My Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for 2012

These are my top 10 New Year's Resolutions for 2012--these are the only 10 actually. Since the Mayans could be right and this could be the last year we're all alive, I thought I should have a fun year. If you're alive, check back at the end of next year to see how I did (check back before then though).

10. Read more. I have been reading a lot this week and realize I need to make more time to read in the coming year. The goal is 30 books. I hate to admit how many books I've read this year. Suffice to say it was less than 30. Therefore, reading 30 will be more. This means less TV and Internet, so this may not happen.

9. Try to break the 4 hour marathon (again). I'm scheduled to run the Miami Marathon at the end of January, but I've been quite lax in my training since running the Philadelphia Marathon in November. My legs have not felt great on my runs. They have been quite crampy and spasmy. I'm considering bailing on Miami. I hope I can get my running enthusiasm back. I actually hope to run several marathons next year. In addition to Miami (if I do it), I plan on entering the lottery to run the New York City Marathon, but only 8 to 12 percent of entries get chosen. I'm also considering Wilmington, Delaware.

8. Stop biting my nails, as it is getting difficult to reach certain areas inside my nose. This could be the most difficult resolution for me on the list.

7. Be more creative with my gift giving in the new year, which means no more calendars and candles as gifts. So, if you were looking forward to getting a calendar from me--tough luck.

6. Quit smoking. OK... technically I don't smoke at all, but this really seems like something I can accomplish.

5. Drink more red wine. Red wine is supposed to be good for your heart and I do drink one or two glasses several nights a week, but I want a really healthy heart.

4. Stop using the phrase "that guy." I hate being that guy that uses the phrase "that guy." As a matter of fact, I want to stop using the word "that" altogether.

3. Save more money. I have a specific goal in mind here, but I don't really want to publish my financial information on a public blog.  I will publish my Social Security Number  and my Mother's maiden name, but not at this time.

2. Post more interesting content on my blog, such as kitty videos and mildly interesting top 10 lists. I want to give the people what they want. This may mean buying Maude more holiday-related costumes. She'll be thrilled.

and my #1 New Year's Resolution is....

1. Devise a plan to manipulate Shane into marrying me. Or, let Shane manipulate me into marrying him. We've been together almost 14 years now and we're already an old marry couple in our minds. Not to sound overly romantic, but we just need to get it done to get the limited legal benefits we can from a marriage that is recognized by the District of Columbia, but not by the Federal Government.

The Mullet Are Jumping in Florida

These are the mullets jumping in the canal behind our house in Florida. They jump all the time. Sometimes it is like popcorn. I don't know why they jump, but jump they do. If you have trouble viewing these videos, click here and here to see the Youtube version. The first video shows the fish jumping after a few seconds and the second shows the jumper at the very start (with the fish out of the water).

Also, after each jump you can hear Shane asking if I got it. Though they jump all the time, as soon as you turn on the camera, they go all jump shy. It is hard to actually catch them in the act.

New Year's Resolutions Recap from Last Year

This is the annual post to see how I did at keeping my New Year's Resolutions from last year. Last year, I only made three resolutions--in brief: 1) Run a marathon in less than 4 hours. 2) Post on my blog every day. 3) Score higher than 10,000 on Qrank.

I did pretty good. I did two out of three. I actually scored more than 10,000 on Qrank, a daily trivia game I play on my iPhone and iPad, several times. The first time I did it was actually before 2011, but after I wrote the resolution. The last time I did it was just a few days ago. You can review my Tweets on Twitter (@BlueSpongeRun) to find the exact dates. I post my scores there.

I also accomplished the blogging resolution. I posted at least one thing on here each day in 2011 (assuming I post something tomorrow). I thought if I posted regularly, the people who view my blog my check back more regularly, thus, causing my views to increase. That has happened to some degree, but not that much. Then I started to wonder why I care how many people view my blog. I decided not to care. I like having a blog to review what is happening in my life--what I'm thinking about. It is my diary of sorts, but since people I know do read it on occasion, I can't really include the juicy stuff.

