11T17:54:00.001-05:00

Was really excited when I inadvertently saw some of the scene's from M. Night Shyamalan's Avatar: The Last Airbender. Really enjoyed all three “Books” from Nickelodeon so I was dubious about seeing them being somehow manipulated/condensed into a movie. Just now glanced over a critic collection from iVillage entitled “Is 'Last Airbender' the Worst Movie of All Time?” *sigh* Might still catch it in the theaters this week, but maybe I'll save my disappointment for DVD.

Not Exactly a PSA

2010-07-06T14:26:00.002-05:00

Walking around in Chelsea I saw a three ads for ManHunt today and the third made me laugh. Someone had written “Cock Commando” atop the ripped Latin guy who was holding up his shirt, showing off impossible abs. I found the homophobic inscription amusingly redundant—like saying Soccer is gay.

It's funny these ads were posted at all. Like any gay man in Manhattan needs to be reminded that ManHunt is out there. And we all know hooking up with that poster boy would involve money and/or an STD. Love this city.

Missed Snapshot

2010-06-29T13:19:00.000-05:00

Getting off at 6th Ave stop on the L line I noticed an HRC bumper sticker had been stuck to the ground next to some benches. For whatever reason, that really struck me. That the events, fanfare and Parade from the weekend were done yet continued to have an effect. Almost stopped to take a shot with my iPhone but the lighting was horrible. And the image I wanted to capture wouldn't have been possible to frame with all the people anyway. Still… a good moment.

Californians to vote on legal weed

2010-03-25T13:04:00.001-05:00

Californians to vote on legal weed
By Aaron Smith, CNNMoney.com staff writer, March 25, 2010: 1:25 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- It's official: Californians will decide whether legal marijuana should be used to plug the state's $20 billion budget gap.

California residents are expected to vote this year on whether legalization should be approved to raise nearly $1.4 billion in state revenue. That's based on an estimate from the State Board of Equalization, a tax administration agency.

"It would be another source of revenue for the state," said Anita Gore, spokeswoman for the board. The board has not issued an opinion on legalization as a means of easing the state's budget crisis, she added.

California Secretary Debra Brown confirmed on Wednesday that enough signatures had been collected to put AB 390, a marijuana legalization bill, on the ballot for Nov. 2. A press release from the secretary said that legalization proponents submitted 694,248 petition signatures for the bill, easily surpassing the required 433,791.

Unlike prior legislation that has passed in California and other states, this form of legalization is not restricted to medicinal use of marijuana.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, proposes that marijuana be regulated and taxed in a similar way to alcohol.

According to the bill, people would have to be 21 years or older "to possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use." Californians would not be permitted to use the drug in public or within the presence of minors, and would not be allowed to possess it on school grounds.

Most importantly, as far as the budget gap is concerned, the bill stipulates that the drug would be subject to a sales tax. An additional retail fee of $50 would be imposed on every ounce that's sold.

The State Board of Equalization estimates that the state could raise $1.382 billion in annual tax revenues from legal marijuana. The figure is based on estimated revenue of $990 million from the retail fees and $392 million from sales taxes.

"With the state in the midst of an historic economic crisis, the move towards regulating and taxing marijuana is simply common sense," Ammiano said in a press release when he first proposed the bill last year.

Ammiano was not immediately available for comment.

AWESOME! Hopefully this will distract the fundamentalists enough to let me and my fellow deviants sneak in a few civil rights.

I'm really not a marijuana advocate. Yet it seems to me that decriminalization will bring more realistic oversight. It's the first step in responsible monitoring … through real, legal avenues instead of back alleys. If nothing else, it will help the economy. The AP reported this and it's been carried everywhere, but I grabbed CNNMoney's version to illustrate that point.

Adopted

2010-03-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

H.R. 3590 passes 219 to 212. On to Reconciliation. Oh boy. I wonder if any Republican's speech will fail to mention abortion.

Please Heed the Gavel

2010-03-21T18:25:00.002-05:00

Whoa. Something about me has changed. Just got home after a date with AndrewFashion and the first thing I did was bring up C-SPAN to watch the health care debate. It is exciting though. For instance, Barny Frank (D-Massachusetts) claims the GOP stands for "Grandstand Oppose Postpone." Good stuff.

The Fountain (2006)

2010-03-18T21:37:00.003-05:00

The Fountain (2006) [PG-13] <**/***>

In this sci-fi drama that spans a millennium, a man (Hugh Jackman) searches for a tree believed to grant eternal life in 16th-century Spain; seeks a cure for his wife's (Rachel Weisz) cancer as a present-day scientist; and traverses the universe as a 26th-century astronaut. As he travels through time in an epic struggle to save the woman he loves, he also comes to understand some of life's murkiest mysteries.

Genre: Sci-Fi Dramas, Romantic Dramas
This movie is: Romantic, Mind-bending, Emotional, Cerebral

Netflix has been pretty good about making related suggestions but this was the first big fail. This movie has horrible, horrible. After about an hour I had to stop it to end the pain. For whatever reason, I finished it the next day. It tries to be a lot more than it accomplishes.

Two reasons it isn't a single star. First there was some chemistry between Wolverine and the Weisz chick. Could feel for them. Second was the cinematography and special effects. Despite the boredom and confusion, there were many lush moments to sit back and enjoy. Other than these two redeeming characteristics it was a waste of celluloid.

Falling On My Head Like a Memory

2010-03-13T12:55:00.000-06:00

Funny how poorly New Yorkers deal with rain.

I remember being in Trader Joe's one rainy day where the line was one tenth what it normally is. The cashier said that most people stay out of inclement weather. Since I enjoy being out in it I hadn't made the connection. Yet I see it everywhere now.

Vitesse!

2010-03-08T20:45:00.000-06:00

The pace of this city still surprises me. Was reading an interview with Renzo Rosso, owner of Diesel, last month where he was talking about shaking things up. The next day I noticed his new ads on bill boards, sides of busses, et cetera. Yet walking around last week they were all gone. The only place I saw them was at the actual store on 14th. Crazy.

The Internet is More Than Pr0n

2010-03-04T13:29:00.002-06:00

My inner geek just exploded:

Search the PopSci Archives
We've partnered with Google to offer our entire 137-year archive for free browsing. Each issue appears just as it did at its original time of publication, complete with period advertisements. It's an amazing resource that beautifully encapsulates our ongoing fascination with the future, and science and technology's incredible potential to improve our lives. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Ten Common but Easily Corrected Errors

2010-02-26T08:38:00.005-06:00

Ten Common but Easily Corrected Errors

by Tina Blue, January 4, 2001

1. ALL RIGHT vs. ALRIGHT

It is not all right to use "alright." In fact, you might even say it is "alwrong," and that if you make this error you are "alwet."

2. A LOT vs. ALOT vs. ALLOT

A lot of people make the mistake of writing alot when they mean a lot. Try not to be one of those people, because "alot" is not a word. There is, however, such a word as "allot," as in this sentence: I will allot you each twenty tickets to sell.

3. ALL TOGETHER vs. ALTOGETHER

Which you choose will depend on what you mean:
She just wanted to get the group all together on one side of the room to have their picture taken, but her tone of voice was altogether too bossy and self-important, so everyone ignored her.

4. AMOUNT vs. NUMBER

Detergent comes in amounts. People come in numbers. Don't talk about a large amount of people, or books, or pencils, or anything else that can be counted. If something is measured rather than counted, then it comes in amounts. There is a large amount of snow on the ground, but there are a large number of trees in the forest.

Similarly, things that are numbered must be described as being more or fewer, not more or less.

~Correct: There are fewer people in Kansas than in Pennsylvania.
~Incorrect: There are less people in Kansas than in Pennsylvania.

5. DUE TO

Due to is properly used only after a linking verb.

~Correct : Her high fever was due to a strep infection.
~Incorrect : Due to a strep infection, she had a high fever.
~Incorrect: She had a high fever due to a strep infection.

