Happy New Year!

It's hard to believe that 2011 will be here in just a few hours.  I wish each and every one of you a happy and prosperous new year and I look forward to reading more of your comments on Lazy Circles in the months to come!  Stay safe tonight.  Remember, everyone on the road is either drunk or the police and you don't want to run into either one. 

We're Number 1!

Here's a fun time-waster for a holiday weekend.  Every state is number 1 at something, what about your state?  You can find them all here and the poster promises that some of the stats will "blow your mind."  Prepare to be blown! 

Some of them aren't surprising, such as California has the biggest economy and New York has the largest city.  Some were unexpected, at least to me.  Did you know that those smart folks in Delaware have the largest percentage of doctorate-level scientists and engineers?   Who knew South Carolina has the largest Ginko farm in the world?  What do they do with all that Ginko?  How about Illinois, which has the highest rate of gang membership?  Actually, that one isn't such a surprise considering those hell-raising Olney Crips.  The squirrels get so scared, they turn white!

And what about Texas, The Lone Star State where everything is bigger?  We're the windiest!  I'm not talking about all the Mexican food.  Texas has the most windy land area and thus the most potential for wind energy.  So there!   

Clueless Queens

I'm a member of a club called OLITA, which stands for Oak Lawn Investment and Travel, Oak Lawn being Dallas' gay neighborhood.  It purports to be the oldest gay organization in Dallas, but has nothing to do with investment or travel.  It's purely a social organization and dates from the days when gay bars were routinely raided and having "gay" in your name was dangerous.  The entire point of the club is to have a party in a private home once a month.  The party always includes an open bar and dinner.  The membership skews a bit older and OLITA is sometimes referred to as Old Ladies in Total Abandon, but that's just crass.  In February, we traditionally celebrate Founders Day by dressing up (in men's suits, not gowns) and having our event in a hotel or restaurant.  The place where we held the past several Founders Days has regrettably closed, so our secretary has been busy trying to find another location.  He has had no luck.  It seems that every hotel and restaurant in Dallas is booked and has no room for a private party of about 75 men.  What a mystery.  We've never had this problem before.  Why all the trouble this year?

Maybe because we chose Super Bowl weekend.

And the Super Bowl is in Dallas this year.

And none of us old queens had a clue.

We're going to find an alternate date. 

Agatha Von Trapp Dead at 97

Agatha Von Trapp, the oldest of the Trapp Family Singers, has died in Towson, Maryland.  She was portrayed in the movie as 16 going on 17 Liesl. From the AP:

 Von Trapp, 97, died Tuesday at a hospice in the Baltimore suburb of Towson after suffering congestive heart failure in November, said Mary Louise Kane. Kane and von Trapp lived together for five decades and ran a kindergarten at the Sacred Heart Catholic parish in nearby Glyndon until 1993. 

Von Trapp, who apparently never married nor had children, was described in the article as far more reserved than Charmain Carr's Liesl. Her brother Johannes described her as a very private person and a talented sketch artist.  The picture is from her 1948 petition to become a naturalized US citizen.  She will be buried at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.

James Marsden in a Hot Tub

This was a preview of the Jan. 5 episode of Modern Family, which is now programmed in my DVR. I wish Jesse Tyler Ferguson had stood up. 

Tom and Lorenzo's Top 15

Fun bloggers Tom and Lorenzo have posted their top 15 fashion Ins for 2010 including Darren Criss at number 8.  If he were any cuter, I'd melt into a pool of molasses and honey.  My personal fave among the gals is Evageline Lilly in Pucci.

Check them all out, along with T&L's signature razor-sharp commentary, here.

Australia's Contribution to World Culture

In case you're looking for a little post-Christmas reading, how about the History of the Speedo?

via Towleroad

Monday's Man: Enrique Iglesias

Enrique has never been shy about playing up his sex appeal. 

He can't not be sexy.  It's in his DNA.

He's pushed it pretty far in some of his videos, but in his latest, Tonight I'm Fucking You, he pushes it into R-rated, totally NSFW territority.  Naturally, I've posted it below.

Running for Congress With The Stars!

Guess which 20 year-old unwed mom just bought a foreclosed, 5-bedroom house in Maricopa, Arizona?  None other than reality show loser Bristol Palin.  Maricopa is a dusty, depressed little place, far south of Phoenix.  Why on earth would a single young woman buy property there? A Wonkette operative has an idea:

"Maricopa is a half-empty town south of Phoenix. Most of the homes are either in foreclosure or heading in that direction. That’s why she could buy a 5 bedroom house for $172,000.


But guess what? Arizona will get a new, 9th Congressional District thanks to the new census. Most observers think Maricopa will end up smack-dab in the middle of this new district.


Bristol for Congress!"

Think I’m joking. I live in the 3rd Congressional District, represented by none other than Ben Quayle!"

Ben Quayle may be an apparent douchebag, but he holds degrees from Duke and Vanderbilt and was a successful attorney before running for Congress.  Bristol "graduated" from high school in time to pose for the cover of People Magazine in her cap and gown.   