Finally, I did not accomplish one of my resolutions. I missed my first goal by 5 minutes and 43 seconds. I did run a marathon in 2011--the Philadelphia Marathon, but I ran it in just over 4 hours. Of course my ultimate goal is to qualify for Boston. I recently saw in Runner's World magazine a stat that only 5 to 10 percent of marathon runners ever qualify for Boston. It does seem like a daunting task. I can't break 4 hours and to qualify at my current age, I have to run a marathon in under 3.5 hours. That means more than a minute faster per mile. With the way my legs have been feeling lately, I wonder if I can do this. Of course, the older I get the more time I have to qualify. If I can keep running into my 80s, I might have a chance.

Top 10 Little-Used Baby Names

Below are the top 10 baby names for boys and girls for 2011.

I thought it would be fun to make a Top 10 List of Little-Used Baby Names. This doesn't mean these are bad names or ugly names. I like several of these names and we named our cat one of the names below. These are just names that people don't name little babies anymore. Personally, I would avoid both the little-used and popular baby lists in actually naming a baby. 


BOYS

10. Finch

9. Floyd

8. Basil

7. Edgar

6. Lurch

5. Loomis

4. Nanook

3. Orville

2. Irving

and the #1 Little-Used Baby Name for a Boy is

1. Adolph

*Interestingly, both Shane's and my father's names are on that list. 

GIRLS

10. Hortense

9. Myrtle

8. Blanche

7. Viola

6. Maude

5. Whoopi

4. Lovie

3. Bertha

2. Ethel

and the #1 Little-Used Baby Name for a Girl is

1.  Mulva (Made popular on the TV show Seinfeld)

Top 10 LGBT Film Characters in 2011

I copied this from TowleRoad blog. You know I can't resist a top 10 list. I have not seen any of these films, but I'll be looking out for them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By NATHANIEL ROGERS 
...would live in the movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience. Follow him on Twitter @nathanielr.

TIS THE SEASON... OF LIST-MAKING

Meryl Streep, recently profiled on 60 Minutes, was asked about playing characters who seem so incredibly different than she herself is, like her upcoming role in The Iron Lady which opens in a week's time. Her answer intrigued:

It always really bothers me when people imagine that characters who don't look like you or don't have the same accent as you are far from you. A great actress Sybil Thorndike said 'I think we all have the germ of every other person inside of us.' And I believe we do."

This is true enough. A well written character of any type can feel human and relatable to anyone with a working imagination. This is especially true for minority moviegoers who learn instinctively to recognize themselves in people who look and seem nothing like them at first glance. Sometimes we have to go long stretches without seeing mirror-like reflections in mainstream pop culture. We may have a germ of every other person inside of us, but it's still thrilling to see something closer to yourself on the screen.
So herewith a list of the best LGBT movie characters of this past year in film. Tis the season of...list making.

Three notes before we begin: I missed the Iranian lesbian drama Circumstance which I've heard is quite good; I'm not touching Pedro Almodóvar's The Skin I Live In so as to avoid spoilers; The highest profile film skipped on this list is J. Edgar because you're better off doing just that.

TOP TEN LGBT FILM CHARACTERS OF 2011


This list is dedicated to Jeremy Renner's "Agent Brandt" in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (fun movie) who I pretended was gay the whole time. Rather unexpectedly Renner/Brandt rewarded my mental acrobatics by quipping that Paula Patton's Agent had the easy job during their nuclear code nabbing mission in Dubai --  "Next time I get to seduce the rich guy."

10. LAURENT (Jérémie Renier) in Potiche
This comedy from out French auteur François Ozon didn't need a gay character to endear itself to LGBT audiences. Catherine Deneuve, the hilarious (subtitled) banter and retro 70s eye candy, already performed that trick. But one of Ozon's best jokes in this delightful confection is the latent über gayness of Deneuve's son Laurent; you see it coming long before he does.

09. EVERYONE in X-Men: First Class
Mutants are... different, feared, ridiculed. It's a metaphor, see? Or at least it was a few films ago. Magneto (Michael Fassbender) may have bedded Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) in this reboot but it was his BFF Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) who he kept locking eyes with.