6. EQUALLY AS

The phrase equally as is redundant. Use one or the other but not both.

~Margaret and Louise were equally responsible.
~Margaret was as responsible as Louise.
~This rule is as valid as the other.
~These two rules are equally valid.

7. EVERY DAY vs. EVERYDAY

Everyday is an adjective, meaning "ordinary" or "commonplace," as in "everyday people" or "everyday occurrence."

Every day is an adverbial phrase identifying how often something takes place: You seem to get up on the wrong side of the bed every day.

8. FROM WHENCE vs. WHENCE

Whence means "from where." Therefore, from whence is a redundancy, meaning "from from where."

~Correct: Send him back whence he came.
~Incorrect: Send him back from whence he came.

9. IRREGARDLESS vs. REGARDLESS

Simply put, irregardless is not a word. It is a blend of regardless and irrespective of.

~Regardless of what he meant to say, the effect of his careless remark was to hurt a child's feelings.

10. PORE OVER vs. POUR OVER

When you intently study a book, you pore over it. If you pour over it, you are going to have a soggy book

Word: Polymath

2010-02-24T13:06:00.000-06:00

A polymath (Greek polymathēs, πολυμαθής, "having learned much") is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath (or polymathic person) may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable. Most ancient scientists were polymaths by today's standards. (Wikipedia)

Came across this word on the new Doctor Who series of all places. In Season 2, Episode 2, Tooth and Claw Queen Victoria claimed her friend Lord Robert was a polymath.

Another Way of Putting It

2010-02-24T12:52:00.002-06:00

Jim Rohn said, “Success is something you attract by the person you become – its not something you persue – its something you attract by becoming an attractive person.” And Zig Ziglar, “You Can Only Get What You Want, If You Help Enough Other People Get What They Want.”

Get Out

2010-02-11T11:28:00.001-06:00

I was heading downstairs to the machines after some cardio when a knot of oldsters made me take a hard right through equipment. Thought it was odd since the classes were usually upstairs. Was adjusting the lat machine when a Bally person came up to me. I pulled my earplugs out to hear her say they were evacuating the bottom floor. Then I could smell the smoke.

Upstairs I could see the fire truck so I went up to the doors. A yellow police ribbon started at the corner of the building and encompassed the Radio Shack next door. Then there was a fuchsia HazMat ribbon around the man hole cover where smoke was coming out. Nice.

Was surveying one or two of the fit guys waiting beside me when they announced the whole building was being evacuated. I had my wallet on me but my coat and keys were in the locker room downstairs. I went up to the reception desk asking if I could retrieve them, rushing down after getting a nod. There were a bunch of men still in there changing but I didn't feel like trying.

So the day after the biggest blizzard I've seen in a couple of years I'm walking around downtown, sweaty, nasty, and in gym clothes. Didn't feel self-conscious at all. Love this city!

Resistance is Futile

2010-01-14T11:37:00.001-06:00

So yeah. Despite agreeing with my friend Eric that Star Trek Online doesn't look complete I'm installing the Open Beta as I type this. I let the 8gb download run overnight after pre-ordering from Amazon around 1am. At least I can blame being up too late on this decision. Was going to go with Gamestop's flavor to get the original Constitution Class starship, but Amazon's Borg First Officer edged out my sense of nostalgia.

Not really sure what changed my mind; been able to ignore everything about this until yesterday. The game concept does sound fun with a combination of FPS ground scenarios and 3D ship combat. Yet I was excited about this years ago. And with how many times the code and license has been handed off, I'm fairly certain the content and implementation will fall short of my stellar expectations.

Despite my reservations, I feel like I can contribute my $150 or so to the experiment. More than three decades of being a Star Trek fanboy demands it.

Blending In

2009-12-28T23:35:00.004-06:00

Was crossing the street to a Starbucks when a slow-ass rickshaw almost ran me over. After it passed there was a flood of people coming at me so I puffed up and charged forward. It's really hard to miss me so the first three people gave way. Then some couple holding hands decide to continue their hand-lock despite me slicing directly between them with no where else to go. Now separated I hear the bitch call after me, something like, "Thanks a lot, moron." I don't acknowledge it outwardly, but inwardly I'm thinking, "Take your lovers shit somewhere else. Welcome to the streets of New York."

Definitely more comfortable here now.

Indeed

2009-12-27T15:06:00.000-06:00

On the train home from the gym I came to a conclusion. After many years of vacillation, review, and comparisons, I prefer The Crystal Method over The Chemical Brothers.

Dark and Brooding Always Wins

2009-11-17T09:56:00.000-06:00

Not sure how much I like John Mayer. Still confuse him with Jason Mraz. Mayer sure does look good on today's new album and in the Who Says video. Guess I don't listen to either enough.

Bigger Brother

2009-08-03T21:55:00.001-05:00

Got the anticipated letter from the State Department today. They want five additional pieces of identification from an approved list within ninety days or I will receive neither my passport nor my application fees. Further, they want me to complete a worksheet that involves listing family members, prior places of employ, previous residences, and schools attended. In a word, I was livid. Thankfully there was no phone number to call because I would have not been pleasant.

While I understand we're on permanent Orange Threat it still feels like harassment. I submitted the exact documents they requested. Further, I will use the same documents I provided them with already to acquire these additional documents. It feels like their gathering additional information about me, wanting me thoroughly tagged before releasing me from the country.

Not sure if I have any avenues of appeal, but I've got the time to find out.

No One Else Around

2009-05-19T11:13:00.000-05:00

Paid extra for some vibrant flowers while picking up groceries. Normally carnations are enough but these caught my eye. The checker made the usual assumption, saying something like, “Those will make someone happy.” Yeah. Me.

Working as Intended

2009-04-21T20:48:00.000-05:00

Normally I can eat a little over a pound of chicken in the evening when I'm doing the no-carb thing yet today I was filled up on half that. In fact, I've noticed that when I'm more active my appetite is much lighter. For instance, during my very busy Saturday in New York I ate half a sandwich for lunch then the other half for dinner and nothing else that day. In Seattle on my last day I ate dinner with John then didn't eat again until dinner the next day.

I'm thinking that is normal but it sure seems unfair. Having a higher appetite when indolent combined with the lack of metabolism means fatness. Definitely unfair. Something to fight.

Damn Technology

2009-03-17T14:23:00.000-05:00

Love the little USB drives for archiving the endless digital detritus I accumulate. Been doing a lot of scanning/purging so figured I should pick up a new one. I ordered a Western Digital 400gb from Buy.com last week and it arrived today. Naturally there's an ad from Buy.com today for a 650gb drive for $2 less. *sigh* Normally I'll just shrug it off but this one bugged me. Got an RMA number for the 400gb then placed an order for the 650gb.

Queen of Mean

2009-03-15T11:42:00.000-05:00

Lisa Lampanelli is going to be here in May. Tim introduced me to her… she's totally trashy, racist, and sarcastic. A guilty pleasure I will be indulging in.

Like Clouds

2009-03-08T13:00:00.001-05:00

Would occasionally catch parts of Lady Gaga's various videos at the club but it wasn't until this weekend that I had a chance to watch all of them. Wow. Granted having near naked men in all of them creates some of the allure. Yet the choreography and visual impact (costumes, props, make-up, et cetera) are more compelling. My favorite is Poker Face… the way it starts with her coming out of the pool in that skin-tight body suit. *str8 shivers* Heard some chick at the club saying that Gaga's songs have another six months of play before being gone for good. Sure it's fluff, but I hope not. I need fluff.

Not Bitter!

2009-02-13T09:32:00.001-06:00

Decided not to wait until tomorrow. *smirk*

Sources

2009-02-10T12:06:00.000-06:00

So over at my place some cute guy sticks his hand up my shirt and suddenly my life is back on track. Eating better, back at the gym, cleaning up the apartment, et cetera. *rolls eyes* Wish I could find motivation on my own.

