A-Team Tries to Thrill. Fails!

What was I expecting?  Well I figured it would be a campy send up of the A-Team that would have a good story with a few self conscious nods to the old series.  As it began, I had high hopes.  The just in the nick of time rescue and the reappearance of the A-Team van worked into a somewhat plausible story.  Unfortunately that was just the credits.  From there it went downhill, or at least into far left field quickly.

Why the writers had to include the impossibly beautiful Army Captain/busted to Lieutenant in charge of some sort of top secret sting operation, I don't know.  Also the whole "we are all crazy rangers" thing made no sense at all. But as I said the whole story made little sense.

Part of a good movie is the "suspension of disbelief".  The same thing that is needed for a good play.  You have to believe the characters and action is real, even though you know it's acting and special effects.  I found I could not suspend my disbelief long enough to get two bites of popcorn down. The whole thing was unbelievable, and not in a "wow isn't his a great fantasy", or "gee this is so goofy" kind of way. It was just bad, and when it got so convoluted there seemed like no way out, Well, the producers used the old "deus ex CGI" to save the day. Except it didn't.  

I rarely find a movie where I not only don't care about the lead characters, but I actively am rooting for their demise!  The A-Team was the B or really the D-Team.  Don't waste your money and 2 hours of your life.

Michael Steele Puts Another Foot In His Mouth!

Sometimes it's just too easy.  Michael Steele is challenging Rand Paul for the silliest guy in politics.  Either he has decided to try just ignoring history or he has a short term memory loss problem.  Either way it's just too easy to shoot holes in this guys arguments.

Yesterday, he makes a speech at a fundraiser in Connecticut and says of the war President Bush started in Afghanistan:

"Keep in mind again, federal candidates, this was a war of Obama’s choosing. This is not something the United States had actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in."

So I guess when Bush ordered troops into Afghanistan to track down Osama Bin Laden it was just a bad dream?  I wish it was but now Obama is havingto finish Bush's war.  Not a plesant situation and certainly not of "his choosing".

Either the man is an idiot, or just a really bad spin doctor.  Either way it's another embarrassment for the GOP and it has me dancing the "schadenfreude polka"!

Friday Engrish Blogging

I have long been a fan of the website engrish.com.  They post hundreds of pictures of signage form Japan that is mistranslated into broken English.  But they are not the only ones with this kind of malapropism.  Huffington Post recently posted a series of pictures of least appetizing food.

This example must be what I had for lunch yesterday.  Still can't get the taste out of my mouth.

Bon Appetite!

Mel Gibson is an Asshat & Other Well Known Facts

The recording of Mel Gibson spewing a stream of invectives at his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, mother of his child, just goes to prove that the star who may seem hot and romantic on-screen is a really good actor.  In real life he is a bitter, racist, homophobic jerk.

Radaronline posted a few choice quotes from the tape like these:

"You're an embarrassment to me.... You look like a f***ing pig in heat, and if you get raped by a pack of n***ers, it will be your fault."

Sad really, when I think of how I had fantasies about Mel back in his Road Warrior days.  I now have trouble picturing him as anything but a bitter drunk. 

George W. Ranks High - In Worst Presidents of All Time!

I always suspected George W. Bush would go down in history as a really bad president, but just how bad is startling.  A recent poll of 238 Presidential scholars ranks "W" 5th from the bottom.  He can take heart that he ranked above Andrew Jackson,  James Buchanan, W.G. Harding, and Franklin Pierce.

At the top of the list for Best President stands FDR for the fifth consecutive survey.  It's interesting reading for sure.

2 Shot at Vigil for San Francisco Shooting Victims

The shooting that happened near the Gay Pride celebration in San Francisco this weekend has spawned another problem.  At a vigil help last night for the victims, two more people were shot and injured.  Luckily no one was killed this time.

Though the previous deaths were not classified as hate crimes, since they were most likely gang related, I have to wonder how this could be related unless it was indeed a hate crime.  This story will not go away soon, I suspect.

Montana Republicans Hate Gays Too!

I have to admit, the Montana Republican Party's platform sounds much more sane than the wacko document released by the Texas GOP.  Still, just because it sounds a little less zany does not mean it is good.

Look under the section on "Crime" and you will find this little nugget:

Homosexual Acts
We support the clear will of the people of Montana expressed by legislation to keep homosexual acts illegal.

Clear will?  Funny how these guys have their finger on the pulse of the will of all Montana citizens.  First of all "homosexual acts" sounds like something you would see in a bus and truck musical, not to mention the fact that "homosexual acts" are no longer illegal by the ruling of Lawrence v. Texas. 

