February 11, 2004
La france, qu’est-ce que elle a fait?.
This is my last blog post before my vacation. Yay! Jay and I fly out tomorrow morning and come back on the 17th.
So, as predicted, a ton of work fell on me today. Isn’t that just the way it goes?
Last night Billy, Chris, Kate and I went to see Eric Himan at the Borders in Birmingham. Eric Heiman… if you don’t know who that is, check him out here. He’s an indy rock-folk singer who is gay, hot, and super talented. I bought his album, and fully plan on ordering the others from his website. And did I mention that he’s totally hot? I’m in love.
For once French news (which readers of this blog know I can’t get enough of) is actually a subject of conversation in this country! The Assemblee nationale (which is their legislature) has passed a bill prohibiting all displays of religion from public schools. This includes religious displays like yarmulkes, head scarves, and crucifixes. As predicted, people in this country (and others) are already pointing to this legislation as an example of French over-legislation and bigotry. (Remember, a few years ago the Assemblee slapped advertisers who used English words like “le T-shirt” and “le week-end” with a big fat fine.) This legislation is controversial because it effectively limits free speech. The context, however, makes it more understandable. The French government has simply said, “We don’t know how to draw the line between OK religious displays and those that infringe on others. So if you all can’t play nice, we’re not allowing any.” Of course Muslims and Jews are up in arms about this, and they have a point. Muslims particularly are upset about this, and they feel that the law is designed to single them out. And the French do have a history of oppressing Muslims.
There are a lot of stupid comments out there about this law from people who know very little about France and her history. And, this is being used by Americans as a proof of our superiority. Blah bah blah. The law is discriminatory, and inflammatory, but not really for the reasons that most people I’ve spoken to think.
There is another issue at play here, and that is the strong tradition of an independent and elitist educational system in France. Many people see this law as the government over-stepping its bounds. If you really want to read a valid critique of the law and it’s fallout, written from a perspective that understands French culture, as opposed to some American yahoo’s franco-phobia, I suggest this article from Le Monde. Use Google translation to translate the page if you don’t speak French. Although it probably won't make as much sense.
That should hold you until I get back from Minnesota.
8:01 pm
February 10, 2004
Ce dessin francais, c'est drol.
While purusing the daily news instead of working I found a funny editorial cartoon on the website of the French paper Le Monde . I enjoy reading French-language media because they provide a different perspective. Anyway, click here to see it.
This is pretty self-explanatory, except for the medal around the neck of the person on the Vice-president step, which says, "Youth, Hope."
I think the French would not be terribly unhappy to see Shurb pack his bags and leave.
11:28 am
Retards. (And I mean that in the most P.C. way possible.)
I heard this quote on NPR this morning:
"The way to deal with terrorists is through the rule of law."
I doubt it. The thing about putting terrorists in prison is that there are always more people willing to pick up the cause. And the thing about killing them is that they become martyrs. People become terrorists because they feel disenfranchised. Acts of terror are acts of anger and frustration, directed at whatever target the terrorist feels is harming them. Think about Okalahoma City, the Unabomber, etc.
The way to combat terrorism is to enfranchise people. Make them feel that they have other ways of changing the system, and that they have too much to lose by becoming terrorists.
Anyway.
Read this. I have been known to burst into tears when thinking about food as well.
And this. Personally, I do hope that whitehouse.com gets sold to another porn site. Porn is legal, and the internet is for adults. I don’t subscribe to the opinion that adult discourse should be limited by its palatability to children.
Blah blah blah.
9:23 am
February 9, 2004
Back in action.
I went two whole days without a posting here. Never fear, my little Matt-ka-teers, I’m back!
This weekend was pretty busy for me, mostly because I had to do lots of preparations for my vacation, which starts on Thursday. Between today and Wednesday I’m booked solid with clients and such, so there’s not a whole lot of time to do last-minute things.
Yesterday Jay and I went to his parent’s house for some family togetherness. Everyone in his family is born between late January and Early February (except for Jason himself), so it was a big family birthday celebration. Everyone gets presents except for me and Jason. But fear not… our month will come.