08. LISBETH SALANDER (Rooney Mara) in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Everyone's favorite socially maladjusted bixsexual goth icon hacker is back albeit with a new face (Rooney Mara's exquisitely expressive one... even when Lisbeth is trying not to express anything). Lisbeth's number on the Kinsey Scale seems to have shifted ever slightly towards heterosexuality in this new version but she has considerably less angst about girl-on-girl action than about the men. Stick to the ladies, Lisbeth! [Reviewed]

07. PETER GUILLAUME (Benedict Cumberbatch) in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Cumberbatch's nerve-wracked spy is not the only Gay in this ultra handsome espionage thriller but naming the others would give too much away. And the movie doesn't want to give anything away, with all the characters keeping their secrets close to the vest and the movie barely whispering them. Nevertheless it's gay enough that Kathy Burke gets a memorable cameo as the department fag hag "My lovely boys... 'The Inseparables'" she says, caressing photos of her former co-workers.

06. FRANCIS (Xavier Dolan) in Heartbeats aka Les Amours Imaginaires 
The beautiful and talented French-Canadian Xavier Dolan wrote, directed and starred in his first two features and film number three is already on the way. Get in early since he'll only be collecting more fans. Heartbeats follows two best friends Francis and Marie (Monia Chakri) who war over the affections of Nicolas (Niels Schneider) who may be into one of them or both or neither. Some people find the film too slight but its so superbly stylish and the bitchy catfights feel human and aggrieved as opposed to performed in reality-tv ready way. See it! [Currently available on Netflix Instant Watch]

05. THE KREWE OF YUGA (various) in Sons of Tennessee Williams
This documentary focuses on a gay rights struggle involving New Orleans costume balls which predated the Stonewall riots by nearly ten years. The documentary tries to do way too much considering its short running time, but I would gladly sit through entire documentaries about any of the original members of this Krewe. Their stories were fascinating, funny and heartbreaking.

04. HUBERT PAGE (Janet McTeer) in Albert Nobbs
Glenn Close's dream project about a woman masquerading as a male waiter in 19th century Ireland is totally stolen by her co-star. Janet McTeer also plays a woman living as a man, but one with a far clearer grasp of her sexual identity. McTeer works emotional wonders in her short screentime especially when she's expressing her feelings for her companion Cathleen, "my life". The love is entirely palpable. Expect McTeer to make a run for a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

03. RUSSELL & GLENN (Tom Cullen and Chris New) in Weekend
Perhaps I should've given this duo the top spot, but they have an advantage as there's two of them. Rising actors Tom Cullen and Chris New work miracles together as a shy lifeguard and outspoken artist in this perfectly modest but transcendent romance. If you haven't seen it yet, you're crazy. If you have, see it again. It's currently available on Netflix Instant Watch. [Read also: Director interview]

02. ALIKE (Adepero Oduye) in Pariah
This feature from lesbian filmmaker Dee Rees made a splash at Sundance last January but Focus Features has mysteriously held it back from release for an entire year. It's marvelous and if it had had a bigger release earlier you might see it winning more critics awards than just a few prizes at the Black Film Critics Circle. Alike, a shy lesbian in a rough Brooklyn neighborhood, is one of the most authentic feeling gay characters to come along in years and from an underrepresented group at that. Oduye proves herself a major new actress as she charts Alike's teen moodswings, sexual excitement and the nervous reaching for inner strength as she faces fickle friendships and homophobic parents. [Opens December 28th in Limited Release]

01. HAL (Christopher Plummer) in Beginners
Like Alike in Pariah, Hal is another under represented gay figure on movie screens. How many full characterizations of gay seniors do we ever get to see? Christopher Plummer's sweet buoyant work as a man who comes out of the closet very late in life elevates this already fantastic whimsical drama about a single artist (Ewan McGregor) struggling to understand his own relationship to romance while grieving the loss of his gay father. The best thing about the movie might well be the sympathy it has for all of its characters and their romantic compromises and quandaries. It looks unblinking at the sexuality of a senior citizen -- how rare is that in the movies? -- and rather than reverting to tired ageism or stopping short at tolerance, expresses admiration and love. "He never gave up." [Review & Director interview]

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #316

The bikes used to have bells, but then it was way too easy to get your wings.  