Not Even for Madonna

2009-02-05T14:39:00.003-06:00

Got an announcement that Center Ringside seats are now available for Britney's show. Apparently it's right in the middle of all the action. They're going for, in pairs only, $550 each. I think not.

Accutron by Bulova

2009-02-02T14:59:00.003-06:00

Up until the last three or four years I've been horrible with watches. I'd always leave them somewhere; even that beloved Databank I had in High School was misplaced before the battery needed replacing. Been buying Fossil watches exclusively for more than a decade now since they're relatively trendy while under $100.

Standing in line at Target last week I was behind this delicious guy. Though put together well, I was struck by how his spendy watch was the perfect accent. I'm now up three so I figure the fourth could be something a bit more elegant:

UPS says it will be here on Wednesday. Looking at this image now I think the diamonds are a bit ostentatious, yet they contrast the bold simplicity of the face nicely.

Better not lose this one.

Heh

2009-01-29T10:41:00.001-06:00

The weird guy in the cubicle across from me just told someone on the phone, “It's wide, but it's short.” Proud of my self for not laughing out loud.

Breaking the Chains

2009-01-26T11:04:00.000-06:00

Images of Star Trek Online continue to trickle out. With all the drama around Perpetual then Cryptic I remain unconvinced it will ever see the light of day. And actually, I sorta hope it doesn't. EverQuest and World of Warcraft claim an inordinate chunk of my life. It was difficult to avoid Star Wars, the comic Heroes things, and Conan but I did. If I can manage to stay out of a Star Trek MMORPG then I can truly make WoW my last. We shall see.

Ready to Restart

2009-01-25T23:15:00.003-06:00

Andrew texted me about doing some clubbing then turned out to be busy Friday night. Then I didn't feel like going out Saturday night. Still, a nice weekend despite sobriety. *snicker* The hilite outside of the gaming world was muffins.

I love bran muffins though I detest things with baked fruit in them. Every bakery in existence is hell-bent on throwing in raisins or dates in so I have to make my own. Last week I did find a premade mix yet there was the unmistakable fruity aftertaste—cherry I think. So I found a decent recipe and picked up everything I was missing on Saturday night.

Classic Bran Muffins

1½ cups wheat bran
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2/3 cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
~~½ cup raisins~~

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
Mix together wheat bran and buttermilk; let stand for 10 minutes.
Beat together oil, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to buttermilk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into buttermilk mixture, until just blended. Fold in raisins and spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool and enjoy!

Got around to making them tonight and they turned out rather well. I was worried that most recipes depend on the fruit to keep things moist so I went a little over on the oil and buttermilk. Have to admit it was also fun baking again. Need to get some bread going. Just have to be cautious. With no one else around to eat this stuff I'll have to take them into work.

Many Years Ago

2009-01-23T14:35:00.001-06:00

My Duncan Sheik ticket arrived in the mail last night. I really don't like General Admission shows but I've never seen him live. Plus $20 was nothing after pissing away $300 on tickets for Britney. Well, after facility charge, convenience charge, conversion charge, and order processing it was $32. Heh.

His self-titled album was incredible, setting the bar for me. Somehow I'd missed the release of Humming so I bought it along with Phantom Moon in 2002—much to my dismay. While his vocal timbre was still consistently enthralling, I found his later ballads roaming and pedantic. Couldn't avoid hearing the Gabriel & Dresden remix of “On a High” at the club, yet I never thought to listen to Daylight. Haven't heard anything from White Limousine.

Listening to the three new tracks stream from his website it seems nothing has changed. There's even an air of empty pretense to the composition. Yet I still like his voice. And that Holly Brook chick harmonizes with him very well. So it's worth checking out live. Plus he's still attractive despite all the facial hair. Not sure if I'll bother with the album though.

This Moment

2009-01-20T10:33:00.000-06:00

Listening to NPR's coverage of the inauguration and I'm embarrassed for my country. One interviewer observed that about 98% of the visible crowd is African American. They also mentioned that all of the statues in the Mall are of white men except for MLK which took a special act to have placed. All these happy observations are making me crazy. I'm sure the rest of the modern world is like, “Finally catching up, eh?” I wonder what the defining moments were that took America away from the diversity it was purportedly founded upon.

Fickle

2009-01-18T13:58:00.002-06:00

This morning the snow was coming down pretty fiercely then by Noon the sun was out, melting some of the roads clear. Now it's snowing again. Going to be deadly out there. Wish it would make up its mind.

Kahn Gone

2009-01-15T11:08:00.001-06:00

Just read that Ricardo Mantalban died yesterday morning. *sigh* All of these Star Trek celebrities departing really make me feel the mortality. Even fantasy characters are not immune.

A Weapon of Massive Consumption

2009-01-13T14:21:00.001-06:00

This new Lily Allen song won't leave me alone. Why am I such a sucker for the mainstream? *ugh* Oh well. Will have to pick up the album next month. Or maybe look for a torrent of the advance.

Working from Home

2009-01-13T11:31:00.000-06:00

In the last hour the temperature has gone from -18°F (-28°C) to -14°F (-26°C). I gave up trying to chip the ice out of wheel well as my ears were burning with cold. The two people on my team that actually did make it into work are wishing they hadn't bothered now. *snicker*

Today is definitely a Two Martini Lunch Day.

Must Have!

2009-01-04T12:22:00.005-06:00

I need this shirt and it's completely out of stock. Bastard consumers!

Frosty

2008-12-22T09:30:00.000-06:00

I didn't drive all weekend and considered working from home this morning. There were three accidents on my eight miles into work this morning plus a few times when I thought I would be the fourth. Thankfully I was up early to hit the post office for last minute mailings so there weren't too many people on the road yet.

While I do the love the cold, it sure came early this year. Walked outside last evening for a few minutes without a sufficient head covering so the snot in my nose started to crystallize. And this morning I had to scrape the inside of my windows… I'm guessing the moisture from my breath had frosted them. Might need to find somewhere else to be next winter. *snicker*

Not a Scab

2008-12-10T11:29:00.002-06:00

While I think the whole ‘Day Without Gays’ is a fun idea it really doesn't work for me. Facing a deadline it would only get me behind and negatively impact the team. Disappearing for a day right now would be more selfish than awareness raising. Instead of a passive protester, every day I am an active reminder by being out at work and unafraid of answering questions or making observations.

Saucy

2008-12-05T16:48:00.001-06:00

A data relationship management bug is causing my previously-working code to break. Checked with Russ about it in the morning then he wandered by this afternoon:

Russ: Was wondering if I can help you with your Relationships problem.
Sean: NO. But thanks.
Russ: Well I thought…
Sean: I've been dating men for over thirteen years now. It's great that you're married and family life suits you. And while I appreciate the concern, I really don't know what you can do.
Russ: …

All that rolled off my tongue so smoothly it was amusing to watch his stunned face processing. Earlier in the day my cubicle neighbor got observant via IM:

Jeff : odd so very odd . . . how is it you actually function in this world?
Sean: DENIAL, ALCOHOL, AND OCCASIONAL SEX WITH OTHERS.
Jeff : and I am guessing the alcohol helps with the others?
Sean: REQUIRED

Maybe I should go drinking tonight. After all, it is the 75^th anniversary of the end of prohibition.

Make Our Clothes, Fix Our Hair

2008-12-04T10:51:00.000-06:00

Wow. No one can escape Prop 8 — The Musical as it works social viral magic, from Facebook to MSNBC. Sure it's a bit late yet the humor and awareness helps. Maybe the next electoral hate cycle will enable collection of some gay marriage/divorce litigation dollars…

Merry XMas to Me

2008-12-02T13:59:00.000-06:00

Britney Spears with The Pussycat Dolls On Tour

Britney Spears will make a highly anticipated return to the stage for her 2009 Circus World Tour. Following on the excitement of the just released sixth studio album, Circus, Spears will kick off the tour in New Orleans with The Pussycat Dolls.

