Random Musings

The house next to Casa Bob y Carlos finally sold this week, and I think the new owners will be moving in soon, so I will be asking Carlos, and myself, to tone down our yelling; well, it’s really mock yelling, but to the neighbor’s it might seem, um, not so much.

I have been fighting a cold this week, and as happens, Carlos, who I must remind you all, is not a doctor, tells me I need to drink Hot Tea all the time.

I tell him, and, again, reminder, I am not a doctor, that I prefer to drink Not Hot Drinks. Carlos gives a dissertation on Hot Beverages and I quickly remind him that any doctor will tell you, cold or flu, to gets lots of sleep and drink lots of liquids … with no mention of a specific temperature of that said liquid.

As Carlos was leaving the house this morning, and as I was returning to my boudoir and the warm comfort of my bed, he began “mock” shouting Hot Tea! Hot Tea!

And I began “mock” shrieking, even with my bad throat, You’re not a doctor! Stop talking!! STOP TALKKING!!!!!

Welcome to the neighborhood, newbies!

Man alive, those Russians really hate The Gays, and anything even Gay Adjacent!

It seems the residents of Saint Petersburg have reportedly torn down a giant interactive iPhone memorial that commemorated the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs because Apple’s current CEO, Tim Cook, came out as gay. And the chairman of the company that installed the memorial said that it might return with a message that instructs Russians not to buy Apple products.

Yup, tell down a memorial to one man, because another man in the company is a ‘mo.

St. Petersburg better be careful, because with that attitude they might be tearing down the entire town one day.

Did y’all see blowhard Chris Christie going off on the man who dared interrupt him as he was speaking? The man, a constituent of Christie’s, and a man who survived Hurricane Sandy, though he’s still waiting for money to come through that he needs to rebuild his home, simply wanted the Governor to answer some questions.

Christie’s response? “Sit down and shut up."

Remember that when the Fat man runs for office because that’s how he’ll react to any question he doesn’t like.

It’s not presidential, it’s thuggish and bullying and condescending. If anyone needs to sit down and shut up it’s Chris Christie.

So Taylor Swift turned her back on Country music to be a Pop Star? Well, I’d say that Pop’s loss and Country’s gain. And she hightailed it right outta Nashville for New York City where she was named NYC’s Global Ambassador after living there all of half an hour.

So, what does Taylor Swift do? Well, she donated the proceeds of her new song “Welcome to New York” to charity and then she set up her world tour to promote her latest album.

She’ll be playing everywhere except New York City.

Seriously, the girl is a moron. I mean, she’s playing in Jersey so I guess she thinks that’s good enough? It isn’t.

After last Tuesday’s election, Senator Wack Nut, er, Rand Paul created a series of Facebook posts showing every losing Democrat endorsed by Hillary Clinton.

And you thought this was all Obama's fault? Nope, cuz he’ll be out of office in two years so Rand decides to go on the attack against Hilary.

Someone’s scared, eh, Rand?

I’ve been watching The Affair on Showtime. It tells the story of a murder — though we don’t know who died, even if they were murdered, or who did it — and a couple of people involved are the ones having The Affair.

It’s kind of morose, though I do enjoy the way they show both adulterers’’ sides to the story, but there is some man candy.

Joshua Jackson — on the right — plays Cole Lockhart, the husband of the woman having the affair, and though we saw his buck nekkid in episode one I was less than impressed. But then we saw him in jeans, riding, then dismounting a horse and, well, a man in Levi’s with a nice ass … I’m hooked.

In addition we have Colin O’Donnell — on the left — playing Cole’s brother Scotty, er, Hotty.

Yeah, I may be able to endure the morose for the occasional hotness. I’m shallow like that, you know.

So, My-Husband-In-My-Head Matt Bomer made his debut on AHS: Freak Show last night, playing a gay hustler, yum, who gets picked up in a bar by the wickedly insane, and insanely adorable, Dandy, played by Finn Wittrock. The two of them, in tighty whites? Oy, thank goodness for DVRs and replay!

