Open thread

Still in NYC, had a really interesting weekend. Went to see The Ritz, a revival of an old comedy set in a gay bathhouse in NYC. It was cute (I'm a tough sell on comedies), with lots of eye candy and some excellent acting. Starred Kevin Chamberlin (who was great) and Rosie Perez, and included an outstanding performance by Patrick Kerr (who previously played Noel, the geeky dark-haired officemate in love with Roz on "Frasier"). I got to meet Rosie Perez after the show, and then go to dinner with Chamblerlin and Kerr and some mutual friends. Just the nicest guys. Kerr in particular was just fascinating, I got to speak with him for a long while over dinner. It's so interesting to talk to people who don't do politics for a living. Read the rest of this post...

NC Pride 2007 - fundies toot their horn (literally)

Kate and I had a great time at Pride on Saturday. We marched with the Old West Durham Neighborhood Association, my former haunt, which is the host neighborhood for the NC Pride parade.

It was funny — I was recognized by a few folks along the parade route (for the blog). I guess next year I should march with a Pam's House Blend banner, but it would look kind of silly with just me and a sign, unless I could rustle up a few Blenders to march.

Anyway, we had a few fundie protestors again. It was hilarious. For your amusement, I took some video of the protestors from Operation Save America. They were the truly unhinged amateur hour crowd.



Photos and a short clip of former Village People singer Randy Jones are over at my pad. Talk about a blast from the past…

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ENDA

John's posted on it, but if you want to read my take on the ENDA dustup, there are posts over at my pad to check out.

On Friday I happened to be in DC at the Out and Equal Workplace Summit -- right when the ENDA issue blew up. I was slated to appear on a panel that was relevant to the developments -- Workplace Equality in the American Spotlight -- so it was definitely apt timing to talk about the issue of trans inclusion with attendees charged with inclusion and diversity in corporate America. My post on the conference is here.

Other entries:

* The rationalizations of the trans-stripped ENDA crowd fall flat
* More on the ENDA 'family fight'
* Separate But Equal" Doesn't Really Mean Equal (Autumn Sandeen)
* The battle over ENDA
* ENDA in trouble over trans inclusion - and weak Dem spines Read the rest of this post...

What would Gandhi do?

For the past couple days, there has been a roving rally here in Washington to support the movement for democracy in Burma. Chris has been writing almost daily posts about the anti-government protests in that country. The protesters in DC, led by monks, have marched to the Burmese, Chinese and Indian embassies. The Washington Post profiled the Burmese exile community today.

I caught up with the protest today in front of the Indian embassy where they stopped en route to the White House. There was something very powerful about seeing a group of Burmese monks protesting next to a statue of Gandhi -- in front of the embassy of India, the world's largest democracy, which Ganhdi helped create. Gandhi's statue includes the inscription "My life is my message." The Burmese people could use some of India's moral authority and democratic ideals right about now.

Read the rest of this post...

Republicans planning to force Larry "Wide Stance" Craig out of Senate with public ethics hearings

I am simply amazed that Craig would try to stay in the Senate after his gay bathroom sex conviction. The GOP is freaking out. And fighting back. Read the rest of this post...

Giuliani's strategy: I'm not Hillary

Could have fooled me. Read the rest of this post...

Two headlines to contemplate on a Sunday morning

Two headlines on the AP wire caught my attention this morning. The juxtaposition says so much about the U.S.

Headline 1: Jenna Bush Begins National Book Tour

Headline 2: Wounded Vets Also Suffer Financial Woes Read the rest of this post...

Sunday Talk Shows Open Thread

Last week, it was Hillary Clinton. This week, it's Bill (although he's not doing all five of them). Gingrich, who was running for Prez, but now isn't, is also on a couple shows. Beside them, it's an eclectic mix on the shows today. When was the last time anyone say Kit Bond on a weekend show? Bob Geiger, who knows the Senate better than anyone, told me anytime he saw Bond's name in the Congressional record, it was going to be something absurd and/or bizarre.

Here' the lineup:

ABC's "This Week" — Former President Bill Clinton; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus.

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CBS' "Face the Nation" — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Democratic presidential candidate.

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NBC's "Meet the Press" — Clinton.

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CNN's "Late Edition" — Sens. Kit Bond, R-Mo., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari; New Yorker writer Seymour Hersh.

"Fox News Sunday" _ Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Trent Lott, R-Miss.; Gingrich.

Have at it. Read the rest of this post...

22 million pounds of beef recalled - yes, E. coli again

Oversight has never seemed so far away. The most pathetic story by a corporate PR spinmeister churned out in a long time leaves me just shaking my head in amazement:

"Because the health and safety of our consumers is our top priority, we are taking these expansive measures," said Vice President of Operations Geoffrey Livermore in the statement.

Um, if "health and safety of our consumers" was so important the problem of E. Coli would not be so widespread both in this recall and the industry in general. The problem consistently comes back to rushed processing and businesses that are more attentive to cost savings then to the end result delivered to consumers. Read the rest of this post...

Abu Galum, Sinai

Since coming back to Paris at the start of September I've been missing warm weather so checking out photos from Sinai are helping take the edge off of the rather cool temperatures. Abu Galum is a Bedouin fishing village along the Gulf of Aqaba that is thankfully not connected to the overdone and high-hassle town of Dahab so transport to Abu Galum is an hour plus camel ride along the sea. A very pleasant view and nice diving - they actually have fish, compared to Dahab! - though I never really adjusted to sitting on a camel and felt it for days, with the salt water not helping the process. Read the rest of this post...

Desmond Tutu nails it again

If only there were more like him who weren't afraid to speak out like this. On Zimbabwe:

"The stories we are hearing of the harassment of political opponents, detentions without trial, torture and the denial of medical attention are reminiscent of our experiences at the hands of apartheid police," said Tutu, who was a leader of the struggle against South Africa's whites-only rule.

Read the rest of this post...

Saturday night with some Springsteen

Yesterday morning, Bruce Springsteen did a concert on the TODAY Show. It was, of course, fantastic. In the intro to his new song, Living in the Future, Bruce gave one of the best -- and most succinct political speeches I've heard in awhile. He said, "This is a song about things that shouldn't happen here happening here." And, he listed some of those things.

My good pal, Taylor Marsh, got the video. Worth a watch on a Saturday night:
Read the rest of this post...