Your Order Is Complete
Thanks for using Ticketmaster.

Fri, Apr 3, 2009 08:30 PM
Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

Seat location: section 109, row W, seats 13-12
Total Charge: US $299.42

First Few Dominos

2008-11-10T10:59:00.001-06:00

In my ignorance I continue to be amazed at how the Dow is such an accurate leading indicator. Sort of watching with a morbid fascination at what companies are going to fall. Was surprised to see Circuit City filing Chapter 11. The retail devastation this Season will be telling.

A Win, Despite Irrationality

2008-11-05T10:40:00.001-06:00

Relived both that the election is over and that McCain/Palin were so soundly defeated. It was amazing the types of straws Republicans were grasping at and how well they worked. The wife of my guild leader was making this incredible statement: “10 girls have died from that HPV vaccination. Obama will kill my girls if he's elected and his universal health care goes into place.” *rolls eyes* It will be interesting to see what the democrats achieve with Obama and cloture power in the Senate.

Back Home

2008-11-04T07:09:00.002-06:00

New York was fun. There were a myriad of things to see and do. Catching what I could was exhausting without even realizing it until the train ride home. AndrewFashion was a great tour guide and often kept up better than I did.

I was surprised that, though it shows it's age, New York was surprisingly clean. Watching Night Court repeatedly had formed a harsh opinion that is best summarized in part 3 of Danny Got His Gun when Dan Fielding answers Kista's question, “Are the people nice there?” by saying, “Sure. Just don't make eye contact.” Yet I didn't find this the case when exposed to much humanity in the subways or on the streets downtown.

Yet for all it has to offer and how accessible it is, it still has the pall of the big city. The reliance on public transport can be frustrating. It's big to the point of being overwhelming and impersonal. And I started to see what Ed Shepp described as being “hard” about making a living there. Moving there would have been a mistake. While it definitely suits Nic's persona I am saddened to think how it's going to change AF. Yet that's not my concern.

The hardest part for me was how AF has moved on emotionally along with physically. I caught glimpses of it before he left yet it was more clear now that he's settled. Having to grieve the loss of intimate connection for yet another special man is always fun. Was pretty torturous containing feelings once reciprocated by the man you're sleeping next to. Wanting to reach out… hold, touch, caress. Yet when you do, even fleetingly, it's met with tolerance instead of pleasure. Words are quite incapable of describing this pain.

Will that stop me? Of course not. I hadn't planned on doing Nano this year because I know the expansion will consume me when it's released in the middle of the month. Yet I seem to have a lot of writing to do all of a sudden. *smirk* Notes and content have me at a little over 5k right now. Looks like I'll finish this year.

I Still Hold the Aaronic Priesthood

2008-10-28T09:21:00.002-05:00

Grabbing the mail I had a little sticker saying a package had been delivered to my apartment. Everything I've ordered in the last month has already arrived so I picked the flat, plain brown mailer up off the floor with some confusion. Inside I found that the ever-thoughtful had sent me the Mormons Exposed 2009 calendar. *lol* The men and photoshoots were pretty unimaginative which I suppose was a vain attempt at lessening the homoeroticism. Yet the novelty of the content superscedes any criticism.

I'd heard about this project years ago when I was in Salt Lake. The guy who started it was claiming to be raising awareness. At the time I just giggled yet he's still behind it years later, even after being excommunicated. Toured around the site. Would have totally bought the “I Heart Mormon Boys T-Shirt” in Polygamy Pink yet they didn't have it in Mens. Might just get the Missionary Position one in Coffee.

Queen Palin

2008-10-17T12:35:00.001-05:00

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

Two Words: Fucking Brilliant.

The angry mob outside the window is damn good… as are the oil rigs. Yet the tickers on the monitor are only slightly less wondrous than the “Learnin's Hard” on the empty diploma frames or the red phone.

Give Me a Chance, Madge!

2008-10-15T11:31:00.001-05:00

Spokeswoman: Madonna and Guy Ritchie to divorce
Oct. 15, 2008, 12:08 PM EST

LONDON (AP) -- Madonna and filmmaker Guy Ritchie will end their marriage after nearly eight years, the couple said in a joint statement Wednesday.

The couple asked the media to "maintain respect for their family at this difficult time," said the statement, e-mailed to The Associated Press by Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's publicist.

A financial settlement has not been agreed by the wealthy couple, who must also decide child custody issues.

In London, Ritchie's mother, Lady Amber Leighton, told reporters that the family wouldn't be making any statement.

Madonna and Ritchie, director of "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels," married in December 2000 at a Scottish castle. The couple have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.

The couple are reportedly worth some $525 million, the bulk of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and a 1,200-acre retreat in Wiltshire, England.

Madonna is to perform concerts Wednesday and Thursday in Boston as her "Sticky and Sweet" tour continues. Ritchie's latest movie, "RocknRolla," recently opened to mixed reviews.

Lawyers said the couple would likely try to come to an agreement before heading to court.

"The judgment of the court would be to try and assess what they came in with and divide what they built up fairly equally," said David Allison, a lawyer with Family Law in Partnership, a London firm.

Ritchie's career has faltered during the marriage, while Madonna's songs, videos and concerts remain popular worldwide.

The needs of the couple's children will also be factored by the court, as they were in Britain's latest high-profile celebrity divorce, the battle between former Beatle Paul McCartney and model Heather Mills. In that case, McCartney and Mills fought over money and custody of their young daughter.

Mills received 24.3 million pounds in the divorce after four years of marriage.

"The needs of children figure quite highly, and that was one of the reasons Heather Mills got a gigantic amount of money, despite the fact that the bulk of Sir Paul's money was made before the marriage," Allison said.

The Sun newspaper splashed the split across its front page Wednesday under the headline: "We're Divorcing." It was the second time this year that the superstar couple's marriage has come under the media microscope. Over the summer, Madonna was linked — unfairly, she said — to the breakup of New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and his ex-wife Cynthia.

Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Wonder if she'd marry a fag. I would so raise her kids and spend her money…

WoW 3.0.2

2008-10-14T15:35:00.004-05:00

That bastard Tim snuck out of work early to get patched and get online. I'm still reading through the massive patch notes. Had to get them off Curse since Blizzard is slammed…

Heh. Tim was able to log in for about five minutes before his world server crashed. I doubt I'm missing anything by being here at work. Going to take forever to figure out how to respec all my characters…

Still Watching This

2008-10-06T11:09:00.001-05:00

Saturday Night Live really hit the nail on the proverbial head on this one:

I Work Here

2008-09-22T11:09:00.002-05:00

My coworkers are great. When I went up to Duluth with John they had this bucket of Frozen Cosmo bliss that I have been unable to find around here. This morning Theo brought over a “Black Cat” bucket that he found over the weekend. Just have to add Vodka and mixer. It's going to be so good but I'll have to clear out some pesky food out of the freezer.

Every hour I sneak in a four-part set with the little 8lb weights I keep under the desk. Since our cubicles don't have high walls it must look entertaining. Just had the following IM:

Jeff: Sean Simmons
Sean: With less hair... Sweating Like An Oldie!
Jeff: as a gay man, would you consider him gay?
Jeff: or is it an act?
Sean: I'm pretty much afraid of him, so I try not to think about it.

Gave us both a laugh. Moments like this remind me how fortunate I am.

Impending Doom

2008-09-11T15:29:00.002-05:00

Really been enjoying all the attention the LHC has received. Coworker sent me a link to hasthelargehadroncolliderdestroyedtheworldyet.com yesterday then my boss sent me one of web cam doom today. One of my favorites is still a petition I found online, though I'm not sure what the first words were officially.

I'm still hoping for a black hole. Or Duke Nukem aliens, at the very least.