I was in heaven until … and I’ll save the spoilers if you haven’t seen; suffice to say, Matt? What happened?

Also, the delicious Frances Conroy. Lots of talk, and all of it well-deserved, about Jessica Lange, but Frances Conroy has always been fabulous in AGS and this year is no different; the voice — "They're special bulbs from Holland! Don't question me!" — the hair, the clothes, the personality of her character. I want her to have her own season of Horror.

And then to have Gabourey Sidibe again? Loving it! Hopefully she’ll play a larger part before this all ends.

So, am I the only one who finds all those pictures of the virulently anti-gay Benham Brothers hoisting virulently anti-gay politicians into the air to be more than just a little gay looking?

And, not that I’m saying he’s gay, but the looks on Huckleberry's, Jindal's and Perry’s faces seem to suggest that they’re more than a little tickled to be carried around by bigots.

Speaking of homophobes, for some reason Peter LaBarbera, president of the anti-gay organization Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, went on the attack against National Treasure, Neil Patrick Harris.

Luckily Dan Savage was there to respond … and God, too.

I Didn't Say It........

Tim Gunn, on Snooki's fashion:

“In the case of say, a Snooki, she looks at herself in the mirror for the first time in that getup and says, ‘Oh my god. Can I really go out in this?’ And then 20 minutes later, she’s still looking at herself and she thinks, ‘I don’t look so bad.’ At the monkey house, it would be, ‘Oh it doesn’t smell so bad anymore.’ Though when you first walk in it stinks, and after 40 minutes it doesn’t smell at all, and that’s when Snooki leaves the house.”

Tim got into some trouble this week when talking about Hilary Clinton's love of the pantsuit being a result of gender confusion, but he is right on about Snooki.
Though i think she still stinks like a monkey cage.

Dolly Parton, apologizing for an incident at Dollywood in which a lesbian was asked to reverse a T-shirt that said "Marriage is So Gay" on it:

"I am truly sorry for the hurt or embarrassment regarding the gay and lesbian t-shirt incident at Dollywood's Splash Country recently. Everyone knows of my personal support of the gay and lesbian community. Dollywood is a family park and all families are welcome. I am looking further into the incident and hope and believe it was more policy than insensitivity. I am very sorry it happened at all."

I'm glad Dolly stood up and didn't offer the standard non-apology apology, where the victim is basically blamed.

Dolly has long been a friend of the LGBT community and I know that when she says she's sorry she means it.

 

Pete LaBarbera, of Americans For Truth, on Dolly Parton's apology to that lesbian patron of Dollywood:

"The question is where can normal families go anymore to get away from the promotion of homosexuality? They can't go to the ballpark because they're promoting homosexuality. Apparently, family theme parks are now promoting homosexuality. Everywhere you go, people see the promotion of homosexuality -- and they don't think it's appropriate for their children, and they're tired of it."

First off, Pete, families with gay parents are normal families, too. And just because gay families go to Dollywood, or Disneyland or anywhere, doesn't mean those places promote homosexuality.
What they promote is business.
What they promote is understanding.
What they promote is equality.
And none of things are bad.

Nancy Pelosi, on Michele Bachmann and the gay teen suicides in her congressional district:

“I would think that if she wanted to be the President of the United States, she would understand that this is a larger issue than whether someone is gay or not, but as to whether someone is harassed and bullied to the point of seeing no way out. Obviously it’s an issue bigger than Michele Bachmann’s district, so maybe we should all be speaking out about it, and not just leaving it to her."

But, Nancy, her district is home to many suicides and this is something that, as a representative if the people in her district, she should be talking about.
But, because it;'s gay people who aren't frequenting her husband's barbaric Pray The Gay Away clinics, and lining her pocketbook, she doesn't give a flying fuck.
After all, it's just fags killing themselves, right Michele?

