Happier News--DADT Is History!

The Don't Ask, Don't Tell law was officially over starting today!  Gays and lesbians can now serve openly in the U.S. Military.  Below is a video I saw posted on the Maybe It's Just Me blog.  It shows a soldier calling his dad to tell him he is gay.  It brought back memories of my own coming out.  What is even more interesting (and amazing in a good way)  is that at the end, he tells his dad that everyone he serves with knows he is gay and it is not a problem.

14-Year-Old Bullying Victim Dead-Had Made "It Gets Better" Video

I saw the following story on the Joe. My. God. blog.  It is unbelievably sad, but it needs to be told. 

Heartbroken Buffalo, NY, parents Tracy and Tim Rodemeyer say they found their 14 year-old son Jamey dead yesterday morning in a presumed suicide. Jamey had long complained of vicious homophobic bullying at the hands of his classmates.

Jamey Rodemeyer needed help. At 14, he was grappling with adolescent demons that could torment grown men. And when he was online, he wrote about it. "I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens," he wrote Sept. 9. "What do I have to do so people will listen to me?" Just over one week later, Jamey was found dead outside his home of an apparent suicide. In the months prior, he routinely blogged about school bullying and thoughts of suicide in between upbeat posts about his pop star idol Lady Gaga and the ordinary types of teen rants typical for kids his age. On Sept. 8, he wrote: "No one in my school cares about preventing suicide, while you're the ones calling me [gay slur] and tearing me down."

Much of Jamey's tormenting came via cyber-bullying. His parents, who say they discussed and supported Jamey's questioning of his sexuality, intend to carry on his campaign against bullies.

VIDEO: Jamey actually recorded an "It Gets Better" clip back in May.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #303

Since we're firmly anti-gun, we got it for self-defense.


You know it goes well with your French Country decor.


I can't resist anything on that Home Shopping Channel.

These are my ideas for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #303.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.  

Yet Another Where In the World Is Shane?

OK.  I will provide a hint to help you guess where in the world Shane went this time on his business trip.  It is not in Egypt, or anywhere in Africa.  I thought the pyramid might throw you off.  As usual, the first correct guesser wins a prize that could be worth millions.  Good Luck!

UPDATE:  Joey was the first person to correctly guess Las Vegas as where Shane is in the world.  He wins the prize that could be worth millions.  It is a MegaMillion Lottery ticket, which I will hold and check to see if it is a winner.  If it is, I'll forward it to Joey.  Don't start spending it yet Joey.  Kudos also to Walt, who correctly figured out which hotel Shane was at.  He would have gotten extra credit if he came up with a room number.

Blue Sponge TV Emmy Award Predictions

Below are my predictions for the major categories of the Television Emmy Awards being broadcast Sunday.  

1. BEST DRAMA SERIES:

• Boardwalk Empire
• Dexter
• Friday Night Lights
• Game of Thrones
• The Good Wife
• Mad Men

This is a tough category for me, because I don't watch any of these shows.  I saw the first couple episodes of Boardwalk Empire.  It was OK, but I didn't really keep up.  I do like Steve Buscemi though... not so much in this show, but he was amazing in the movie, Fargo.  

2. BEST COMEDY SERIES:

Modern Family cast

• The Big Bang Theory
• Glee
• Modern Family
• The Office
• Parks and Recreation
• 30 Rock


This is also a tough category, because I like several of these shows.   Normally, I would pick 30 Rock, but I didn't like it as much last year as Modern Family.  It kept up the quality in its sophomore year. 

3. BEST DRAMA SERIES ACTRESS:

Kathy Bates

• Kathy Bates ("Harry's Law")
• Connie Britton ("FNL")
• Mirella Enos ("The Killing")
• Mariska Hargitay ("L&O:SVU")
• Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife")
• Elisabeth Moss ("Mad Men")

I did watch several episodes of Harry's Law, and I thought it was not so good.  I do love Kathy Bates though and I don't know anything about the other shows. 

4. BEST DRAMA ACTOR:

Steve Buscemi

• Steve Buscemi ("Boardwalk Empire")
• Kyle Chandler ("FNL")
• Michael C. Hall ("Dexter")
• Jon Hamm ("Mad Men")
• Hugh Laurie ("House")
• Timothy Olyphant ("Justified")

This is just because I like Steve Buscemi.  I used to love Michael C. Hall on Six Feet Under also.