Dammit

2008-09-09T17:05:00.001-05:00

Was a little distracted walking in the garage this morning when I noticed a license plate that started with “VJJ” and I snickered to myself, thinking, “That loser has a Va-jay-jay on their license. What a vagine.” Then I realized it was my car. *sigh*

For a Couple of Hours

2008-08-18T10:05:00.000-05:00

Volunteering last night was exhausting more physically than emotionally last night as I was assigned to dishes. The other lady I was helping laughed along with me since she'd managed to avoid the food service industry entirely while I was sixteen the last time I worked dishes. Yet there we were, spraying, stacking, and sweating. Both of us make many times what an average dishwasher makes so there was a lot of humility found in the irony. And a lot of mess. *snicker*

Coastal

2008-08-02T16:43:00.001-05:00

Finished up tanning and noticed a sign saying they were hiring. Went up to front to find the two chicks folding towels. After they wished me a good day I stopped and said, “I noticed that you're hiring. Is there anyway we could get a surfer boy in here?” They both stopped folding at the same time to give me a “deer in headlights” look so I continued. “Well, you ladies are great and all, but wouldn't it be nice to get a little Tan Man action in here?” Now they were laughing and agreeing with me.

cture It... Sicily, After the War

2008-07-23T11:23:00.000-05:00

Seeing a number of well-deserved tributes in the media to Estelle Getty, mourning her passing. Have to admit I only appreciated her because of the Golden Girls role which she brought such life to. Was amazing how that show in general brought a number of issues to public light in a very accessible, real way. That is more than enough to miss her for.

Ring Ring!

2008-07-15T15:45:00.001-05:00

So Friday I went by the Rosedale Mall to see what the iPhone line was like at the Apple store. Turns out the reports of the massive line were true so I got a picture or two then headed to lunch with coworkers.

On the way they forced me to stop at an AT&T store. There was a two minute line for orders so I put one in. In an effort to spend the most money possible, I went with the 16gb plus expedited shipping. To be different I specified white (YT) sight unseen. *snicker* Looking at some of the pictures online I think the black might have been more sleek. Oh well. I was happy to have it en route so I could stop thinking about it.

Did order a full body shield from the same people that made the one I have for my Touch. Looks like there are other flash accessories that I'm not going to bother with. Want to get it in my hands before I start throwing good money after bad. *snicker*

The sales chick wouldn't give me any time estimates when I was ordering since everything was such a mess. Figured I could check online when things calmed down. Yet when I went to AT&T confirmation site they didn't recognize me by phone number or order confirmation. Decided to call them directly for my FedEx number. Looks like it will arrive this afternoon!

What Fits Together

2008-07-11T10:38:00.001-05:00

Had a good night last night. Andrew and I hit some happy hours downtown then walked over to the Block E. We caught Hancock which I really enjoyed until the end. After that was over Andrew looked at me slyly and said, “Should we go see Wanted?” So we walked over to that area with *gasp* paying for it! I felt like such a delinquent. Yet I was relieved because it was totally sucking. We looked at each other then got up to head into Hulk instead. *snicker* Ended up seeing it through; it was enjoyable but not that great. What I loved most is all the lead-in to S.H.I.E.L.D. Doom is already established so I wonder if they have anyone in mind for Nick Fury.

WoW friend texted me while I was drinking, wondering if I would be willing to go Shadow to raid. It actually made me smile. I loved Shadow but haven't done it in BC at all. I leveled Holy with friends then went Disc for PvP when Kara broke up the guild. With all the Kara runs I've done, I did pick up DPS pieces. Logged in this morning to see what I lack and was surprised to see how many things I had ferreted away—even Ruby Slippers! After a quick review, it looks like I need trinkets, pants, gloves, and hat. Might be able to get up to speed pretty quickly.

Was going to hit the downtown AT&T store this morning for a G3 but changed my mind. I've heard some insane reports about lines and bullshit. I can wait a few weeks for the hype to settle down. Yet getting in to work, everyone was on my ass. Even my boss was saying, “Now might be a good time to go since the initial rush will have died down and the lunch rush wouldn't have begun.” So I might head up there in a few minutes. *sigh*

Fairly Accurate

2008-07-07T09:51:00.002-05:00

I found today's Google doodle to be as annoying as most of Chagall's work itself.

Just in Time for the Fourth of July

2008-07-03T12:04:00.000-05:00

In the direct path of this Presidency…

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Presidency

I Only Drink to Make Other People More Sociable

2008-06-30T16:55:00.000-05:00

Four nights of drinking seriously took its toll. Not just the drinking as I also smoke when I'm out like that. Went through three packs, which my lungs now inform me is excessive. I wasn't going to go out Saturday night but Zac harassed me via text and voice mail until I did. Almost didn't go out last night but it was the last day, I'd asked for a half-day off, everyone was going to be there, et cetera.

I didn't do any events this year… even skipped the parade. Mary said she'd catch me for a few things and John was doing a bunch, but I only went out for the dancing and drinking. No one that I was interested in was available. Had some randoms interested on each of the different nights yet didn't follow through on them. Did go home with Andrew last night since it was nice to have someone there without wanting to do anything.

Walking home from his place this morning I felt relieved that Pride was done with. Guess I've grown more jaded and less supportive over the years. Even going to bigger/different ones doesn't sound appealing. Was committed to going to Southern Decadence this year but even that makes me think “Meh” right now. Maybe a few days of good sleep will change my mind. *snicker*

How Many Books I Haven't Read

2008-06-26T10:22:00.001-05:00

This meme is popping up everywhere and I felt like it was worthwhile to do. There's way too much Thomas Hardy on here for my comfort (I added strike-thru for books that I will never be read) but I was pleased to see a number I've never heard of. About to finish the original three of Brooks' Shannaras so I should work on some of these next.

Look at the list and bold those you have read.
Italicize those you intend to read.
Underline the books you LOVE.
Reprint this list in your own blog so we can try and track down these people who've read 6 and force books upon them ;-)

1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6 The Bible
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12 ~~Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy~~
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
19 The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24 ~~War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy~~
25 The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26 Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33 ~~Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis~~
34 Emma - Jane Austen
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38 Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47 ~~Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy~~
48 The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52 Dune - Frank Herbert
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67 ~~Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy~~
68 Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding
69 Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70 ~~Moby Dick - Herman Melville~~
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75 ~~Ulysses - James Joyce~~
76 The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78 Germinal - Emile Zola
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80 Possession - AS Byatt
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87 Charlotte's Web - EB White
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Weak Legged Fox

2008-06-20T09:33:00.001-05:00

While I was noticing and liking differences in the new Firefox, I'm back to 2.0.0.14 for a while. Using the Portable Apps distribution allows me to safely have both. Too many crashes though. It's probably the add-ons, but I cannot live without Adblock Plus. Patience.

Twenty-two Inch Pythons

2008-06-18T09:50:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I'll take the Touch to the gym. It's nice to have the menu/display to pick play lists or specific tracks. I don't worry about a hard drive to jar and destroy, either. Yet the Shuffle looks all trendy when it accessibly clips to my sleeve. So I went the the accessory aisle at Target and picked up Belkin's Sport Armband.

Thankfully I tried it on at home first because it didn't work out. I was barely able to secure the Velcro binding in place. Then when I flexed, it popped off every time. I felt like such a stud going up to the Service Counter and telling the woman there that there was nothing wrong with the band, it simply wasn't big enough for me. *giggle*

Pure fantasy, of course. My arms have very poor definition and it's the fleshy parts that make the band snug to begin with. Will have to find one not tailor made for circuit boys and anorexics.

May Equality Live Long and Prosper

2008-06-17T14:57:00.001-05:00

'Star Trek' star to marry partner
Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:26 PM ET

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California (AP) -- "Star Trek" star George Takai is ready to "live long and prosper" with his partner of 21 years.