Oklahoma state Representative Sally Kern, promoting her new book on AFA Radio:

"To me what is hateful is when those people who say ‘you’re born this way, there’s no hope in change, you’re stuck in this, deal with it,’ that is hate. There’s no hope in that. We’re losing our freedom of conscience. And if the homosexuals get what they want, and as you said it’s not just homosexuality, its immorality or adultery, all of that, but in my opinion the homosexual movement is the tip of the spear. They’re the ones who right now are beating down the door, have their foot in the door, trying to tear down the moral fiber of America. We have to stand up to that. The reason it’s the tip of the spear you don’t see ‘Adulterers Victory Fund’ out there trying to promote adultery. God’s people got to stand up to this."

Sally, honey, I was born gay.
You, on the other hand, were taught to hate. You learned to be a bigot. You studied how to be homophobic.
I can't change, Sal, but you could.
If stupidity wasn't also part of your identity.

Former President George Bush, on his reaction to the news of the 9/11 attacks:

"My first reaction was anger. Who the hell would do that to America? Then I immediately focused on the children, and the contrast between the attack and the innocence of children. So I made the decision not to jump up immediately and leave the classroom. I didn't want to rattle the kids. I wanted to project a sense of calm. I had been in enough crises to know that the first thing a leader has to do is to project calm."

Hey Georgie?
Ever think of saying to the kiddies, "Sorry kids, I've got to get back to Washington. I'll see you again soon."?
Or, was your own thought to sit there with your eyes glazed over, and that Oh god, I am so fucked look on your face.
You weren't thinking of the children, you were thinking your little old job was about to get real hard.
Asshat.

Pat Buchanan, explaining how, when he calls President Obama a "boy" he doesn't mean it in a racist way:

"I was asked who was the big losers in this battles and the big winners, and I said one of the biggest losers, using boxing terminology, was 'your boy,' and I meant the president of the United States. Rev. Sharpton said my boy is the president of the United States and he is doing a rope-a-dope in the Ali fashion and he is going to finish off your crowd. Now this was taken, some folks took what I said as some kind of slur. None was meant, none was intended, none was delivered, for the record."

I got news for you, Pat. when you call a Black man 'boy', it's racist.
M'kay.
I mean, I've known that for, like, forever, and I don't make my living speaking to people.
I also don't make my living being an out-of-your-ass talking moron, though, too.
So maybe that explains your idiocy.

May Day! May Day! We Wasted a Fortune!

It's sad.

It's funny.

It's pathetic.

It's all that and more.

The Religious "Right" sponsored an event at the Lincoln Memorial on May 1 entitled “May Day 2010: A Cry To God For A Nation In Distress.” They spent upwards of $70,000, and lined up the usual suspects--Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council and Pete LaBarbera of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality to right-wingnut Alan Keyes--for a day-long celebration to “reach the heart of God” and repent America’s wicked ways.

Wicked ways? Hmmmm. Oh yeah. Electing a black man who is pro-gay and pro-choice, and, dear jeebus, a Democrat.

Those wicked ways.

The event was described on the May Day 2010 website like this:

Join with Christian leaders of all denominations who love God to humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of God, and turn from our wicked ways—individually and as a nation.
This event is not to impress the media or those in Washington, but to reach the heart of God. Publicly repenting and crying out to God for His mercy instead of the judgment our many sins deserve.

Repentance in personal and corporate prayer to God and remembrance of His work throughout our nation's history will be major parts of the day as we seek God to do a great work of revival or reformation in our time.

Uh-huh.

So, $70,000 for, what sounds to me like, a big-tent revival meeting. To each his own. But, to get back to the sad, funny, pathetic part. Just 300 people showed up for the Hate Masked As Worship festival.

Three-hundred.

Now, couldn't $70,000 been better spent helping people instead of working to put people down because of their orientation or political views or voting record? Wouldn't God have been more impressed if the seventy grand was used to feed, clothe and shelter people?

