Christmas Day 2012

What a wonderful site to see; President (44!) and Mrs Obama in front of the White House Christmas.

Christmas indeed arrived in early November this year...but I digress.

Merry Christmas to anyone stopping by today. I hope your family celebrations and traditions are filled with as much love, joy, and spirit that the season has to offer.

I get sentimental at Christmas. You know that old time tradition where the family gathers to open gift, share stories of yesteryear, and then feast like kings. Throw in a few sporting events, a drunken Aunt, cousin or two, and you have the perfect holiday! LOL.

Seriously though, today will be spent traveling across the Keystone state visiting various relatives who couldn't come to my house this year. I'm looking forward to a pleasant day. What bites is I have to go to work tomorrow, but I'm not gonna think about the negative. Nope. I will embrace with family that good fortune all got another year to bask in each others' company.

So whatever your plans today, I bid you all the best that the Holidays have to offer.

Merry Christmas!
-Ian

Party This Weekend at 1600!

Since I really haven't been blogging much in 2012, there's been not much political thought on the Presidential Race (and now WIN) for 44! Like most folks, Tuesday night was filled with anticipation, dread, mixed thoughts, and concern about the potential winner. Lord thank GOODNESS there's still some sense in America. Yes there's plenty of criticism of the Obama Administration, but looking at the possibility of spending four years under a Romney Plan (or lack thereof) was a pill our country couldn't swallow. The voice of the people has been heard. Like it or not, you need to move past the bullsh*t and work with the President.

I'm oh-so-glad the President achieved a second term. Hell, he deserves it. As I've plenty times this year, it took Bush eight years to fuck up the country, Obama can't solve it just four! Amen. The road ahead is gonna be long. Who knows what shenanigans the GOP has in store. I image the same old shuck and jive bullshit will continue. Hopefully, President Obama will take a lesson from across the aisle and use their same tactics to get a Democratic Agenda accomplished. The political gridlock needs resolved regarding the economy, unemployment, and general stability of the US. Lord I hope we can get through this! I know we can if folks can work together. It's time for Washington to suck it up and get to business.

And....What?!?!

Been a few thoughts ratting around in the grey matter that I haven't commented upon. Here's a rewind of some moments catching my attention this past week.

RuPaul's Drag Race Season Three Finale: First off, congrats to Raja...don't want it to seem like I'm sore loser cause I was a supporter of Team Alexis and Team Manila. That said, why the FRAK did I waste my time this season???? I knew from the FIRST episode Raja was probably going to win! Even though she worked my nerves at times, I grew to love Manila. By the Final three, I knew poor Alexis would be first to go, so I threw hope behind Manila. Alas...

The Weather/Tornadoes: OK? What in Samhain is going on? I'm not one to hit the panic button, but the last few weeks of Tornado activity has been just down right scary. Tornadoes hitting St. Louis' Airport, Tornadoes flattening entire towns in Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia... What the Hell?!?! Even PA wanted to horn in on the horrible weather. Two confirmed twisted rolled through my area on Thursday. Trees were down, flooding galore from the torrential rain, the Susquehanna way past looking menacing....Ugh! Getting to work, which normally is a 20 minute commute, took over an hour. Suffice to say our area wasn't as bad as the South, my point is why is Mother Nature tearing like a woman scorned? She's pissed!

Obama and his birth certificate: You know? Really? Why was this necessary? Honestly, Trump and the rest of the Birthers needed to go over this issue long ago. How commendable that on 44's part to put up with it this long. Mind you, I was one of those who really felt our president showing his birth certificate was so unnecessary. Officials and Reps from Hawaii time and time again gave the proof required to show his birth as US citizen. Yet, Trump and cronies just weren't satisfied. Lord! Donald just go get a haircut and leave us alone already!!! Why hasn't anyone mentioned HIPPA in all this? But I guess the highest citizen in the land isn't entitled to privacy. In any case, 44 showed 'em the long form.

The Royal Wedding: Is it done yet? I know I was one of the ones way back when to watch Charles and Diana, but I have no, none what-so-ever, interest in William and Kate. That's saying something cause usually anything British, and I'm so there. Dunno. Maybe cause Wills and Harry did a flip flop in the cuteness factor? Harry has gotten more over the years....Yeah he looked good standing next to his brother in West Minster. OK, I peeked at the highlights! I didn't watch it Friday morning though.

Superman's Citizenship: Are people really reacting over a comic book character renouncing U.S. citizenship? Really? C'mon people, it's a work of fiction! Get with the program. Let's worry about the frakkin' economy instead a make believe character written for children.

Doctor Who Series 6: After seeing part two of the season opener, I'm completely disillusioned with Who. What complete garbage! Both episodes seemed rushed and loosely tied. I do realize the point to Who has never to wrap things up in a tidy package, but these episode had too many plot whole. And can anyone explain the Silence to me? Um, the Doctor's been visiting Earth for hundreds of years and this is his first encounter? Oh yeah, you forget them when they're outta sight. I get it, outta sight, outta mind. Uh no...

This was perhaps one of the worst Doctor Who episodes to date. I don't know if I was more frustrated with BBC America's commercial interruptions or trying to understand a hastily written story. I've been watching the show since the 70s. I've long said the problem with the new incarnation of Who is it needs to go back to its root. Go back the Tom Baker era telling of story arc. Any one Remember the Invasion of Time? Now that was a story arc for the ages.... Ugh! Moffett, please turn this show around. It needs H-E-L-P. If need be, bring back some the older characters, while keeping the zest and underlying promise. Matt Smith are times shows incredible spark.