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #316.  In case you don't get it, it is a reference to the movie, It's A Wonderful Life, where Zuzu says, "Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." You see, if the angels had bikes with bells on them, they could just ring them and get their own wings. Obviously, it isn't funny if you have to explain. Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.

Beach Panorama from Manasota Key, FL

This is another panorama shot of the beach we went to today. It is near Englewood, FL, on Manasota Key. It is, more precisely, Blind Pass Beach, which is on the Sarasota County side of the key. This is the beach we go to most often when we are in Florida, though it is about 45 minutes from our house. You might be able to spot our two green umbrellas on the beach. The sun was quite bright over the water causing a large white spot in the photo. Also, you might see the dark clouds behind us that eventually caused us to leave the beach when it started to sprinkle. We were afraid it might start to pour. It was otherwise a beautiful beach day.

You can move around the panorama by clicking on the picture and mousing left or right.

Christmas Recap: Stash Includes Adele DVD

We had a really nice Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Shane and I went out to dinner at the River City Grill in Punta Gorda, FL. It was very nice-Shane had steak and I had blackened salmon.

They do a great job of decorating downtown Punta Gorda for the holidays.

Christmas tree in downtown Punta Gorda, FL.

After dinner, we went back to the house and exchanged gifts. Since we did the trip to New York City earlier in the month, we scaled back on the gifts. Shane got me a New Yorker Cartoon desk calendar and a book I wanted, You Are an Ironman. I got him an Italy calendar, a couple books and DVDs (I got some great deals by taking advantage of Borders going out of business). After gifts and dinner, we watched a Christmas episode of All Creatures Great and Small. It was a perfect evening.

We exchanged gifts with my family last weekend and among the stash I got was the Adele DVD of her performance at Royal Albert Hall on blu-ray. There is an excerpt above. Today, we went up to Shane's Mom's house and celebrated with his family. We did some Skyping with both his family and mine. His Mom made a delicious Christmas dinner. We got a beach cart and portable gas grill... along with other cool things.

Shane with his Mom and Grandmother

It was a very nice day--except Shane insisted on washing the car at one point. It was nice having a clean car though. It was filthy as can he noted in his comment of the video I posted of our dashboard lights flashing.

Our cleaned CR-V

I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas!!

These clips are from Pee Wee Herman's Christmas Special (the whole show is available for free at www.peewee.com and it is worth the watch). Feliz Blah Blah Blah! 

Panoramic View from Our Dock in Punta Gorda, FL

This was taken with an iPhone app called 360 Panorama. As you can see, the software isn't perfect, as there are some fuzzy areas, but the effect is still pretty cool. This was taken today while standing on the dock behind our house in Punta Gorda, FL. You can move around by clicking and dragging on the photo.

President Obama Gets Best Christmas Gift Ever

The Republicans finally caved on their blocking of the payroll tax break 2-month extension, giving President Obama the best Christmas gift ever. Speaker of the House John Boehner looks like the dumbass he is after showing he has little or no control over the crazy tea party crowd that held the bill hostage. Obama and the Dems look like the sane, smart ones (which they are) and America will still get their tax break and unemployment benefits (for now). Boehner now truly has good reason to do some of that crying he is so famous for. What an idiot.

Top 10 Broadcast Television Shows of 2011

This is my top 10 list of my favorite shows on broadcast television in 2011. This list doesn't include my favorite show of the year, which is American Horror Story, because it is on cable television. I've restricted this list to broadcast television because I'm currently at my house in Punta Gorda, FL, and we don't have cable or satellite TV here. We use an over-the-air digital antenna. Interestingly, we can't get a CBS station here over-the-air. I did include one CBS show in this list, but it is not currently running.

One show that did not make this list, The Biggest Loser, is not on the list because, though I am addicted to the show, I have issues with it and how it works. I think it is a little sick that it uses temptations as part of a game of losing weight. Isn't it a little sick? I admit I do watch it sometimes, but I hate myself for it.