What this comes down to is hate, pure and simple.  Not as vehement as the hate in the Texas platform, but hate none the less and once again it shows why anyone who considers themselves an LGBT Republican is living in cognitive dissonance.  For God sake at least call yourselves "Independents" and stop supporting the Republican Party! The LGBT community has enough enemies, we don't need them working from the inside to harm us as well.

Oil Layer Coats Pensacola Beach

The pride of the gulf, Pensacola Beach is destroyed for the near future.  These photos on TampaBay.com show not only tar balls and patches on the surface of the white sand beeches, but a layer of tar and oil about 6 inches below the surface.
The "Redneck Riviera" will not be a vacation spot this summer.

There is a movement to demand the government seize BP's assets and use them to pay for damages.  I have to say I think it might be a good idea.

Robert Byrd, Senate Icon, Dead at 92

He always carried a copy of the Constitution in his pocket and frequently referred to it in his speeches on the floor of the Senate. Robert Byrd, the longest serving member of Congress in US history has died at age 92. The conservative Democrat from West Virginia had been hospitalized for about a week prior to his death.

He was elected to the Senate in 1958 and reelected nine times, a record for any Senator. His work for the citizens of West Virginia was often seen as "pork barrel politics" but it won him praise from his constituents.

As a young man he once was "Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan" but in later life his views moderated. He supported the Martin Luther King holiday and endorsed President Barack Obama.

His achievements included a scholarly history of the US Senate as well as numerous laws.

I best remember him as standing on the floor of the Senate and vehemently opposing the Iraq war. His words still haunt many in Washington:

I believe in this beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution. I have marveled at the wisdom of its founders and framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength.


But, today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.


Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place.

Shaving Gay Cougars and Orange Drinks?

What in the heck is this ad trying to say?

HIV Study in Houston Show Many Have Disease and Don't Know It

Something many in the medical community long suspected has been proven out by an empirical test.  In Houston, the emergency rooms at two inner-loop clinics tried testing all patients for HIV as a routine part of their care.  They found one out of every one hundred people tested positive and many of those had no idea prior to the emergency room visit. 

Epidemiologists and HIV researchers have long believed that the general population has a higher infection rate than previously reported.  They believe almost 200,000 Americans are living with HIV and don't know it.

The routine testing removed any stigma that might have cased some people to opt out of testing and gives a much truer sample of how widespread the virus really is.  The long term goal of this pilot program is to make testing for HIV far more widespread to make sure people who are infected can get treatment early and avoid spreading the disease to others.  More from the Houston Chronicle.

Catholic Coloring Book Warns of Pedophile Priests

The Catholic Church with all its emphasis of orthodoxy and tradition has certainly strayed outside the lines with their latest educational initiative.  It's a coloring book for kids that warns them of the dangers of pedophile priests!  Well, not exactly, but the subtext is far from subtle.

The book comes from the New York Archdiocese and is entitled, "Being Friends, Being Safe, Being Catholic".  The book features among other interesting images, an angel cluing a child in to the safety tip,  make sure they're never alone in a room with a priest.  I would have thought this was a joke had I not seen it in Newsweek.

This will either become a valuable tool for protection of children, or the greatest camp joke of all time.  Only time will tell!

LGBT Youth - Alarming Number are Homeless and on the Streets

The figures are staggering. Between 1.6 million to 2.8 million homeless youth in our country! More staggering still is the data that shows up to 40% of those homeless are LGBT youth.

For some reason I never considered homelessness as an LGBT issue but the figures speak clearly, it is. The reasons for these kids ending up on the street are myriad, but they share some disturbing similarities.

A report from the Center for American Progress shows 58% of them are victims of sexual assault. This is much higher than their straight counterparts. Additionally, 62% suffer discrimination from their families because of their sexual orientation. I would imagine that is a big cause of the problem.

The report is eye opening and worth your time to read. Beyond understanding the problem is doing something about it. That will take both our community and our local state and federal governments getting involved and working to change this.

Raining Oil? Strange Video

OK, I am not at all convinced that this is real or at least really what the guys filming it believe, but it is interesting.  I personally suspect that the heavy rain pulled up oil from the streets.  The whole water cycle would have to be really messed up to rain oil.  What do you think?