5. BEST COMEDY ACTRESS:

Laura Linney

• Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie")
• Tina Fey ("30 Rock")
• Laura Linney ("The Big C")
• Melissa McCarthy ("Mike & Molly")
• Martha Plimpton ("Raising Hope")
• Amy Poehler ("Parks and Recreation")

This was also a tough call because I like four of these nominees.  Shane is rooting for Martha Plimpton, but I think Laura Linney is amazing in the Big C, just like most things she is in.  It isn't really a situation comedy in the traditional sense, so she probably won't win.  She should though.  I also love Edie Falco in Nurse Jackie and Tina Fey in 30 Rock.

6. BEST COMEDY ACTOR:

Louis C.K.

• Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock")
• Louis C.K. ("Louie")
• Steve Carell ("The Office")
• Johnny Galecki ("Big Bang Theory")
• Matt LeBlanc ("Episodes")
• Jim Parsons ("Big Bang Theory")

Of course Alec Baldwin will probably win again, but Louis C.K. deserves to win for Louie.  There is an amazing scene where a police officer who has just saved his life asks Louie to kiss him to show his gratitude.   I thought it was one of the best things on.  

7. BEST MOVIE/MINISERIES:

Downton Abbey

• Cinema Verite
• Downton Abbey
• The Kennedys
• Mildred Pierce
• The Pillars of the Earth
• Too Big to Fail

Downton Abbey is the only one of these I watched.  It was really good.  

I am usually wrong about these things more than half the time, but so what.  Who cares?  Who do you think deserves to win?

Curb Your Enthusiasm Features Gayest Kid Ever

I love this show!  Larry is the only one who is completely non-judgemental about him.  He is very supportive in fact!

Nancy Cartoon-Paging Doctor Freud

OK... This made me laugh.  I saw it on Peteykin's Junk Draw blog, which is no longer being updated.  This was from 2009.  Peteykin has a new blog, Princess Sparkle Pony Photo Blog.  You should visit it to see his take on how Republicans react to things.  It's funny because it's true.

Fox News Megyn Kelly Defends Chaz Bono

Fox News' Megyn Kelly actually says some sensible things about this goofy "doctor" adding to the hate of transgendered people in this discussion of Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars.  He is really a dumbass.  Good for you Megyn.

Where In the World Is Shane? The Reveal

Shane is already back home from his business trip to Lincoln, Nebraska.  Nobody guessed the answer even though the name of the city newspaper, the Journal Star, was visible on the picture in the previous post.  True.  You had to enlargen the picture to see that detail and then Google the name of the paper to figure out which big city's paper it was.  I guess the excitement of "Where in the World Is Shane" is wearing thin.  Too bad, since as a special surprise, I was going to award the first correct guesser a yellow 1978 Lincoln Town Car (pictured below).  However, that is not going to stop me from trying it again next week when Shane is off on another adventure.  Maybe you'll make more of an effort next time.

This 1978 Lincoln was the big prize to the first person that guessed Lincoln.

New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #302

Believe me, my friend, the answer is not blowin' in the wind. 

This is my idea for the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #302.  Let me know if you have any ideas for a caption too.  

Where In the World Is Shane this Time?

Shane is off on another exotic trip for work.  He gets to go to all the cool places.  Can you guess where he is this time?  It should be fairly easy considering the big hint in this picture.  Enlarging by clicking the picture could help.  As usual, the first correct guess wins a prize beyond belief--our admiration at your Google skills.  Good luck!

Serena Williams Plays Role of the Ugly American

Tennis star Serena Williams embarrassed herself and all American citizens (as she represented us) on a world stage yesterday in the Women's Final of the U.S. Open.  It wasn't her loss to Australian Samantha Stosur that was embarrassing, but her actions and unsportsman-like behavior.

After screaming in a middle of a point that she thought was a winner for her, the umpire awarded the point to Stosur due to interference.  Williams then went on to verbally abuse the ump during the change-over.

The video of the rant (below) has been played on the news channels constantly today. This is not how someone who said she is playing in honor of the victims and families of 9/11 should act.  She is representing the United States in a very poor way.

Though she was fined $2,000 for verbal abuse, it is just 0.0014 of the $1.4 million Williams earned for her runner-up performance. Williams looked like a spoiled child. She told the umpire she was unattractive inside and a hater. Williams behavior was downright ugly and hateful. I had admired Williams up to that point, but I'm no longer a fan.