You also might notice that my list is heavy on the comedies and light on dramas. I guess that is just the way I roll. Here's my list of Top 10 Broadcast TV Shows:

10. Glee - I do have issues with this show not having any basis in reality, but you can't deny that it is fun to watch, even if it is to just roll your eyes at the outfits they put Kurt and Blaine in.

9. Raising Hope - There are two very good reasons to watch this show: Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman. They are both very funny. The writing is uneven, but has its moments and is often creative.

8. The Middle - My favorite characters in this show are Sue and her ex-boyfriend Brad, the super-stereotypical gay that Sue doesn't have a clue is gay. Brad isn't on often, but when he is, he is fabulous. Even without Brad, the show is often funny.

7. Saturday Night Live - Although this show is a gazillion years old, it still can be water cooler fodder. Kristen Wiig doing Suze Orman and Fred Armisen doing Joy Behar are some recent highlights. It is often not funny, but it can be very funny... just like from day one. I remember loving it back in 1975 with Gilda Radner and the other Not Ready for Primetime Players. Even then, there were lots of duds.

6. The Office - This has been a year of big change on this show, and the verdict is still out if it can survive without Michael Scott. However, some of its best shows were the last ones of last season when Michael was leaving. When he and Holly finally got together on that rooftop, I was really moved. It was good.

5. Big Brother - I know this is a terrible show, but it is a train wreck I can't not watch. Don't judge me.

4. Dowton Abbey - From the ridiculous (Big Brother) to the sublime (this). This was such a good show on PBS and I'm VERY excited a second season is coming in January.

3. Modern Family - Everyone seems to love this show and I hear how great it is all the time. I would have expected with all the hype that it wouldn't be that good, but it really is very good. Though the Cam character is another over-the-top gay, there are people even more flamboyant in the world. You could have knock me over with a feather when I found out the actor  that plays him, Eric Stonestreet, is straight.

2. The New Girl - This is my favorite new broadcast show of the year and best new comedy. Zooey Deschanel is laugh-out-loud funny as the nerdy girl with a heart of gold. Me like.








and my #1 favorite broadcast television show is...

1. 30 Rock - You got to love Tina Fey's smart and funny show about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of a network comedy show. I watch it over and over.

Breakfast of Champions-Headed for Florida

We started driving to Florida last night after work. We made it to a cheap motel in southern North Carolina that had a free breakfast. Nutrition goes out the window when we're on a road trip. We expect to get to Punta Gorda, FL, by early evening today if we don't run into any trouble.

UPDATE:  We arrived at our house in Punta Gorda a little after 6 this evening with no problems except a few traffic jam delays... nothing too bad though. So good to be back home in Florida!

North Korea Hysterical Over Kim Jong Il's Death

Who knew he was loved so much by the people? Even I'm getting a little vaklempt.

Trailer for Next December's The Hobbit Released

Hal-Le-Lu-Jah Chorus--Eskimo Style

This video from the small Yupiq Eskimo Village of Quinhagak, Alaska, was a school computer project intended for the other Yupiq villages in the area. Much to the villagers' shock, it is going viral on the Internet Machine. It is pretty cool.

More Holiday Music-"Chelsea Boys"

I saw this posted on Joe. My, God.'s blog. It is from Spottiswoode & His Enemies album, Salvation, which is available on iTunes. Enjoy!

Michael Buble' Sings Christmas Songs on SNL

Michael Buble' was on Saturday Night Live last night singing some Christmas standards. This is apparently the first time he has ever used a microphone or he's had a few glasses of Buble' to loosen up before the show.

Since Shane and I are heading to Florida for actual Christmas, we went up to see my family and exchanged presents with them today. One of the gifts I received was Buble's new Christmas CD. One Christmas down, two more to go. As always, sorry for the ads.
 

Finally Running Again-Training for Miami

I did a long run today. It was the first time I had run in over a week. I had a bit of a cold, so I took some time off. But I'm set to run the Miami Marathon at the end of January. I need to get some miles under my belt.

