Colour Me Befuddled

Very interesting editiorial in today's Journal Sentinel. Apparently, bigots (especially ones in their thirties and forties) will vote bigotry in Wisconsin and then make sane choices when it comes to representation.

At least Sensenbrenner isn't as cocky this time around.

Personally, I just want to know how Arizona defeated the marriage ban, but Wisconsin didn't.

The Election 2006 Post-Mortem

Well, hasn't this been an interesting evening?

From a national perspective, it certainly seems that the majority of Americans believe that we are headed in the wrong direction, and it's now our duty to correct it. (And by the way, YAY Bernie Sanders, finally a Socialist in government!)

Then, there's Wisconsin.

Doyle won over the noxious Mark Green.

Kohl won over...well, some band of idiots.

Another band of idiots put Sensenbrenner back, for reasons that I cannot fathom, but then again, he still had 3 people running against him, an amount of opposition candidates in that race the likes I have never seen.

Some idiot from DePere thought Wisconsin should reinstate the death penalty (last seen in 1853!) and apparently found another group of sociopaths to agree with him. (Honestly, I have no strong opinion on the death penalty, but if Dahmer didn't cause it to return, then it should be left that way. Fortunately, this was "advisory"--unlike another referendum--and is unlikely to pass with Doyle now re-elected.)

The former weatherman from WTMJ is barely winning his asinine bid for State Assembly.

Even with the weatherman, Sensenbrenner, and the Death Penalty, it was that first amendment result that stung the most.

I want to thank all the bigots who apparently forgot that they have unmarried heterosexual and homosexual friends and children (in a state where same-sex marriage is already illegal) and went and still passed a ban that takes away any protections for them.

That's right, no rights.

In a referendum shepherded by a divorce lawyer.

Just think about that.

Also think about the brain-drain that will leave the state because of it.

Think about the conventions, corporations, and innovators that will not even consider for one second moving to the state because of it.

Think about the fact that you voted for shotgun marriages over actual loving ones.

Think about the vision of the state of Wisconsin that you have in mind.

And realise that when all is said and done, you have consigned us to being insignificant.

You weren't voting against gays getting married. You were voting against simple human respect and decency to one another.

"Forward," indeed.

This Is My Homeland

I received my absentee ballot today and apart from the fact that there is still not a single Democrat or even non-Republican running for any of the county seats, I am presented with several very odd things.

1. The Republican running in my state assembly district is the former weatherman from Channel 4. And he's qualified, how?
2. When did the Greens become such a formidable force that they can run a full slate of candidates for statewide office? Even for the US House of Representatives!
3. Sensenbrenner must really not be that well-liked since there are 3 other candidates for his job (a Democrat, a Green, and an Independent).
4. There's a death penalty referendum. Honestly, I thought this was done and decided and over with in Wisconsin. If we didn't kill Dahmer, we're not killing anyone...at least not on purpose.
5. Ozaukee County for some bizarro reason has decided to put a referendum on the ballot that states: "Do you support the efforts of the United States and its military in waging a war on terror throughout the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan, until such time as organized terrorism is eliminated and citizens of all countries can be assured of their safety to go about their tasks of everyday life?" I dub this referendum the "pixies and unicorns referendum," because you would have to believe in them in order to actually think that any sane person would think that "organized terrorism" would ever be eliminated and that "citizens of all countries can be assured of their safety to go about their tasks of everyday life."

By the way, O wise GOP legislators of Ozaukee County, considering that the Mequon police cannot even use their Homeland Security equipment properly (and subsquently killing someone in the process), you are living in some delusional land divorced from any sort of reality to what has transpired globally in the past two years.

Then again, reality has never had much currency in Ozaukee County anyway.

Vote or Shut Up

If during the past two you have ever complained about the following:

• Traffic
• Homophobia
• Lack of employment
• Iraq
• Iran
• The President
• Smoking Bans
• Congress
• The Homeless
• Bar Closing Time
• Public Schools
• Mass Transit
• The Airlines
• Amtrak
• Healthcare
• Cost of living
• Tuition
• The MPAA/ESRB
• Music and TV Downloading
• Copyrights

...but aren't planning to vote tomorrow, I would suggest that you tape your mouth shut and restrain your fingers, because you have absolutely no moral authority to complain.

Some might say "well, it doesn't matter since Diebold (et. al.) already have the election decided." To that I say a very loud and resounding "SO FUCKING WHAT?" There are few times in our lives where we as individuals can say "this is my view of the world and this is how I feel this country should go." Take advantage of it. Discrepancies will out, believe me. Get a paper ballot if you can.

Do you not know how many people of all colours and genders died for the right for you to participate in this process? Thousands, if not millions. Nonetheless, the last midterm election saw a rate of only 40% of eligible voters participating. That is flat out disgusting and disrespectful.

