Rwoerge, Rwi rwant rwone...

Autoblog has this video with Jay Leno up on it today about the Aptera 2e electric car. at first glance, it reminded me of George and Astro Jetson. after watching this video, Astro and i think we want one just because...

great website and right to the point...

if you're not familiar with Listverse: The Universe of Lists, you should be. it's list of just about everything and it's brilliant. they include everything from history to food to politics to spooky sports curses to... you name it. you can also sign up for a daily list that they send to your email inbox.

this is today's emailed list:

10 Cases of Conservative Hypocrisy

here's just one from today's list and its #1 -

1 Strom Thurmond



Hypocrisy: Blocking Civil Rights for His Own Child

When South Carolina Gov. Strom Thurmond ran for president in 1948 on the Dixiecrat ticket, he vowed to bar blacks from white schools, restaurants, and even some occupations. But at the same time he was preaching segregation, he was secretly financing the business administration degree of Essie Mae Washington, a black coed at the all-black South Carolina State College. Why? Because it is widely believed that Ms. Washington is his daughter. By supporting a black woman he supposedly sired, Thurmond considered himself remaining loyal to a Southern Gentleman’s code that required white boys, who often learned about sex “on the colored side of town,” to take care of any children they fathered. To his very death, Thurmond never confirmed nor denied Ms. Washington as his daughter, even when the headline: “SEN. THURMOND IS UNPRINCIPLED — WITH COLORED OFFSPRING — WHILE PARADING AS A DEVOUT SEGREGATIONIST” ran in the Edgefield Advertiser, where Ms. Washington went to school.

plain words...

i found this on one of the French blogsites i haunt - L'homme est un concept - Man is a concept.


Comme ca c'est clair*



this makes me very sad. there is absolutely no excuse for this. it is tragic that people who say that their very core beliefs are based on love but deny love as they pigeon-hole it based on a narrow minded interpretation of a three word sentence they hold sacred - god is love.

Nietschze said that God is dead. i think what he really meant is that mankind killed god by its hypocrisy and self-righteousness.

if there was an original sin that would be it...



*literal translation is "Like that, it's clear"; idiomatically, i'd translate it as "How stupid"

no matter what...

is the first half of this blog's title. it's from an Andrew Lloyd Webber play, Whistle Down the Wind. it was made famous by the British group Boyzone.

they have a new video out that is something special. it's called "Better".





originally, they had planned to use their actual spouses in the video, but decided to use actors instead. great lyrics...


thanks for the heads up Andy. i've always enjoyed the group's music and am glad to here they are performing again.

anonymous comments...

over the last three years of posting i have only allowed three anonymous comments to be posted. i have a very strong believe that if someone wants to make a comment, they at the least should post a pseudonym.

the three that i did allow had legitimate things to say. two were about the loss of a person to AIDS and the people knew him and weren't aware that he died. they wrote comments that added to the post because they related the positive effect the person had for them.

the third dealt with the economy and poverty. it was a bit of research that added to the dimensions of the original post.

at the same time, i have rejected only one, and that was over this past weekend.

i have a very simple rule that i use, and i consciously decided this when i started posting. i decided, from reading other blogs & their comments, that i would not post comments that in any way were demeaning either to others or myself, were name calling, or untrue.

i believe that if someone is convinced they have something important to say, they should take responsibility for it.

anonymous, to me, signals that they not only don't have that confidence, but they also lack conviction and self-assurance - even if what they are saying is true.

it is much easier to hit & run than it is to be culpable.

new rule...

I have made a new rule for myself. I have liked reading Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish since, well, forever. I mentioned in a previous post that he, along with several others, in my opinion, have passed the point of reality when it comes to the Clintons. It's getting tired. It has an aura of hatred that is beyond the pale. I admit, I have a problem with unfettered acrimony.

So, my new rule, since I really don't want to stop reading his work and because he has important perspectives on a lot of other things, is the first post heading on his website that has the words Clinton, Hillary, or Bill in it, I'm immediately going to click to a different website.

This morning, I didn't get to read anything. Clinton was in the first post.

and, yes, i did not link to the website or the post on purpose.

oh, and since i previously mentioned Chris Matthews for the very same thing, i'm only watching the last 15 minutes of his nightly show. the closing panel is almost always the best part of the show anyway...

blog post/news must reads: January 2, 2008...

Looking at America editorial in the New York Times - this makes me very sad and wanting to cry...

Huckabee wants to take America "back to Christ" over at AmericaBlog.com - of course, this leaves out Jews, Muslims, Hindi, etc, but the bigger problem just may be what kind of Christian is he talking about? There are many types of Christians - Catholic, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist, etc, or is it just his kind of Christianity?