Takai will marry 54-year-old Brad Altman on September 14th in Los Angeles.

The 71-year-old actor, known for his role as Sulu on the "Star Trek" sci-fi TV series, was the first to pay $70 for a marriage license in West Hollywood early Tuesday. The marriage license is good for 90 days.

Takai was jubilant, saying "it's going to be the only day like this in our lives and it is the only day like this in the history of America."

He told reporters and a swelling crowd outside the West Hollywood city auditorium "may equality live long and prosper."

The California Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

So sweet it makes me wanna set phasers on Kill. *snicker*

I'm Just That Butch

2008-06-17T11:15:00.002-05:00

Was happily typing away on the computer last night when I heard a loud pop then a small storm; scared the snake out of me. It sounded like it was coming from the toilet or behind the wall. It stoppped before I could pinpoint it. After a few minutes the storm resumed. It was actually the water running inside the tank. It was late and I obviously wasn't thinking when I lifted up the cover to see what was going on.

Not sure what that thing is actually called, but it jumped a few inches when I freed it, allowing water to spray everwhere. I let out a string of explitives while I bent over to turn the water off. Mopping up the bathroom tile… great way to end the evening.

I refilled the tank manually this morning so I could take care of business, but I was down in the office first thing. Pretty simple to fix but I wasn't going to be doing it. *smile*

Fight Back Against Activist Judges

2008-06-16T15:59:00.002-05:00

I like how many of my friends are doing some of the same spying I've done for years. If nothing else it's amusing. The rest of the time it's great to be on the inside track. Like this eMail I got an hour ago from the wack jobs over at HumanEventsOnline.com that they forwarded for the National Organization for Marriage. It opened with:

STOP SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA

We've succeeded in the first phase of the most critical battle in the nation over the future of marriage. On Monday, the Secretary of State of California certified that we had the signatures necessary to get the California Marriage Amendment on the ballot. Thanks to the efforts of everyone who prayed, donated, volunteered, circulated or signed the California Marriage Amendment petition, the voters of California will have the chance to overrule our Supreme Court and protect marriage in our state.

But now we face an epic and historic battle over the future of marriage. It will affect us all, whether or not we live in California. If we don't pass the California Marriage Amendment you can be sure that same-sex couples will travel to California from other states, return to their own states and sue to overturn their home states' marriage laws. California is a pathway to same-sex marriage around the country and is the epicenter of the fight over the future of marriage in this country. It's as simple as that.

I just have to laugh. Like a virus, the gay will spread if we don't stop it now now now! It's always the purveyors of “Christ-like love” that go marching down the hate-filled warpath.

It was a long message with all the usual fear-rattling, hate mongering, collection plate shtichk. I particularly like this part:

How will this impact you and your children and grandchildren?

We know from the experience of other states that if we don't overturn this decision, there will be attacks on our beliefs, our religious institutions, and our civil rights.

For example, Christian adoption agencies could be ordered by law to treat same-sex unions just the same as marriages; Christian charities and schools could face new attacks on their tax-exempt status, and other government penalties for deeply-held religious views.

Sound far-fetched? Alarmist? No, it's already happening--here in the United States.

That's right! Right here in these United States!! Those Activist Judges gunna get the gays some marriage licenses then put God's head on stick out on the White House lawn. It would be just horrible for children trapped in the foster care cycle to find a loving home. Christ would never approve. Conditional love for all!

*sigh*

Sparing a Dime

2008-06-15T19:56:00.000-05:00

Got back from my volunteering so I'm in the usual funk. At least I haven't cried yet but I'll prolly get weepy after going over it all. Got slotted for what I now think is the most difficult position: doorman. Basically I keep a cheerful face as I greet each person in a line that run out to the street and along the sidewalk. I hand them a ticket that helps us keep a head count and socialize when the line gets backed up.

Most of the people were pleasant but I felt so affluently white. Fresh from the gym, I must have looked to them like some sort of part-time bleeding heart putting in my few hours a month for the dregs of humanity. Definitely feeling the guilt I suppose. I did fairly well partnered with the sweetest little woman Karen. There were one or two times I was a little worried about her so I had to puff up.

One man was a bit too drunk. Once he'd left, one of the managers came up to let me know he wasn't to be let back in and there was one guest who wasn't going to leave until he was gone. Kept an eye on him as he crossed the street. The blind man he had been harassing came up with nice hippie girl to escort them. I warned them where the drunk was. After ten minutes the drunk returned and, sure enough, when we opened the doors to let a few patrons leave, he made as if to come in.

I placed myself in the middle of the doors. After pushing Karen to the side, I placed my first in the center of his chest to stop his advance then told him we were closed for the evening. He looked at me directly and asked, “You're going to refuse me?” with a slight slur. I cocked my head with a less menacing smile to return his look while letting the question hang there for a moment. Then we both laughed as we took a step back and I told him to “Go ahead and sit back down out there.”

Was a very tense moment that Karen and I were quick to laugh off after closing the doors. I mentioned something about my two years of Karate in junior high. His shirt wasn't that concealing so I was pretty sure he didn't have any weapons within easy reach. I was fully ready for him to take a swing. It would have been interesting since I'm sure my reactions would have been a lot faster, but his arms and chest were as big as mine.

Anyway. It was an experience. I actually felt doubly bad because I wasn't “doing” anything. Karen and I had to stay up there even as people were cleaning up. While it was nice to have the appreciative comments on the way out, it was difficult to keep from sounding robotic when returning the “Have a good evening.”s.

Headed out a little before 7pm. I pulled out my $300 fuchsia RAZR to see if I had any new messages. Then I got into my $30k coupe to head home while my $500 iPod Touch pounded a Christopher Lawrence CD from my speakers. Got up to my $900/month apartment where I'd left the air conditioning on all day so it would be nice to come home to. Such extravagance that becomes blindingly apparent after watching 212 people come in off the street for dinner.

Some of these people are doing relatively well as I listened to them swap stories. Some are not. A host of smells passed by me, from the basic unwashed human flesh to hard alcohol sweat to mouthwash. There were many stressed veins and dark patches at the crook of the elbow. When I hear Compassionate Conservative line, which boils down to “Get a job.”, I have to shake my head. How can these people do that when they struggle for the basics on a daily basis?

I will be doing more volunteering with the partnered churches, but I'm going to have to find ways to do more.

How Cute!

2008-06-13T15:52:00.002-05:00

Went up to Fudruckers for lunch with the coworkers. Could have sworn the cutest little guy at the register was checking me out. So when I went up I tried to be as cool as possible while ordering. He asked for my first name for the ticket. So in a snarky voice I purred, “Well, what is your first name?” He laughed as he told me, “Scott.” So I thanked him then handed over my signed receipt with a direct smile.

Sure enough, as I was getting my water he looked over at me three times. Then again when I was picking up my order. Would have waved on the way out but he was off stacking plates. Silly moments like this make all my flirting worthwhile. Of course, he was 19 at the most but I'll take whatever I get these days. Going to be 35 in two months. *sigh*

Been a While

2008-06-06T09:54:00.000-05:00

Tim gave me a ride into work this morning—sorta novel. The plan is to sneak out a little early then he's going to pick me up. Hopefully we'll beat the weekend rush hour traffic; with so many people living across the border, it gets wild.

So we pull up to the front of my building and I lean in for a kiss when my boss walks right in front of the car. I laughed then said, “Oh look, my boss.” Tim wished me a good day at work after another quick peck.

My boss was holding the door open and said, “So… getting rides into work now, eh?” I was actually blushing, which he enjoyed pointing out. “Did you think I would be surprised?” he asked as we walked back into the department. Was hard to explain what I was feeling. Whatever it was, it did feel nice.

Productivity

2008-05-23T09:16:00.000-05:00

No one on my team is here yet. Neither of my managers is here. This is totally the Friday before a three-day weekend.