The world is changing for the better, but it will not complete this change if we do not do our part at the ballot box.

Splash-The View Post-Mortem: It Does Keep You Runnin'

But what is it?

Seriously, I listened to that song several times over and I couldn't identify what "it" was that The Doobie Brothers were singing about.

Anyway, despite a runny nose and a sore throat I dragged myself over to Splash for several reasons:

1. I was not going to be out on Tuesday night, aka Election Return Night.
2. Having stayed in on the previous Tuesday night, I was anxious to go out proper.

It was a good thing that I did, since I wound up meeting my ultimate challenger.

I think everybody should at some point in their life meet someone who challenges them to defend their world view and apparently tonight was night my night.

I'll call my challenger "J." J was initially introduced to me by an acquaintance of his (one of only a hour as I would learn later), who encouraged me to go talk to him. Being of the mind that if someone honestly thinks that me talking to them is a thrill, then I should go and do it, I gladly did so. Well, that opened Pandora's Box!

It turned out that J was a Socialist and from Chicago to boot. He also shared my ability to go in deep and profound when it came to conversation. For starters, I told him that I try to keep a low profile whenever I go out, so that I can better observe and overhear people. J wasn't having it! He barraged me with a litany of questions as to "why" I tried to be non-descript, and how could I "pretend" to be non-descript when I stand out. (This was meant as a compliment...as was the fact that I am "complicated.")

Until he felt my scalp, he truly believed that I got my hair cut specifically for tonight. In all honesty, I got my hair cut on Thursday because by that time it had grown enough during the intervening month and a half.

As I unknowingly poured out my id to him, J began to draw conclusions:

1. I'm polite up to a certain point and then I chose stay because I'm stimulated.
2. I have no sense of how I appear to the outside world.
3. I'm polite, but still disingenuous.
4. I'm lying to myself when I say that no one can violate my box who I don't know well. (Well, trust in a certain aforementioned crush to come in at that second and a give me a hug and a grope during that conversation.)

What scared me the most is that J was spot on. Being true to myself and my gut, I left at that moment to go drown my sorrows in a Twisted Tea and a shot of Jagermeister at The View.

And now, all is semi-right with the world.

And another one comes out

Cross Neil Patrick Harris off of this list, he's now publicly out as well.

Sean Hayes, the pipes are calling you.

Thursday Jukebox Gives Honourable Mention

...to the runner up to the Election 2006 theme song: "Guild" by Bump of Chicken.

(Yes, that is the band's actual name, and it makes no sense to me either.)

"Guild" would've won it in a landslide, except that there's a bit of a disconnect between the lyrics and the video.



Although you could argue that a bunch of twentysomethings swaying in unison is a "job" of some sort.

Thursday Jukebox Has Election 2006 Theme Songs

The way I see it we are either Astro Boy...




Or the doomed cast of Ideon, who I must add do get reborn after being blown to smithereens.



In other words, good does triumph over all. The only setback being distracted by the present.

For Your All Saints Day Reading Pleasure

Granted since I grew up "secular non-demonational Christian" I have no idea what All Saints Day is about, but I had to think of a title to tie in with the article I wrote for AfterElton.

Enjoy.

Let's Just Mummify Children Until They Turned 18

I realise that it is difficult being a parent these days, but honestly, some people are just being way too over protective when it comes to nursery rhymes.

I heard these things growing up and I didn't turn out traumatised.

And I don't know what sort of Precious Moments life the people in Sleepy Hollow live, but they need to get over themselves pronto.

Tonight's Post-Mortem

...will be posted later at The Story The Person.

Are The Times A-Changin'

My jar nearly dropped in astonishment when I read Mike Nichols's recent editorial in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that points out what a lot of pro-amendment advocates forget: it's about people's lives.

Brilliant.

Sunday Jukebox Wishes It Was 1984

I like to think that we're living in a right-wing version of 1984, the book, when I'd much rather be living in 1984 the anime year.



But maybe, that's just me, since I've been known to sing "Dreamy My Love"* when drunk.

* I know it's not a slit your wrists type of ballad, but it's the exception that proves my rule.

It's Baaaaack

Just in time for Thanksgiving, The Closet is being reissued in a Platinum Edition Box Set.

Relive the wonders of:

"She said you were sleeping with her...and her husband (SLAP)"

"I'm not gonna be yuh secret anymor-ah"

"His grandson is a homosechsual"

and of course:

"I want to wake up every morning and see that black ass that belongs to me"

Noah's Arc is our Julia, and The Closet is our Mommie Dearest.

My recapping abilities are saved for Eurovision season, but I'd highly suggest that you get a group of your friends (the ones you can queen out with), some alcohol, and pop this in the DVD player.

The Splash-View Post-Mortem: Who said weirdness was limited to the 31st?