I could sure tell I hadn't run in a while. I only went about 11 miles, but my knees were aching. Also, it was freezing cold. I hate running in the cold. The wind was strong in my face on my run toward Georgetown, but I was even colder when the wind was at my back. I was planning on doing about 14 miles, but pooped out at 11.

I stopped and stretched at the Washington Monument and snapped this photo of myself. They still have the sidewalks closest to the monument closed, which happened after the August earthquake. I hope it doesn't fall over when I'm nearby.

I'm not liking that neck fat.

Vanessa Carlton's "I Don't Want to Be a Bride"

We saw Vanessa sing this song live at the Cyndi Lauper benefit a few weeks ago. It was one of the best performances of the show. Shane has become obsessed with this song. He likes this version better than the studio version, but I think the guitar sounds terrible in this version (Is it in tune?).  It was much better when she performed it solo on the piano (as she did when we saw her live). Feel free to skip over the first part, which is a bit too talky (the first minute and 27 seconds).

Another Government Shutdown? Here We Go Again

Tomorrow at midnight, I could be one of 600,000 Federal employees out of a job. The Federal Government can't get its act together to fund itself. If an agreement isn't reached by Monday morning, I will be sent home. With the holidays coming, a HUGE dentist bill I just had to pay ($600+ for a crown), and lord knows how much it is going to cost to repair our CR-V's computer problem, this is not the best time to be out of a job. Hopefully, they will get a temporary spending bill accomplished at the very last minute, if not a few minutes too late. Merry Christmas!

The Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time

10. Bad Santa - Yes, this is juvenile, but I thought it was funny.

9. Love, Actually - Yes, this was sentimental, but I liked it. Emma Thompson is awesome as a wife finding out about her husband's office affair. It has lots of characters and plots, and is fun.


8. The Gathering (TV movie from 1977 starring Ed Asner) - Here's the story: When Adam Thornton (Asner) learns that he is dying, he decides that he wants to make peace with his family. Only problem is that most of his family are not exactly fond of him. His ex-wife suggests that they invite the family for Christmas. It is schmaltzy, but it got to me.

7. Miracle on 34th Street - Of course you have to see the Natalie Wood version.

6. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - This may have been the pinnacle of Chevy Chase's career. It certainly was the best of the Vacation movies.

5. Scrooge aka A Christmas Carol (1951) - Not to be confused with Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, this is based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol and a million times better than the recent Disney animated 3-D version with Jim Carey. The Mr. Magoo version also rocks, but not exactly what Dickens had in mind I imagine.

4. A Christmas Story - My favorite part is the Christmas dinner in the Chinese restaurant. I love the waiters singing them carols, though it is a bit racist.

3. Elf - The funny story of Buddy the Elf who goes to New York City to find his biological father. Will Ferrell dives in with his usual verve to create an endearing character. It features Zooey Deschanel (now in the awesome show The New Girl) and Bob Newhart as Papa Elf. Also, Ed Asner makes a perfect Santa.

2. It's A Wonderful Life - Who doesn't love this sentimental holiday movie? My only question is why they would name a kid Zuzu. According to an interview with Karolyn Grimes, the actress that played Zuzu, the name comes from Zu Zu Ginger Snaps. Jimmy Stewart calls her "Zuzu, my little Ginger Snap," in the movie.




and the Number 1 Christmas Movie of all time is...

The Waltons: A Homecoming - This isn't a surprise to anyone that follows my blog. I have posted clips of the entire movie on here before. Shane and I virtually quote the whole script to each other throughout the year. We looooooovvvveeeee this movie. Patricia Neal is the only Olivia Walton in my book (sorry Michael Learned).

I Love a Good Old-Fashion Boycott--Lowe's

I saw this on the Just a Jeep Guy blog posted by Sean, which he saw on Joe.My.God. It is about Lowe's pulling it's advertising from TLC's All-American Muslim. I think a boycott is in order. I sent the following to Lowe's:

Goodbye Lowe's--Hello Home Depot... I'm a Gay American of Irish/English/Welsh/Scottish descent and I object to you pulling your advertising from TLC's All-American Muslim because a few bigots complained so I am boycotting Lowe's. I am not a bigot/racist or prejudiced and I will not support a company that is. I will be requesting my friends, family and people I meet to do the same. If you cave to the prejudiced views of one group, who will be next?