Got my car into the dealership. The initial estimate is about $300 but I know that will go up. If it were just upkeep I'd prolly have it back before noon but there's two pending recalls to look at. Not only my master cylinder but the daytime running lights. The useless desk person smiling said it could be as late as 4pm. Yet I suspect I'll need brake work.

In the interim, I've been loaned a shiny new Scion xB. I liked it for about five minutes. The gears are too far forward, practically on the dashboard. The speedometer and gauges are in the middle of the dash. The arm rest isn't equal with the door rest. Outside visibility is awkward. And it's like driving a bucket. Heh. Guess I'm not ready to ditch the two-seaters yet.

Below the Neck

2008-05-20T14:43:00.000-05:00

At lunch with two workers teasing back-and-forth about looking at women's chests randomly. I mostly sat back, rolling my eyes, until it reminded me of something at the gym on Saturday. Was totally checking out this ripped Austrian-looking guy who was coming in as I was walking out. When he said, “Hello.” I looked up from his pecs in total surprise, thinking to myself something along the lines of, “Oh yeah! The body does have a head!!” *snicker* So instead of adding anything hypocritical to my coworker's banter, I laughed along.

Then On the Other Coast...

2008-05-15T14:58:00.001-05:00

California ban on same-sex marriage struck down
Thu May 15, 2008 2:04 PM ET

By Bill Mears, CNN Senior Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a much-anticipated ruling issued Thursday, the California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.

California's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Several gay and lesbian couples, along with the city of San Francisco and gay rights groups, sued to overturn state laws allowing only marriages between a man and a woman.

"There can be no doubt that extending the designation of marriage to same-sex couples, rather than denying it to all couples, is the equal protection remedy that is most consistent with our state's general legislative policy and preference," said the 120-page ruling.

It said that the state law's language "limiting the designation of marriage to a 'union between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples."

With the ruling, California becomes the second state to allow same-sex couples to legally wed. Massachusetts adopted the practice in 2004, and couples don't need to be state residents to wed there.

Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire and Connecticut permit civil unions, while California has a domestic-partner registration law. More than a dozen other states give gay couples some legal rights.

Seven other jurisdictions around the world have legalized same-sex marriage: Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.

San Francisco officials in 2004 allowed same-sex couples in the city to wed, prompting a flood of applicants crowding the city hall clerk's office. The first couple to wed then was 80-year-old Phyllis Lyon and 83-year-old Dorothy Martin, lovers for 50 years.

"We have a right just like anyone else to get married to the person we want to get married to," Lyon said at the time.

One issue before the justices was whether San Francisco's laws carried legal weight when the rest of the state banned same-sex marriages. Gay rights advocates argued the state was violating their civil rights by limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. The state law in question is the Defense of Marriage Act, Proposition 22.

Oral arguments in the case in March lasted more than three hours, a sign of the political and legal issues at stake. Six cases were consolidated.

Groups saying they were promoting a pro-family agenda had vowed to fight a statewide law allowing same-sex marriage.

"The government should promote and encourage strong families," said Glen Lavy of the Alliance Defense Fund. "The voters realize that defining marriage as one man and one woman is important because the government should not, by design, deny a child both a mother and father."

An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is likely. The federal high court has never addressed the question of same-sex marriage.

© 2008 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Just wow. A few days ago a friend was talking about what about what label to apply to a significant other… partner? boyfriend? lover? I haven't put too much thought into it as there hasn't been much need. While doing the dishes last night I would be fine with boyfriend. Yet husband has a great ring to it.

I'm so glad I'm alive to see this social reform unfurl. Hopefully this decision stays. Hopefully more are made similarly.

My Luck (At Least It's Consistent)

2008-05-15T14:31:00.002-05:00

Being a pack rat extends into my electronic life. DVDs started to stack up so with the price drop in portable hard drives I decided to buy four or five over the next few months. One for raw photos, one for movies, one for music, one for pr0n, etc. The WD120 I bought a year ago has been great, so I've been watching prices and capacities for a while now. Western Digital introduced their My Passport Essential line a bit ago that includes eleven colors (including Vibrant Pink!!) so when I saw the Arctic White 250 for $113 at Buy.com I ordered it. The very day it arrived, Buy.com marked the Intense Blue 250 down to $99. *sigh*

Heading out to the salon for a tanning session last night I pulled my apartment key off the ring to minimize my pocket requirements. As I has undressing I realized the key was gone. While in the big comfy chair up front my phone slipped out of my pockets so I figured it was there. Rushed out and turned the thing upside down to no avail. Watched the streets all the way home and nothing. So I got to the office and did the dance for a copy of the key. They didn't have a spare one available so the attendant said one would be made in the morning. I grumbled about it as she let me into the apartment then I grabbed my check book and we went back down so she could photo copy my ID. Walking back I noticed my key was about ten feet from the door. *SIGH*

Was running late to work, as usual, so I stopped into the office to see if they'd tear up my check. The front desk lady handed me a little envelope with my apartment number on it. “You already have a copy of it?” I asked as she nodded with a smile. She was probably thinking like “Yes, we are that efficient.” while I was really thinking “Fuck fuck fuck!” on my way out the door. Oh well.

Secure

2008-05-13T16:17:00.002-05:00

The company has been going through PCI compliance hoops so there has been some renewed interested in security. IT put up a number of posters that remind my Ukrainian coworker of the propaganda back in the mother country. Had to take an online course in which I was encouraged to become a “Human Firewall.” It was actually okay because most all of the actors were gorgeous. For instance, right now I'm really ready to get me some pirate…

Kidding aside, all the Identity Theft hysteria did prompt me to put an access code on my iTouch. I've got all my contacts sync'd to it. Considering the damn things retail around $500, if someone stole it I don't want to be responsible for spreading info.

Passwords are like bubble gum:
strongest when fresh
should be used by an individual, not a group
when left laying around, will make a sticky mess

Vroom

2008-05-08T14:55:00.001-05:00

Not sure what it is about impending Summers that get me thinking about new cars, but this year's looks to be the 2008 Nissan Z NISMO in Magnetic Black. Have to include the Titanium knob, too. I seriously need to win the lottery.

When the Filter Fails

2008-05-07T09:08:00.000-05:00

GMail does such a great job with the spam. Yet sometimes a well-written one sneaks through and I have to click. Great was to start the day:

From: Walt Minna
Subject: I know what ladies do on a farm. DO NOT leave them there alone!

Never leave your madam on a farm abandoned. She may substitute you with animals and you will be way out of the competition for the rest of your life. I learned it the hard way. Here are the details.

Alive

2008-05-06T09:25:00.001-05:00

In a great mood this morning. While it's somewhere between cool and crisp it felt great to have the windows down and the moon roof open while Alice Deejay moved me along. I'd forgotten what great driving music their only album was. Drove a little too fast on the freeway because of it.

Filling up on the way in an attractive man in business attire pulled up behind me in the exact same Celica. Year, paint, sport options, fog lamps, etc. Put as much bass in my voice as possible and said, “Nice car.” with a nod. Shared a laugh and some stories. Apparently his burns as much oil as mine does now, which I found interesting. I never did get around to the “Are you married? Wanna fuck?” questions but it was a fun random moment.

Now… work. Ignore the beautiful day outside. Yay.

Evil Willpower

2008-05-05T14:37:00.002-05:00

Summer is right around the corner so I have to stay serious about the regimen. One thing that helps maintain my resolve is doing wrong by others. Shopping for groceries Saturday I saw 8-packs of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey's Special Dark on sale. These are two of my favorite candy bars so I bought one of each. Kept them out of sight yesterday then brought them in this morning to place in my bucket 'o sugar. A few people have passed by and exclaimed, “Full candybars?” to which I grin innocently and say, “Help yourself!”

Yes. YES! Help themselves to 220 calories of love-handle expanding doom!! *evil cackle*

As funny as I make it sound, it does keep me motivated. I will go home tonight will a feeling of victory. Though they sit here in plain view and easy reach, I shall resist!