I think so.

The Religious "Right"?

Not so much.

Oh Dave, Seriously Not Funny

It seems as though everyone is up in arms again over a David Letterman joke. Though not about Sarah Palin, this time he took on President Obama's appointment to the Commerce Department, Amanda Simpson, a transgendered person.

See for yourself:I know.

Not terribly funny; more along the lines of the typical frat boy humor you get on late night talk shows, but, man, Dave is taking the heat for this one. Everyone, and I mean, everyone, well, except for wingnuts and homophobes, is out for him.

But then you have people like Peter LaBarbera complaining to Focus On Family, and saying:

"Is there going to be a transgender quota now in the Obama administration? How far does this politics of gay and transgender activism go? Clearly this is an administration that is pandering to the gay lobby.We should consider what transgender activism is about, which is essentially recognizing civil rights based on gender confusion."

Gender confusion? And yet I don't hear anyone up in arms about his statement. GLAAD isn't demanding an apology and the HRC isn't releasing a statement. They're targeting a talk show host. And it gets worse.

WorldNetDaily, on its website, was very offensive, going so far as to use the words him and he when talking about Amanda Simpson, and putting quotation marks around her first name as though it was some kind of an alias:

Mitchell Simpson, now known as "Amanda" following a sex change, is said to have been appointed senior technical adviser at the Commerce Department. He purportedly began work today.
......
Simpson, 49, is a former test pilot who made the gender switch 10 years ago while working in Tucson, Ariz., for Raytheon Missile Systems, a major Department of Defense contractor where he became deputy director. According to the Arizona Daily Star, Simpson underwent six surgeries at a cost of $70,000 to make the transition from male to female. He had his Adam's apple removed, breasts added, forehead ground down and genital surgery.
Simpson became the first openly transgendered candidate to win a primary election in the U.S. in a 2004 bid for the Arizona state legislature, the New York Daily News reports. He lost the general election. He's not the first high-profile transgender appointment in Washington, D.C. In 2008, Diego Sanchez was named chairman of the House Financial Services Committee by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

GLAAD? Anything? The Human Rights Campaign? Have a comment? That would be no, though they both called on David Letterman to apologize; a comedian.

GLAAD issued the following statement:
Depicting people reacting in horror to transgender individuals is a dangerous stereotype for popular media to perpetuate because it contributes to the societal conception of transgender people as abnormal and deceptive, which all-too-often results in anti-transgender violence and/or discrimination when played out in reality. We are reaching out to CBS “Late Show with David Letterman” with our concerns about this transphobic joke. Please send your concerns to CBS.

And the Human Rights Campaign chimed in like this:
You may not be aware that the punch line in your skit has been used as a defense in nearly every hate crime perpetrated against transgender people that has come to trial. For example, the “trans panic” defense was infamously used by Allen Ray Andrade, who was convicted in 2009 of beating 19-year-old Angie Zapata to death with a fire extinguisher after learning of her gender history. According to media reports, it has also been the main defense employed by Juan A. Martinez for the killing of Jorge Steven López Mercado, 19, in Puerto Rico last November.Your skit affirmed and encouraged a prejudice against transgender Americans that keeps many from finding jobs, housing, and enjoying freedoms you and your writers take for granted every day. We ask that you apologize publicly to Ms. Simpson and the transgender community for this unfortunate episode.

Now I get it, Letterman's little skit was offensive, and he should apologize to Amanda Simpson, but, you know, sometimes comedy is offensive. So, why run after Dave and let these people who are saying far more vile things about Miss Simpson off the hook? If you're going to get up in arms about a comedy skit, you ought to get up in arms about any anti-LGBT statement made by anyone.

Like I said, Dave's was in bad taste, but I don't think he meant it as an insult to Amanda Simpson, or any transgendered person. Sadly, we cannot say the same thing about Peter LaBarbera and WorldNetDaily.