I Am Conventional Wisdom: An Unstoppable Zombie Wreaks Havoc On America: Arriana Huffington over at Huff Post - the lie of Conventional Wisdom perpetrated by Bush/Cheney, et alia, for the last seven years haunts us even through the 2008 election...

Doubts Raised on Technology Sales to China: from the New York Times - China already owns the U.S. because of all the loans Mr. Bush has gotten to keep his war going, but even with his song of national security he still leads his choir in Money makes the world go around, the world go around, the world go around, Money makes the world go around, of that we both are sure. (Raspberry) On being poor...

Pat Robertson's New Year's Forecast: "China Will Be The Largest Christian Nation On Earth" from Pat Robertson's 700 Club via HuffPost - if we owe them so much money, let's just bring 'em into the fold...

Attorney General Mukasey appoints outside prosecutor in criminal probe of CIA torture tapes - at Cliff Schecter's web site. This does bear watching. Gonzales refused to investigate any of the Bush/Cheney flubs. This guy is at least starting to go through the motions. we'll see..

blog post must reads: December 30, 2007...

The Great American Pants[Law]suit revisited, over at Crooks and Liars - remember the judge that sued the Oriental dry cleaners for $67 million who lost his Armani slacks? the neocon Republicans have their panties all in a bunch...

Paris Isn’t Burning from the NYT - Illinois goes totally smoke free on Tuesday [yay!], but if Paris is doing it, that is BIG news. Maybe it's their queer mayor!

Tens of millions of birds disappearing across North America over at The Raw Story - large factory farms, over de-forestation, polluted waterways, decreased wetlands, and urban sprawl; impoverished planet...

Legal Fictions
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S DUMBEST LEGAL ARGUMENTS OF THE YEAR. over at Slate.com - kind of like Dave Letterman's Top Ten List, only without surprises...


Judge halts Oregon's gay partnership law over at PageOneQ - the law was to take effect this Wednesday, January 2, 2008. the christianists are beyond reprehensible...

my favorite blogsite...

I read a lot of blogs and websites - news, pundits, lgbt, politics, style, foreign - the list is pretty endless. i admit that i'm a junky. the world at my fingertips, so to speak.

the link list on the right side of this site is really only a small smattering. they are more of the most frequent. i try to update it from time to time, but keeping up with it can be more time consuming.

there is one blogsite, however, that far and away is my favorite, my fantasy, my escape, so to speak. here are a few pictures from it to give you an idea


Roehr cycle



a sled by Porsche



the new Knightrider KITT



Ferrari 599



Raikkonen & Schumacher - Grand Prix Circuit



one of a kind CCX



the new James Bond Astin-Martin



the ultimate Christmas ornament


i have always been nuts about cars, motorcycles, etc. ever since i can remember, and i remember every car that not only i have owned but my father's and uncles' cars too i've tried to pinpoint exactly what the emotional attachment is and have only come up with the word escape. i'm not sure what it all means, but cars are an important part of my life.


and this is my favorite of all cars, the Bugatti Veyron. $1.5 million, 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds, 1000 horspower, W16 Engine - yep, 16 cylinders!
the first time i saw one in person - i wet my pants!

since i can't afford one of those, this is what i'm driving right now -


Infiniti FX35
it's not the Veyron, but i love it...

and the blog? oh yeah, Autoblog.com

check it out...

no matter what...

thought it was time to replay the song that the first half of this blog's title comes. It's Andrew Lloyd Webber's No Matter What from his show Whistle Down the Wind. I've included the lyric this time.

The group singing is Boyzone at the special that was done for Sir Andrew's 60th birthday, I believe.

enjoy...



No matter what they tell us
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach us
What we believe is true

No matter what they call us
However they attack
No matter where they take us
We'll find our own way back

I can't deny what I believe
I can't be what I'm not
I know I'll love forever
I know, no matter what

If only tears were laughter
If only night was day
If only prayers were answered
Then we would hear God say

No matter what they tell you
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach you
What you believe is true

And I will keep you safe and strong
And sheltered from the storm
No matter where it's barren
A dream is being born

No matter who they follow
No matter where they lead
No matter how they judge us
I'll be everyone you need

No matter if the sun don't shine
Or if the skies are blue
No matter what the end is
My life began with you

I can't deny what I believe
I can't be what I'm not
I know, I know
I know this love's forever
That's all that matters now
No matter what

busy week(s)...

Posting is kind of limited for me the past and current week. I'm working a couple of days. [I love working only 4-5 days a month!] There are also a lot of social type engagements planned.

Last Friday I went to what probably is the second best opera performance/production I've ever seen - Handel's Giulio Cesare. Great, great, great! You can read the reviews here, here and here.