Innocent

2008-05-03T20:10:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty good about keeping my looks to myself in the locker room, largely because I've gotten unwanted attention myself on occasion. Yet this afternoon was the opposite for a change. Heading towards the shower I did a double take in the mirror as I noticed the guy behind me. Not only was he gorgeous, but he was staring me down. Nubility personified with his taut, tanned torso and wavy blonde hair.

Figured I was delirious from the workout so I looked the other way in puzzlement as I continued on into the showers. While lathering up my peripheral vision caught him walk into the sink area. So naturally I flex what I can and lament the fact that being naked doesn't allow one to hide a pronounced gut. Wasn't really a factor though because he was still staring. Staring. In fact, he even waited at the wall to the urinals, watching me until I looked directly at him. Made me roll my eyes with a giggle.

Toweled off and as I approached the locker I withered under his glances. I dressed as quickly as possibly but he was ahead of me. Was putting on my shoes as he headed out. I hate how new situations overwhelm me. All I had to do was say something, anything. Yet the moment was gone. Out in the parking lot he was nowhere to be seen.

Probably for the best. I'm not a slut. Really.

Last Few, Future Few

2008-05-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

Relaxed night last night. Got in a quick nap after work before heading over to get some tanning done. The parking there is such ass, I took the first one that opened up. It wasn't until I was naked in the booth that I realized the spot I took was marked off since it was next to a handicapped space. I couldn't get the image of a tow truck hauling off my baby out of my head, so I cut my session a little short.

Got over to the Quarry for a hair cut. The girl cutting my hair was chatty as hell. When she asked if I was married and had any kids, I was so tired I stumbled over trying to say something clever about how I wasn't allowed to yet. Finally just said, a little too loudly even, that, “I am trying to say that I'm gay.” She laughed as I blushed. Sometimes it's annoying being so butch.

Managed to get some shopping in before heading home. Watched some TV as the laundry was going. Tim brought over the first season of Battlestar Galactica for me on Saturday and I haven't been able to stop watching. I would really like to finish Torchwood but I'm finding BG very compelling; the story has brought me to tears a number of times—so much for butch.

Not many plans for the weekend; with this evil weather it will likely the usual: some drinking, some DVDing, and some gaming gaming. Meh. Off to the gym.

Recognition via Mp3 Player

2008-04-28T17:26:00.000-05:00

Had a entertaining lunch with the COO and the CIO today. Was sorta funny to have us trench workers mixing all the way up to the top of the corporate structure. I mostly behaved myself until the end when they asked for random questions. Mine was, “Have you located talent in India to replace us yet?”

At the end of our discussion they gave each of us an 8gb iPod Touch. It was surprisingly generous and in my estimation, not deserved. Instead of giving it back I went to Best Buy and traded up to the 32gb version for an additional $200. *snicker* Between the Shuffle and the 160gb Classic, I really don't need it. In fact I was seriously tempted by one team mate's suggestion to traded it in towards a PS3. Yet that seemed disrespectful. It will be a fun memento of the last few months of drudgery.

This will be the third Apple product under my roof. *shudder* Can't be a good sign.

Two Hours

2008-04-20T21:24:00.000-05:00

Pretty sure John tricked me into volunteering at his church. Yet every time someone asked me what I was doing Sunday, felt good to say, “Feeding the homeless.” The reality of it didn't hit me even when I was putting the apron on. When the people started shuffling in, it was there. Thankfully there was always something to do.

The hardest part was the kids. One little girl with permed hair in pink pajamas. Two sisters both less than five… I can still see one biting into an apple. I kept up though. Joked with a guy who wanted me to adopt him. Assigned to waiting tables I got called “Lemonade Boy” because I always kept a pitcher with me.

Walking out of there two hours later I almost broke down. John suggested we grab a drink so we headed to the 19. So much to process it was nice of him to distact me. Talked about some stuff we can do during the summer and finalized plans for Thursday night. He gave me an extended kiss good-bye and I thanked him again for sharing this part of his life with me.

Was talking with Michael earlier about my fears of someday being homeless. He laughed at me but I was very serious. Seeing some of those people's faces, their eyes as they thanked me… it came back to me as I went up the elevator. I really did nothing tonight in the grand scheme of things, yet it's more than I've ever done. Pretty sad. Something else I need to work on.

Torchwood

2008-04-08T18:57:00.002-05:00

Chatting with my British coworker over lunch last week we somehow got on the topic of Dr. Who. He mentioned a spinoff called Torchwood that was “incredibly gay” that I should check out. He tried to watch some with his nine-year-old son but they were a bit racy, which further piqued my interest. He brought me in a set of rips from the second season. I didn't get to watching the first episode until today.

Not knowing the series' characters or even story/backdrop of the new Dr. Who, I was a little lost but amused at the “Blowfish in a Sports Car” the crew was chasing down. Seemed like something I could get into despite being the traditional overly-attractive cast toting semi-original technology while making pithy remarks (the British accents certainly helped).

Then the evil doer appeared. The camera follow him walking after killing some ruffian and my jaw dropped when I recognized him: Spike! From Buffy!! And it got better. The cute-for-a-Brit Captain guy races off to corner Spike at some bar. They approach each other all full of menace… then kiss! Hello fanfic fantasies some true. After the brief lip lock they proceed to beat the crap out of each other. Hawt'ness.

When the crew arrives there's extra story about how Spike and the Captain were caught in a two-week time loop for five years. They argue about who was the wife and who's was smaller. Spike insisted that he lasted longer. *swoon* So yeah. I just ordered first season on DVD. Can't believe I don't have friends telling me about this earlier.

Funny… a friend and I were talking last night about how Gay is so 90s anymore because we're mainstream now. Personally I think that's great… especially when it allows some diversity in love scenes on TV. *snicker* He pointed out it may weaken our press for basic equality by blurring the lines. I believe that social integration will make legal awareness natural and unavoidable.

I Don't Know What I've Done to Deserve You

2008-04-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

Though it was leaked a while ago, I managed to acquire Portishead's new album Third last night. While there are 5/5 stars on every track from the three previous albums this one will be different. We Carry On is a little long and rather annoying. Still not very happy with the one that's been released, Machine Gun. Maybe they'll grow on me; already in love with the nine other tracks. Guess it's silly to be critical of two tracks, but it is Portishead and I've been waiting almost a decade. Wonder if I can get the deluxe version in the States.

Mobility Temporarily Impaired

2008-04-01T15:54:00.000-05:00

My afternoon got short-circuited by a large crash near one of the major East exit arteries from downtown. At first I was mad at myself for taking the often faster, more public route despite the belief that it should be quick since it was the middle of the day. Then I saw all the commotion. Spent nearly an hour on the pavement. I opened the moon roof, reclined the seat, and observed the angry heads bobs and pointed hand motions with amusement.

Finally passing the scene I could still see it was pretty ugly. Jack-knifed semi in a position that made no sense. One car was essentially a crumpled black box whose make and model was completely unrecognizable. On my way home after the gym there was still congestion. While a number of people were angry at the inconvenience, I'm sure there are a few families with heavier matters on their minds.

Die, Insect!

2008-04-01T10:58:00.000-05:00

Blizzard's April Fools announcement is pretty amusing. My favorite part of the video was the “Skinning a Bear Should Aggro All Bears Within Forty Yards” scene. The concept art was also exceptional. Should never have gotten rid of my Atari 2600.

Thankfully my last day off is a patch day so I've been semi-productive around the apartment this morning, with distractions provided by the Sixth Season of Married with Children. Time to hit the gym then a pass through the MIA.

What In Gay Hell...

2008-03-27T09:44:00.003-05:00

I'll be in St. Louis in less then twelve hours! Four days and three nights out of one 21"x13" carry-on. *cries* Sometimes being gay is such a pain in the ass.