President Pledges to Sign DADT

In the first White House Gay Pride event, President Obama made a great speech and this part stood out:

And finally, we’re going to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. (Applause.) That is a promise I made as a candidate. It is a promise that I reiterated as President. It’s one that this administration is going to keep. Now, the only way to lock this in -– the only way to get the votes in Congress to roll back this policy -- is if we work with the Pentagon, who are in the midst of two wars.
And that’s why we were gratified to see, for the first time ever, the Secretary of Defense, Bob Gates, testify in favor of repeal. And the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, has repeatedly and passionately argued for allowing gay men and women to serve honestly in the military. (Applause.) We know that forcing gay and lesbian soldiers to live a lie or to leave the military, that doesn’t contribute to our security -- it harms our security.

And thanks to Patrick Murphy and others, for the first time in history, the House has passed a repeal that would allow gay men and women to openly serve in our armed forces. And this repeal is authored so that the Pentagon can complete its review of the policy -- which is critical, by the way, not only to passage, but it’s also critical to making sure that the change is accepted and implemented effectively. In the Senate, the Armed Services Committee has approved repeal for the first time, and the full body is poised to vote soon.

So here’s the bottom line: We have never been closer to ending this discriminatory policy. And I’m going to keep on fighting until that bill is on my desk and I can sign it. (Applause.)

Rand Paul - Fake Doctor? His Board Certification is a Hoax

Rand Paul is the gift that keeps on giving.  The Kentucky ophthalmologist states in his bio that he is board certified by the National Board of Ophthalmology.  That would be no big deal, except that it's a bogus organization Dr. Paul actually owns and heads!

Who else is on this "board"?  Well, his wife and father-in-law for starters.   He says he formed the non-profit after a dispute with the American Board of Ophthalmology, the only group recognized as actually being capable of issuing officially recognized certifications.

I would expect to hear more on this in coming days since the election is getting closer.  Wonder where his degree came from?  Though he may not be a fake doctor, bolting from the only organization that can certify a doctor in his field and setting up his own group to "certify" himself is really suspicious.

Remembering Leonard Matlovich - 22 Years Later

Leonard Matlovich is a name a lot of younger LGBT people don't recognize today.  Sgt. Matlovich was an early advocate for LGBT rights and he was discharged after a stellar career in the Air Force for coming out.  His forthright announcement that he was gay, shocked a nation into realization that there were thousands of LGBT people serving in the military.

Yesterday, on the 22nd anniversary of his death, his friend and roommate Michael Bedwell released this YouTube video.  atch it and if you never knew who he was, remember his name.  Leonard was a brave pioneer in the fight for LGBT rights.

I had the pleasure and privileged of knowing Sgt. Matlovich.  He came to Dallas to help us promote the National March on Washington for Gay Rights in 1979.  I spent a couple of days with him shuttling him from press event to press event.  We finished with an appearance on the Charlie Rose Show.  Charlie was a local talk show host then and shortly afterward his career took off on the national stage. Leonard was an unassuming man, yet he was fierce in his activism and belief in equality.

Leonard, unfortunately, was an early victim of AIDS and though his life was cut short, his achievements and spirit continue to inspire me and many other LGBT people.

McChrystal Resigns - A Day of Changes!

It's been a day of big changes.  The most significant one for LGBT Americans was the addition of family leave for LGBT families.  This means the same leave granted new mothers and fathers will be offered to new LGBT citizens as well.  Bravo President Obama!

The other change is still in the works, but it looks like General Stanley McChrystal is submitting his resignation.  Seems he just couldn't get beyond the outrageous things he said in a Rolling Stone interview.  Dissing the Commander in Chief is not a road map for career advancement!

Wonder what else will happen today?

Dismal Forecast for Texas Education - A State Full of "Idjits"

Sad state of affairs here in the Lone Star State.  According to a recent demographic forecast, we will have 3 of every 10 workers with no high school diploma by 2040.  Add that to the rising levels of poverty and you have whats called a "feedback loop".  Poor kids can't get an education and they raise more poor kids who can't afford an education....well you get the idea.

So far our state lawmakers have failed to step up to the plate and do anything about rising poverty and falling education except insist on testing and bellyache about welfare.  That won't cut it anymore.  It's time to actually do something.  Like support preschool education, fund more scholarships for higher education and make "learning" a priority, not "testing".

Yea, like that will happen.  Meanwhile as we slide into becoming a 3rd world country in this state maybe we could build a few assembly plants that require unskilled and uneducated workers cause the Burger Kings can only employ so many folks!

Oil Spill From Space

Here is what BP has left our country with.  This photo from space shows the extent of the spill in graphic detail.  They have turned the Gulf of Mexico into a cesspool and Joe Barton (R-TX) apologizes to them?

My guess is the $20 Billion will be a drop in the bucket when it comes to cleaning this up.  Now estimates of the leak range from 50,000 to 100,000 barrels a day.  Nice job BP!

NASA updates this image regularly here.