Do you ever count back nine months from your birthday, just to see if there are any holidays that your parents might have been celebrating? We did that over dinner with Carrie, Bill and Laura on Saturday night. I think it’s something everyone does at one point, but sharing your findings with others is a little… icky.
Lunch today is four cheese tortellini in tomato-herb sauce, with a Frosty from Wendy’s on the side. I’m going to get back to it. Bye.
12:07 pm
February 6, 2004
You better work.
A RuPaul reference before noon. I think that’s illegal, isn’t it?
I do have a lot of work to catch up on today. I have to write notes going back to Monday, consult with a couple of physicians, meet with my clinical supervisor, and still squeeze a few clients into my day.
So why am I writing in my blog?
I’m thinking, based on my Sitemeter report, that most people read my ramblings over lunch. So I try to have something written for all y’all to read while you eat.
Jay subscribes to Newsweek. (God only knows how he went from subscribing to the Utne Reader to Newsweek, but anyway…) The cover of this week’s edition proclaims: “We were all wrong” in reference to Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.
Let me respond: Who was wrong? The millions of people in this country who took to the streets to oppose the war? Before the war, the Powers That Blurt called us anti-war forces "unpatriotic," and, in their more eloquent moments, a "lunatic fringe." Now, after the war, when we loonies are right about something the Powers That Speak pretend we didn’t exist. Ted Rall has something to say about this: read it here.
In other news, here is the latest about Martha Stewart. What struck my eye is that this is listed, in Yahoo! News, under the directory for Gay and Lesbian News. I think it’s funny and offensive at the same time. I know, both star witnesses are gay men, but please… I’m sure some of the WMD inspectors were gay too, but that story didn’t make the Community News section.
And finally, a federal judge eliminated the NFL’s restrictions on age. Previously, an athlete had to be three years out of high school to qualify to be in the NFL. Now, they don’t. A commentator on NPR said, “This may be the legal thing to do, but it’s not the right thing for the sport.” I tend to agree… but we’ll have to see how this goes.
Maybe I’m biased, because I really love college football, and the thought that the players will go for one year in college and then into pro football makes me fear for college teams. Since football requires a more "seasoned" player (by which I mean bigger and older) than other sports (by which I mean basketball), it is unlikely that kids right out of highschool will be on any professional starting lineups. It was always fun to watch a player grow and mature on a college team before they turned pro. What is more likely is that pro teams will recruit from first-year college players, who may go right from one year of college onto a professional bench. The pro teams will take the players, give them practice, and the players will grow into the sport. We fans won’t get to see them again for a couple of years. The big downside for fans is that we won’t get to see our favorite college players grow up.
11:00 am
February 5, 2004
Let's get back in the habit of giving these posts titles.
I'm watching TV right now... when did Bon Jovi get hot? Why was I not informed?
Thursday nights are made for having a couple of gin and tonics and going to bed early,I think. I know. I lead such an exciting life. Today was the day that I ran my group for ex-felons. If someone would have told me, when I was about 15, that I would grow up and do therapy groups for people who have just been released from prison, I would not have believed it. The answer to, "What do you want to do when you grow up, little boy?" is not usually, "Assist ex-offenders to re-enter society, and help them to learn to live with HIV infection." Not that I'm not happy with what I'm doing, but I do think that the 15-year old me would be suprised.
Isn't it interesting when we look around at our lives and think, "This is where I am. Who knew?"
We (Jay and I) got a call today from Governor Granholm. Of course, it wasn't a real call, but a pre-recorded message asking us to vote for John Kerry in Saturday's caucus. (Is that how that is spelled?) Anyway, for a moment, I was fooled, and I thought the Governor was actually calling me. That was right before I took time to dress the wound I received falling off the turnip truck last night.
8:33 pm
February 4, 2004
February 4th, that can't be right, can it? I have to much work to finish before Jay and I go to Minnesota next week. I suppose I should get down to it, and stop procrastinating. Right.
Jay is at home sick today. I am jealous that he gets to stay home. I keep thinking about my partner at home, wrapped up in blankets on the couch, in his pajamas, two kitties sleeping on his lap, gin and tonic firmly in hand. (OK, so maybe the gin and tonic isn’t likely.) I think I may feel sick tomorrow.