Mary Chapin Carpenter's 9/11 Tribute

I posted this a couple years ago, but thought it was worth repeating.  On her album, Between Here and Gone, Mary Chapin Carpenter sings about one man's pilgrimage to Grand Central Terminal in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Carpenter was inspired to write the song "Grand Central Station" after hearing an interview with an iron worker on the first anniversary of the attacks. The man, one of the first at the scene after the towers fell, worked at Ground Zero for days afterward. The iron worker said that at the end of each shift, he felt impelled to go to the train station so the souls of the victims could follow him.

"He'd find himself just going to Grand Central Station and standing on the platform and thinking whoever wanted to go home could catch the train home," says Carpenter.

I listened to this song for years before Shane pointed out to me that it was about 9/11. I'm not always very bright.

Top 5 New Falls Shows Not to Watch

I have not seen any of these shows, but just based on their short description or the buzz I've heard, I have no plans to watch them.  I could be wrong and based on the crap currently on TV, I'm sure many of these shows will be big hits. 

5. The X Factor (Fox).  Another talent show with Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.  Nuff said. 

4.  Up All Night (NBC). I've seen some promos for this "comedy" and it looks like a train wreck.  

3.  How to Be a Gentleman (CBS).  It's a comedy with Kevin Dillon that is a new take on the Odd Couple.  Based on what I've seen, this show looks like it would be good programming at Guantanamo to get the terrorists to talk. 

2. Boss (Starz)  Luckily, we don't get Starz, so we can't watch this show anyway.  Do we really need another Kelsey Grammer TV show?  I don't think so.  He plays a big city mayor with a hidden disease.  Think they already did that on the West Wing.  

1.  Charlie's Angels (ABC).   Why?  Hasn't this show been done to death?  They can't think of anything better to put on the television machine?

New York's Twin Towers Live On in Film Cameos

Twin Tower Cameos from Dan Meth on Vimeo.

We were in New York to see the U.S. Open tennis tournament about a week prior to 9/11 and we were staying down around Wall Street.  Shane wanted us to go to the top of the Twin Towers, but it was cloudy, and I thought the view wouldn't be that great because of the the weather.  I said we'd do it next time we visited New York.  I never got my chance to go.  Not exactly the same as thousands of people dying, but sad nonetheless.

Anti-Religion Ad Competition on Australian TV

I saw this over on Joe. My. God.'s blog.  It is an Australian TV show that had ad agencies compete and the goal was to come up with an ad to ban religion.  The results are very interesting.

Happy Suicide Prevention Week!

It is sort of ironic that it is National Suicide Prevention Week considering the weather this week has been very cloudy and rainy.  Please try not to commit suicide.  Thanks.

President Obama Top 10 Accomplishments

I was having a discussion with someone who was unhappy with President Obama's performance as president.  I thought I should have have some ammunition to defend the prez, considering I think he is about a million times better than the alternative--by whom I mean any of the current crowd running for the Republican nomination.  I can't say that I'm 100 percent happy with the what President Obama has done, but he has done some good things.  It should be noted that he does have accomplishments.  He also has one other thing his opponents do not have--a brain.

I got this info from Buzz Feed blog and an article by Gavon Laesigg from several months ago.  You can read the full list of 20 accomplishments here.  More information about Obama's accomplishments can be found here from Jack and Jill Politics blog.  Also, if you want to get involved in the re-election campaign, go here.

1. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, makes it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who perform equal work.

2. Saved the American auto industry and its hundreds of thousands of jobs from disappearing by preventing Chrysler and GM from going bankrupt.

3. Overturned Bush Administration restrictions on Federal funding for stem cell research.

4. The Matthew Shepard Act, expands hate crime definitions to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

5. The Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act, allows gay soldiers to serve openly in the United States military.

6. The Credit Card Bill of Rights, outlaws hidden fees and deceptive lending practices from credit card companies.

7. Student loan reform, significantly expands access to affordable government loans and Pell Grants for college.

8. The Affordable Care Act (Obama Care as Fox News would say) establishes universal health care, allowing, among other things, people with pre-existing health problems access to health insurance.  And the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, provides health care to 11 million children who live in poverty.

9. New START Treaty, will reduce by half the nuclear missile stockpiles of Russia and the United States.

10. Oh yeah... Got Osama bin Laden.