I had the pleasure of seeing this movie called Touching Home. I still cannot believe that this movie was from two first time film makers. The movie is based on a true story of the directors, writers, producers relationship with their alcoholic father and the dreams they all had.
I encourage you to see this movie on the big screen. Ed Harris stars in this touching movie with Brad Dourif and Robert Forster. Let me know what you thing and check the trailer out here!
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Tagged brad dourif, ed harris, logan miller, noah miller, robert forster, touching home
Roy Ashburn has been pushed out of the closet! This man has a horrible record on gay rights. Now I know many of us are jumping up and down at his demise, but this should be his welcoming party. He has been in pain for a long time. A self inflicted pain, true, but we should embrace this man for now being true to himself. Help him see that we do not hate him the way he has hated all of us.
California Watch reports that Republican Governor hopeful, Meg Whitman, abused the Ebay corporate jet. She abused it so much and charged shareholders $3.2 million for personal use that Ebay changed how much a CEO could utilize the jet. Clearly they were not happy at the manner in which she flew herself around the country. Yes, a CEO should have some perks in gaining ranks to this position, but when you are running on fiscal responsibility this does not bode well. This is not only disingenuous of her but also shows her feelings on the environment. Oh and by the way … she has spent $39 million of her own cash on her campaign.
I say it again California. Wake up! Fight this chick from gaining office. Do not sit on your hands and watch democracy roll by you and over you.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” The first time I heard this phrase was not at daycare but in the first grade of all places. I couldn’t quite understand what I was supposed to be showing or what they had that I needed to see. And, I was not really sure I wanted to.
First grade was a gateway into everything new. We were still on a half day schedule, but we now had titles: First Graders! Now, we were allowed to play on the Big Playground as opposed to our sheltered Kindergarten playground for the little people. We were now on our way to being Big Girls and Big Boys. First grade was framed with my teacher Ms. McElfresh. She was a tiny woman with big red hair and a strict personality. And, I mean like Texas big. She drove a blue 1976 Mustang (how do I know this? The license plate gave it away). She was the first teacher I recall who was actually impressed with me. She would compliment me on my out loud reading skills, my book reports and my demeanor. I, in turn, tried to impress her even more. I checked out books from the library and would read double of what I was supposed to. I wanted to be her favorite. But, this was not to be. There was a dynamic duo who had gained favoritism from kindergarten and this was Amy and Wendy. *Sigh* To a little girl desperately wanting to fit in, they were perfect. Best of friends, perfect clothes, hair, the way they laughed, smart, the lunches they brought to school and they had mothers who were involved in everything. It was impossible to live up to. They ruled the playground and I just could not understand why everyone crowded around them, or why I felt the need to be a sheep and crowd around too. They were always the stars in the school plays and the teachers could not have loved them more.
We were 6 years old. I just want you to picture this in your mind. 6 years old. One day at lunch a group of kids were headed down to the baseball diamond near where the trees lined the fence. It was an area a school yard duty may not see you. I followed with the other little sheep crowding to see what was in the middle. As we moved behind the biggest tree I could see what was going on. A very hollow and familiar pit formed in my stomach; I was uncomfortable and felt something was not right. One little girl, Katlyn, and one little boy, Mark, were in the middle of everyone. They both were giggling at each other and at the audience. One bigger child screamed at them “pull it down!” And they did. They pulled their pants down and showed each other their genitals. Katlyn reached over and poked at Mark’s; Mark reciprocated. I was horrified. I mean horrified! But, I was also very curious and could not look away. The older kid looked at me and said “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” I looked at him, I looked at my two classmates pulling up their pants and I ran. Somehow something in me knew I would be tagged with an unsavory reputation if I conceded. I ran up the small hill and sat on the tire swing by myself until the recess bell rang. I was cast aside for a few days, but I didn’t care. I even watched the kids continue to go down to the trees everyday while new sheep showed their parts.
It was the first time I recall being cast away from my peers and unfortunately it was something I would have to get used to. I joined Brownies out of pressure from the other girls mothers, but never felt apart of them. I was always more comfortable with the boys, but the boys were beginning to separate themselves from the girls. While I always found someone to pass the school time with I never had a consistent playmate at school except for my imagination. Daycare was different because we had cliques of kids and I was in one of them (probably due to my longstanding relationship with the daycare family). But, school was lonely many times as I fought to believe I was not different that the others.
Now don’t get me wrong. Hidden Valley was a place where I felt accepted. We were still quite young and had almost no filters of society. We did not care how your parents earned money; all we cared about was playing in the yard. Friends were more of a passing that a connection at this age. I relished in being a smart kid; part of the “early bird” group. And, we had our other awkward kids with learning disabilities, suffering abuse in the home, not comfortable with English – we had them all and I felt comfortable with them all. I was like Cher winning her Oscar “You love me, you really love me” … right?
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Tagged A Gay Life The Story, day care, first grade, gay dads, hidden valley elementary school
Borrowed from http://www.jerrybrown.org/
The governor’s race is upon us and one commercial has started. Watch out for this woman: Meg Whitman. Oh, she won’t tell you which party she represents (but considering that Jerry Brown is the Democrat running one can only presume) … noooo. But, what she will tell you is that she tried to get the McCain/Palin ticket elected. What does this mean??? This means she thought Palin was a good VP candidate. Are you rolling your eyes yet? Well, get your money out and donate to Jerry Brown
Do not let what happens to California a lot of the time happen this time. Where we get caught with our pants down because we think how could Meg Whitman possibly get elected? Who would vote for her? Need I remind you of Prop 8??? The money will be pouring in from outside the state. POURING IN! Get involved NOW and make sure we do not watch election day with tears in our eyes scratching our head. Pull it together people. California is a mess right now and we do not need someone who thinks Sarah Palin in all of her glory was a good option for this country. Jerry Brown has done some great things for the state. He has always been very vocal about white collar crime and the evils of it.
Howard Zinn passed away right before he was set to speak at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. Zinn’s book “A People’s History” changed my life. It is the only history book that actually spoke to me and my heart. This sentiment has been shared by every person I have ever met who has picked up the book. Zinn sought out and accomplished a history book that spoke from the People’s perspective. A perspective that has been consistently lost throughout the telling of history. Reading this book made me realize that it is the people who change our lives not the figures we attribute the the change to. This book helped me realize that we all make a difference no matter how small the action and that if we choose to we can make a big difference to those around us.
Rest in Peace Howard. Thank you for your ever lasting gift to us.
Borrowed from: http://howardzinn.org/default/
Our newest set of Justices ... or Un-Justices
The Supreme Court has ruled in a 5 – 4 decision that a corporation is essentially a person. Even though a corporation cannot die, cannot go to jail for its wrong doings (think Enron, AIG) and cannot legally vote … yet. It’s disgusting. It is infuriating. It is beyond corruption. It is against everything a democracy stands for. What is most shocking is Scalia, who prides himself as a strict constitutionalist, joined Justice Kennedy in this decision and wrote a concurring opinion.
I am attaching a link of a growing movement. I know there is almost too much going on with the world to look at yet another issue that needs attention. But, in the event you want to take action check out this link: Move To Amend
Haiti, the economy, the banks, the government and just life in general … I know. It’s a lot. But, at a minimum you must keep yourself informed so in the event you have the time to join a cause at least you know what is out there.
Lets keep our eyes open people.