Here's the not-so-easy to find link and if you blog and support complaining to Lowe's, please post and write to Lowe's to spread the word: Lowe's Corporate.  Thanks Sean!

Ron Paul Ad Trashes Newt--Don't Ya Love It?

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #315

Never ever make a joke about his baby carrot.  

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #315.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.

New Three Stooges Movie Looks Funny

What the Heck Is Wrong with Our Honda?

I took this video of the dashboard of our car, a 2005 Honda CR-V. For some reason the warning lights for the ABS, Traction Control System (an exclamation point in a triangle) and the VSA are all flashing like crazy. It doesn't happen all the time, but much of the time. It is as annoying as hell--especially at night.

We took it to a gas station to get the oil changed and they had no clue what the problem was. I think it must be a problem with the electrical system. Anyone ever see this problem before or know what the deal is? Please don't tell us it is going to cost us big bucks. It doesn't seem to affect how the car runs so far.

Maude Helps Celebrate Elaine's Birthday

We celebrated our friend Elaine's birthday tonight and Maude had to be in the middle of festivities. She has started straddling the arm of our recliner, which is not very lady-like. 

Poor Elaine probably isn't enjoying the view.

Blue Sponge Rerun--Frightened Rabbits

I posted this about 3 years ago and I still love this song. Time to start thinking about the holidays.

I just discovered this band -- the Frightened Rabbits -- and I love this song. There are some good lyrics -- "We can be best friends with the people we hate." I also love the background choir. There's not much video here... just music.

The full lyrics are below:

It's Christmas so we'll stop
It's on with the lights to warm the dark
It can cloak elsewhere
As the rot stops for today
Let the rot stop just for one day
Only good red eyes, red suits, and faces will radiate
And the cold will hide its face
Now the cold is turned away
We can be best friends with the people we hate
'Cause we've all got blood
And it's warmer than you think
Yeah it is warm and it is thick
We all breathe out clouds
We're built to give at least once each year
Now that's better than never I guess
And life might never get better than this
With the perfect excuse for out natures to change
And wear shiny clothes
Oh it's Christmas so press pause and we'll go

Oh it's Christmas so we'll stop
'Cause the wine on our breath puts the love in our tongues
So forget the names
I called you on Christmas Eve
In fact forget the entire year
Don't reflect just pretend and you won't feel scared
You won't feel a thing
'Cause it's all been tucked away
And once you're tucked in bed
You'll hold on to the day for the last few seconds
Your gray dull face is protected from the wind
And I'll protect you I promise I will
And the rest of our lives will be just like Christmas
With fewer toys
You're a good girl I'm a good boy
So I thought

Oh it's Christmas so we stopped
Were it not for the tick of the clock
And the spinning of the Earth in space
We could always be this way
And as we sleep at the fall of the day
In the room next door the tree lights brighten the rodents' eyes
And catches a glimpse of the dust beginning to rise

The next day life went back to its past self
The next day life went back to its past self
The next day life went back to its past self
The next day life went back to its past self

Can Rick Perry Save America for God + Christmas?

The above is the actual ad Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Perry ran claiming gays in the military are preventing kids from celebrating Christmas. How is this guy even still in the campaign? I would have thought there are three reasons he should have given up by now. (1) He named his ranch after the N word. (2) His debate performances are horrendous. (3) I can't remember the third thing.

I love Wolf Blitzer interviewing Gov. Perry in the clip below. I don't think he could make Perry look any dumber. The scary part is that this is a person running for President. He is dumber than George W. Bush.



Below are some humorous parodies about this ad.

Brokeback Republican

Clinton Delivers Landmark LGBT Rights Speech

To commemorate International Human Rights Day this weekend, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered an historic speech in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday.  Below is an opinion piece by Jonathan Capehart from the Washington Post:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked International Human Rights Day with a phenomenal speech in Geneva yesterday. Over the course of 30 minutes, Clinton delivered a blunt yet inspiring speech that took on all the myths and canards about homosexuality and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people. Her address earned her a standing ovation in the Palais des Nations and will endear her and the Obama administration to gay people around the world.