Despite my critiques, I'm still intrigued by the Doctor and River's relationship. The show is giving us the truth piece meal, but I think I've worked through the red herrings and alleged theorist on who exact River is. I might be important to not the child from the Season opener. Who was she? Why did Amy react they ways she did in child's room at the Ophanage? What was the real reason Amy told the Doctor she was pregnant and not Rory? Might point out the plot gap...HOW THE HELL DID SHE DISCOVER SHE WAS PREGNANT???

Skipping my rant, I do have speculations who the child trapped in the Apollo 11 suit was. Deconstruct the episode, piece all you know so far about River, and it all makes sense. Had to go back and re-watch River's introduction to the Doctor while he was in his David Tenant incarnation.... Oh I won't spoil it, but I would be très surprised if my theory was wrong...

MED Thoughts on "44" (Thanks, Rippa!)

I saw this over on Rippa's blog, and I give brother full credit for his post! Please be sure to review the original article on The Intersection Of Madness And Reality. I'm re-posting here because it got this brutha to think and this certainly is a must v-cast for any Barack Obama supporter/advocate. Wanted to give others the opportunity to reflect and respond on Michael Eric Dyson's thoughts as well...

Do you agree or disagree with Dr. Dyson? Read my comment and response to Rippa below after viewing the clip.

"Wow! I was really ready to throw down and defend Mister "44," who I love and respect no matter what the staunchest critics say about him, but Dr. Dyson was dead on. Unfortunately, Dr. D speaks the truth, really, that to the older generations, having a black president may not matter! Washington is just a hot bed of game,contention, and mess. Pander to my neighbor so I can get what I need for my constituents or my own self interests. I'm not saying the President isn't a good man or without altruistic intentions, but let's accept there's going to be issues he'll sidetrack, back peddle, and perhaps, completely overlook for a time, until he's comfortable with the impact he's made on the majority (translation white people).

The President has to straddle a difficult fence. I don't envy him, but again, I agree with Dr. Dyson Black people shouldn't give him a "free pass." He needs to be held accountable. Believe me, as a gay black man, I'm watching and hearing the rumblings the Gay Community is having with Obama for not fulfilling his promise to LGBTQ community over DADT (Don't Ask, Don't Tell) and other equal rights for gays. They/we're certainly are holding him up to his word. They/we are demanding he honor his obligation he campaigned.

Should certain issues be sacrificed for the time being? Which issues need to go first? Does a lack to act firmly on minority issues mean "44' has forgotten about us? I don't think so. He has so much on his plate, but I think Obama wants to reach out universally, not to just one community or the other, which means some in the minority (issues) will get overlooked. Is it right? Hell, no. But it's P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S!

Here's a personal question I need to ask. As someone who understands what it's like to be multiracial, how is the whole matter of race, ethnicity, and identity seen by the POTUS? For himself? I've seen interviews. Does he relate as an American? Or does he HAVE TO because we've given Obama the "Black" label, strictly identify as Black (or African American in the truest sense)? We all know he's biracial, "mixed" as we used to say, but grew up in a different set of circumstances than your average African American. I wonder...

Now we've heard the jokes...when the President makes a mistake or slights Black folk, blame it on his "White" half. Is it fair that we hold him to a standard that he has to be 100% in our corner? Honestly? I wanna say he should because if he didn't have the labels in front of his name...Professor, Senator, Mr. President...you know the racists would just see him as another "n" word. I don't know. America speaks with forked tongue no matter what the community, what the ethnic group, we all expect something from this President that he may or may not be able to achieve.

I accept that he'll need to not offend white people, who to be sure, many will accuse him of giving hand outs and freebies to "us" (Black folk) just because of his race. HOWEVER... like Dr Dyson indicated, each of the 43 Presidents preceding Mr. Obama looked out for their "own people," it just wasn't necessarily said because they were of the "majority." And Mr. Obama wants a second term. What President hasn't? So he's gotta play the game, back peddle in some areas, to insure he doesn't offend and hurt feelings to hinder a second term. Is this right? No, but is the nature of the beast. That's why I hate Politics. Ultimately, no matter who the politician, their best intentions, isn't it all about personal gain and legacy?"

Got Racism?

Yeah effing right!

My ass.

Lawdhavmercy! Ian's on a militant tear this morning.Tired of the "isms" today already...Sexism, Racism, Homophobia, Obamaphobia...and it's only 6:30 in the AM.
Oh Christ. What a way to begin your morning, eh? Got up and checked my email and Facebook, saw that one of my "friends" had did one of those annoying little "quizzy" things... Five Historical Things In History I'd stop If You Could. Well you know the fucker had the nerve to put the election of Barack Obama. Put me on blast! Fired off a reply, which I'm sure will end our friendship:

"If I hear one more white person complain about Barack Obama, I think I'm going to be sick. Will y'all get over it already.?!?! He's really not doing that bad of a job! Or is it that White people still see Black people as inferior in this country????? And Dave you put here that you'd stop the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, who by the way, Barack Obama has modeled his presidency upon, or didn't you pay attention during the Inauguration? So far he's {Barack} done the same things Lincoln did, and making better progress. I'm not expecting you to explain yourself or understand why black people think every negative remark against Obama is racist, because you people won't, nor do we have the time or desire to educate ones out of their self-deceived bigotry. I expected better statements than this from you. Really, I did. I'm really disappointed in you man...."

Ian's Inquiry: OK, Said friend might not be a racist, but I get that perception some folks are holding on to 44's election as this great evil, and to me it conveys nothing but racism. So, is every white person who has anything substantial negative about the President being prejudiced or racist?

One Hundred

Today, we cheerfully, can celebrate this!

but for those of you who still think "44" was a mistake, remember this:

Yeah, George. Barrack's got your back. But not in the way you thought....

What Baby Wants...

Now, that's what I'm talkin' about. Can we get him out tomorrow??? LOL.