For starters, I want you to imagine the opening theme song to Galvion playing on a loop when you read this, because that's exactly what I was doing.

First, let's begin at Splash, because I did. I have come to an interesting revelation about The Cypriot. He makes sense when you are talking with someone, because I wound up chucking my observer routine tonight due to a very eager Spaniard* who engaged me in conversation downstairs. It's hard to focus on what others are saying when someone is feeling up your calves, and that's all I'm saying. The Cypriot came in to take my drink order at just the right lulls.

* I don't know what it is with Spain, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, but apparently the locals are very intrigued by American blacks.

After the Spaniard left, I made my way upstairs where there was a HUGE backdrop with the logo for BETJ. I want you to process this for a second: a backdrop for BET's Jazz Channel was at Splash, one of the whitest bars in existence even on its "ethnic" night. (Seriously, it is, especially with this new "Ocean" theme.) Unfortunately, I never got a chance to ask what the connection was, but rest assured that for the remaining 2 drinks I had there I was trying to figure out why it was there. All I can come up with is that it is possible that BETJ was plugging Dance Diva #8907 in whatever way possible.

It certainly attracted a very...um...scenester crowd. Apart from the odd man who always dances at Splash with his herky-jerky reaching movements (if you've been, then you know who I'm referring to here), there were a few groups of Noah's Arc clones swaying to the various songs, eager to dance, but too self-conscious to actually go onto the centre of the dancefloor.

Normally, I would've taken that as a sign to do a runner to The View, but since Shequida bought me a shot (why, I do not know) , it seemed rude to do so. Plus, I am trying out those Chaser hangover pills tonight; so, I reckoned I could play with fire to some degree. Not to mention, the weirdness of seeing a group of gay white men congregate around a sign for BETJ was worth it.

Duties complete, I made it over to The View, which was relatively tranquil and playing music videos by that time. After hearing the young, kind bartender go on about his lovelife (unsolicited, I must add), I got involved--against my nature--in being the kindly ear to a man go on about the differences between '70s gay life and present and the subsequent parallels between that and modern black gay life. I get it, no need to remind me.

By time La Ryan's "Alive" came on, I knew it was time to go. Midnight or Kate Ryan, I always say.

Some House Business

If you've noticed this link to The Story The Person and wondered what it is, well, it's basically the flip side of this corner of the internet, or rather, the processed side of me which some would call emotional, but since I'm an Aquarian it's more like the Splenda version of feelings*, if you will.

*Aquarians don't feel. We analyse.

Here is going to be the home of alcohol-induced sociological observations, Anime nostalgia, Eurovision, political and cultural opinion, and other pop culture tidbits.

Over there is where the playwright comes out periodically to run amok: Character notes, writing observations, occasional diary entries, all that jazz is over there. Some truth, some fiction, and the lines between the two will be blurred at random.

Saturday Jukebox Says WTF?

Since I'm on a Tomino kick today, I looked into one of Tomino's recent shows: Overman King Gainer.

All I have to say is that artistically, I liked him better when he was all depressed and nihilistic, although I'm happy that he's better, of course. Still, look at this opening and tell me this isn't a warning to take the happy pills in moderation:



Go-go dancing robots? "Metal Full Coat?" Oh yes, makes as much sense as this.

Conversely, Lambchop singing the hits of Judy Garland doesn't seem all that far-fetched at all. In fact, it makes you say "ahhh, bless."

Space: So What?

I was watching Wanda Sykes's new comedy special recently and she said that the space programme was "welfare for really smart people, who are so smart that they are worthless." The more I think about it, her comments really reflect the sort of ambivalence that many people have today over Space in general. I have no problem admitting that I'm pretty ambivalent about it as well.

The funny thing is that a lot of my own writing style and character development was inspired in great part from Leiji Matsumoto and especially Yoshiyuki Tomino's space operas, even though I don't write anything that has a science-based theme. A few days ago, I was wactching several old anime TV opening sequences, and it is interesting to note just how the use of space has gone from something that inspired awe and whimsy in the 1980's to being rather anonymous in the present day.

Note the way that it's presented in the opening for Bismark.



And several years later in the 2nd opening for Zeta Gundam.




Compare those with these two opening sequences from Gundam Seed & and its sequel Gundam Seed Destiny (2002 & 2004, respectively):





Who'd ever think that anime sci-fi would start turning inward?

Another Reason to Vote

Stories are being lost courtesy of congress cutting money.

Watch to find out more, and visit SaveDeafTheatre.

And now who?

T.R. Knight is now out, and perhaps the time is coming that a line is being drawn in the sand where people realise that to play along with the closeting and bearding is basically claiming that being gay is something to be ashamed of.

So who is next?

Jorja Fox?

George Eads?

Eric Szymanda?

Wanda Sykes?

Neil Patrick Harris?

Only time and character will tell.