It is violation of human rights when people are beaten or killed because of their sexual orientation, or because they do not conform to cultural norms about how men and women should look or behave.  It is a violation of human rights when governments declare it illegal to be gay, or allow those who harm gay people to go unpunished.  It is a violation of human rights when lesbian or transgendered women are subjected to so-called corrective rape, or forcibly subjected to hormone treatments, or when people are murdered after public calls for violence toward gays, or when they are forced to flee their nations and seek asylum in other lands to save their lives.  And it is a violation of human rights when life-saving care is withheld from people because they are gay, or equal access to justice is denied to people because they are gay, or public spaces are out of bounds to people because they are gay.  No matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we are, we are all equally entitled to our human rights and dignity.

 Clinton slapped back the notion prevalent around the world, particularly in Africa, that homosexuality is an evil export from the Western Hemisphere. She called for “honest discussion” about the beliefs that “all gay people are pedophiles, that homosexuality is a disease that can be caught or cured, or that gays recruit others to become gay.” Beliefs that Clinton flat-out said “are simply not true.” But she added, “They are also unlikely to disappear if those who promote or accept them are dismissed out of hand rather than invited to share their fears and concerns. No one has ever abandoned a belief because he was forced to do so.”

Clinton also directly confronted those who would use their religious or cultural beliefs to validate their bigotry against LGBT people.

This is not unlike the justification offered for violent practices towards women like honor killings, widow burning, or female genital mutilation. Some people still defend those practices as part of a cultural tradition. But violence toward women isn't cultural; it's criminal. Likewise with slavery, what was once justified as sanctioned by God is now properly reviled as an unconscionable violation of human rights.

In each of these cases, we came to learn that no practice or tradition trumps the human rights that belong to all of us. And this holds true for inflicting violence on LGBT people, criminalizing their status or behavior, expelling them from their families and communities, or tacitly or explicitly accepting their killing.

Of course, it bears noting that rarely are cultural and religious traditions and teachings actually in conflict with the protection of human rights. Indeed, our religion and our culture are sources of compassion and inspiration toward our fellow human beings. It was not only those who’ve justified slavery who leaned on religion, it was also those who sought to abolish it. And let us keep in mind that our commitments to protect the freedom of religion and to defend the dignity of LGBT people emanate from a common source. For many of us, religious belief and practice is a vital source of meaning and identity, and fundamental to who we are as people. And likewise, for most of us, the bonds of love and family that we forge are also vital sources of meaning and identity. And caring for others is an expression of what it means to be fully human. It is because the human experience is universal that human rights are universal and cut across all religions and cultures.

The secretary talked about the power of the law to make things right -- even before society appears to be ready to embrace positive change. “In many places, including my own country, legal protections have preceded, not followed, broader recognition of rights,” she said. “Laws have a teaching effect.  Laws that discriminate validate other kinds of discrimination.  Laws that require equal protections reinforce the moral imperative of equality. And practically speaking, it is often the case that laws must change before fears about change dissipate.”

And then Clinton announced what the United States is doing to help protect the lives and respect the dignity of LGBT people around the world. A first-ever U.S. strategy to combat human rights abuses against LGBT around the world. President Obama “has directed all U.S. Government agencies engaged overseas to combat the criminalization of LGBT status and conduct, to enhance efforts to protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, to ensure that our foreign assistance promotes the protection of LGBT rights, to enlist international organizations in the fight against discrimination, and to respond swiftly to abuses against LGBT persons.”

At an event over the weekend for the Velvet Foundation, which hopes to build a national museum about gender and sexual identity, there were t-shirts that read “Here I am” for sale. According to the foundation’s Web site, “‘Here I am’ is an invitation to all: See me, recognize me, and understand me as a person, regardless of how I define my gender and sexuality.” Clinton’s speech in Geneva and the administration’s moves are the clearest sign that the United States accepts such an invitation proudly and without reservation.