On Sunday I went to a discussion with David Daniels, the star of the opera and spoke briefly with him at the reception after. Fascinating. The #1 countertenor in the world, highly sought after by all the big opera houses, considered one of the biggest opera stars of the day, and totally out as a proud gay man.

Last night, friends took me to see "Jersey Boys". Great music. I didn't know much about the history of the group. If what they presented is true, it wasn't very pretty. The second act was heartbreaking.

Thursday I'm going to the opening night gala and screening of the movie "Shelter" at

The Chicago Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival is in its 26th year. I've read a lot about Shelter and can't wait to see it. It sounds great. Actor Brad Rowe from the movie is going to be there.

The week ends with dinner at friends' home on Saturday that is always a great meal.




i gotta tell ya. i highly recommend this retirement thing to everyone. i'm glad i didn't wait until i would be too old and feeble to enjoy it and took early retirement. anyone who worries about not knowing what they'll do if they retire has nothing to worry about. i'm always busy, even if i'm not doing anything! that sounds weird, but it's true!

one thing i know for sure - i'll need next week to recuperate. fat chance! next week there's another opera, more films at the festival, and on and on and on...

here's a video of the Tony Awards show with a medley from the Broadway cast of Jersey Boys. enjoy...

I didn't listen to bill o'reilly...

I'm here at the yearlykos convention for the next four days.

I'll be posting from time to time about things I'm seeing and hearing.

So far I've attended the LGBT and drinkingliberally.com caucus'. Until tonight the day is all caucus'. Tonight Howard Dean will be delivering the keynote appraring along with Sen. Dick Durbin & Rep. Rahm Emmanuel. Again, I'll post as I can but will take notes. [which I hate to do.]

the left is the new center...

Thank you Juan Williams.

In a retort to Bill Kristol on Fox News Sunday, he puts him straight on just what happened last November and is continuing to grow stronger up to this day.



70%, Mr Kristol! Can you read? Can you hear? Juan Williams, from NPR, couldn't have said it any clearer: "Seventy percent of Americans want us out of Iraq."

This exchange was in response to Kristol hitting the Democratic candidates going to the YearlyKos Convention the first weekend in August along with the "left-bloggers." Kristol's slam was that they were all going to "pay court" to an unkown left-wing blogger who four years ago was behind Howard Dean.

Well, Mr. Kristol, I'm going to be at YearlyKos and I'm part of the 70%, and your tone that those of us who are part of the 70% and are part of the new center have no right to organize, meet, listen, share, protest, foster change because only the right wing-nuts are correct in their actions and thought is not only anti-democracy, it's anti-American as well.

and what's with that silly smirk that's always on your face? isn't that usually a sign of either lying or low sef-confidence?

just asking...

because sometimes...

I just wanna @#$@% dance!


Thanks, Bob, aka Little Voice.

You made me laugh, bounce and smile making my day better...

new look...

couldn't decide on formal


or business



or casual



or dive right in



Guess I chose casual.

Been planning this for a while now, but it's always a little scary to try new things, though I'm known to take risks. My biggest fear was loosing all of the links, archives, etc., so I took it slow and made sure everything would stay the same. Actually, they didn't stay the same. They are better! It's difficult to do what you tell others, and one thing that I learned a very long time ago is that the things we worry about the most, never happen.

hope y'all like the changes and find it easier on the eyes ; ) ...

m/

i've been memed...

and I do appreciate it very much.

Wayne, over at Wayne's World has awarded me with a Thinking Blogger Award



So, Wayne, thank you very much...

As part of accepting the recognition there are three rules. One of the rules is to write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think. Here are my five nominees who make me think when I read them. Please, give them all a look. They are well worth it.

GenEX
Tony does a great job of providing amusement, but he hits topics that are varied and make one go mmmmmm...?

The Conjecturer
Josh is a young man trying to make a difference in the world. He has a great knowledge about things happening in Asia about which you don't find too much now a days. fascinating...

John Paul McCarty
John brings up issues and asks questions that are more than relevant in today's world. He has a perspective that is penetrating, open and honest.

jimbo.info
His blog just tells things like they are - no holds barred. jimbo is quite the rugby enthusiast.

Do Buddhists Watch Telly?
Alistair Appleton is best known in the US as the host of Cash in the Attic on BBCAmerica. Just the title of his blog makes one think. He writes about journeying for self-enlightenment. He also has an extensive website - .....Alistair Appleton.....


I didn't realize that this was going to be so difficult. Not that I couldn't find blogs to nominate but narrowing it down to just five! I'm an incessant reader, not only of blogs but books, newspapers, magazine.... just about anything with words on it. Also, I discovered that a few blogs that I regularly read already had been given the Thinking Blogger Award. Please, give each of the a look. You'll probably keep going back again and again.

Again, thanks Wayne.

m/