The results from the many, many primaries are in. Basically, the rest of the primaries are states trying to look like they aren’t just jumping on Iowa’s and New Hampshire’s bandwagons. Good luck with that. Kudos to OK and SC, for Clark and Edwards victories, respectively. This is why Kerry, who looks like he will get the Democratic nod, will lose in November: The South. Kerry is not an Andy Griffith Analog, and as such will have little appeal in states like Mississippi and Arkansas.
What bothers me the most about the whole thing is the glee with which people are jumping on Howard Dean’s dismal results. The pundits seem to be taking real joy in the fact that Dean will fade into obscurity. I guess people don’t like a candidate who tells them, “I told you so!” again and again. Who knew?
Personally, I think Dean should retaliate, and go to the Green Party. That would piss the Democrats off now, wouldn’t it? Hell, I’d vote for a Green Party Dean over a Democratic Party Kerry. In fact, I might write-in “Ralph Nader” come November.
OK, maybe not. After all, I am pretty much an “Anybody But Bush” supporter. But when did we start voting for people because of who they are not, instead of who they are? Ah, for the Clinton-Gore days, when I could feel that the person I voted for would be the best person for the job, not merely the worst of all possible options.
This link is courtesy of Ryan, courtesy of Kurt. I love it. Check out her other work while you are on her page.
I got an e-mail from Kevin McGarry, author of Fatherhood for Gay Men. I wonder if I could get him to come to Michigan and guest speak at the GLBT Parenting Class I teach? Hmmmmm….. Maybe if I ask nicely he will pass my business cards out to everyone at all of the lectures he does. That would be some sweet publicity. Even better than that time I consulted for an episode of CBS’s The Guardian. That’s right, boys and girls—Janet Jackson may have shown her boob, but I advised a staff writer at CBS about sexual addiction and the after effects of male-on-male sexual assault! Eat your heard out, Miss Jackson!
OK, so Janet’s thing was cooler. Shut up.
10:52 am
February 3, 2004
What is with all the work that keeps coming my way?? Doesn't my boss realize that I can't update my web log if she keeps sending me all this work??
OK. Now that I've gotten that out of my system...
Tom Tomorrow is probably the funniest political cartoonist in this and all other Universes. But I don't want to over-sell him, so judge for yourself--click here.
In other news, the FCC has weighed in on Boobie-gate. FCC chairman Michael Powell had this to say: "Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt."
Right. She exposed her breast, for Christ's sake. We can't watch women's breasts, but we can watch the elderly battle over a bag of chips.
Funniest of all, Justin Timberlake is blaming the whole thing on a "wardrobe malfunction." He seems like such a bad boy, doesn't hey?
Hey Justin! Want to really make headlines? Blame it on "an intellegence failure about the nature of the Super Bowl's music-related halftime program."
9:35 am
February 2, 2004
The Super Bowl last night did not disappoint. From the start it was clear that both teams were pretty even, although the Patriots did have a slightly better team. I think that if the Pats played the Cats 5 times, the Cats would probably win twice. There was lots of great football played, but I’ll let the experts talk about that.
Instead, I would like to point out the eye candy: Jake Delhomme of the Panthers and Tom Brady of the Patriots. Wow. Both of these guys are pretty fine, but I’m going to go with Jake Delhomme as Matt’s Player of the Game--an award totally based on hotness. (How’s that for a consolation prize? You didn't win the Super Bowl, but a gay man in Michigan thinks you're cute.)
Also, the second big story, Janet Jackson showed some skin in the last second of the halftime show. I couldn’t find a picture, but you’re not missing much if you didn’t see it. Li’l Kim has done worse.
As for the rest of my weekend: Saturday night was dinner with Bill and Laura. Dinner rocked. Sunday morning was brunch at the Starting Artist Care in Ferndale, which also rocked. They have amazing food.
Now, I have to get to work.
Happy Groundhog's Day!
9:15 am
February 1, 2004
Super Bowl Sunday. Jay and I are going to go watch the game with my parents. I'm looking forward to it, because the playoff games this year were were close and intense. Maybe the game will be excting, too.
Jay and I had brunch this morning at the Starving Artist Cafe in Ferndale. The food there is excellent.
I'm pressed for time today, so I'll fill in the details of my weekend tomorrow.
3:34 pm