 

Miss Crawford Joins Lazy Circles in Wishing You a Merry Christmas!

And don't forget, after that holiday meal, Lucky Strike aids digestion. 8 out of 10 doctors agree! 

Another fabulous Lazy Circles idea from NY Bureau Chief Doug

Meanwhile, on Fox News

This was broadcast yesterday.  Good to finally know who won. 

Source

Repeal!

Blatantly stolen from Kenneth in the 212

Quote of the Day

"People will look back on this moment and wonder, 'Why was this ever a source of controversy in the first place?'"

--President Obama, signing the Don't Ask/Don't Tell repeal into law. 

Quote of the Day

"I wonder if Lindsey Graham knows I have pictures of a man who spent the night at his house. pls RT"



– 10:57 AM Dec 18th


"Just reached lawyer at home. Meeting set for Tues. on releasing pix of man who spent night at Lindsey Graham’s."


– 11:05 AM Dec 18th


--Mike Rogers of Blog Active, who has a history of accurately outing closeted anti-gay politicians. 

Every picture I see of Miss Graham reminds me of my 7th grade yearbook picture; a picture that will never see the light of day. 

150 Years Ago Today

As Edward Ball said in his editorial in yesterday's New York Times:

"The authors of these papers flattered themselves that they’d conjured up a second American Revolution. Instead, the Secession Convention was the beginning of the Civil War, which killed some 620,000 Americans; an equivalent war today would send home more than six million body bags."

Think about that the next time you hear politicians casually throw around words like "secession" and "states' rights."

Monday's Man: Mark Wahlberg

The new Mark Wahlberg film The Fighter has opened and while I can't say this boxing movie is at the top of my Christmas list, it certainly has it's assets.

I can't imagine the discipline it takes to build a body like that, at his or any age.  I know he gets paid to look good, but seriously, how many men look like that on their best day?      

Quote of the Day

 A lesbian president who looks like Julie Andrews and dresses to meet heads of state in “ankle-length skirts, grazing the Manolo Blahnik kitten heels.” She would save her “butch trouser suit for weekends at Camp David and vacation hikes in Yellowstone. No plaid lumberjack shirts at any time.”

--Maureen Dowd, quoting Andre' Leon Talley's vision for America's first openly gay president.

DA/DT Repeal Passes the Senate!

The final vote for repeal was 65-31.  Republicans voting yes were Brown on MA, Snowe and Collins of ME, Kirk of IL, Murkowski of AK, Voinovich of OH, Burr of NC and Ensign of NV.   The final two voted no on cloture and then voted yes on repeal.  Now the bill goes to the President.  Once he signs it, this absurd injustice that drove me from my military career will be history.  I can't tell you the emotions I'm feeling right now.

Quote of the Day

"I remember, like, fifteen years ago, I was at one of those big Hollywood parties. And he was really drunk. I was with my friend, who's gay. He made a really horrible gay joke. And somehow it came up that I was Jewish. He said something about 'oven dodgers,' but I didn't get it. I'd never heard that before. It was just this weird, weird moment. I was like, 'He's anti-Semitic and he's homophobic.' No one believed me!"

--Winona Ryder speaking about Mel Gibson in GQ Magazine. 

source

This Left Me Speechless

Every detail is perfect. 

Lady Gaga's Nativity

I would stick to the sheep.  Maybe a shepherd.  Eating Baby Jesus could give you some serious indigestion.  

From Pharyngula

SAG Nominations Announced

The Hollywood awards season is in full swing and the lists are coming fast and furious.  The SAG Award Nominations were announced this morning by JoBeth Williams, Rosario Dawson and Angie Harmon (?).  Unlike the Golden Globes, the SAG nominations often closely reflect Oscar.  You can watch here:



Here they are:

 OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE


Jeff Bridges, 'True Grit'
Robert Duvall, 'Get Low'
Jesse Eisenberg, 'The Social Network'
Colin Firth, 'The King's Speech'
James Franco, '127 Hours'

I believe it's between Franco and Firth.  I give the edge to Franco.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Annette Bening, 'The Kids Are All Right'
Nicole Kidman, 'Rabbit Hole'
Jennifer Lawrence, 'Winter's Bone'
Natalie Portman, 'Black Swan'
Hilary Swank, 'Conviction'

I suppose the Swank nom is a bit of an upset, especially since her movie flopped.  Who's spot did she take, Halle Berry's or Michelle Williams'?  I believe we will get the treat of seeing Swank applauding politely in the audience while La Benning takes the prize.  Miss Benning will have the "it's time" narrative working in her favor because it's way past time for her to win something, plus she was really good in the role. 
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Christian Bale, 'The Fighter'
John Hawkes, 'Winter's Bone'
Jeremy Renner, 'The Town'
Mark Ruffalo, 'The Kids Are All Right'
Geoffrey Rush, 'The King's Speech'

Nice to see Ruffalo honored.  It might go to Bale because he lost so much weight, a la Shelly Winters and Robert DeNiro, but his reputation as an asshole will work against him.   

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Amy Adams, 'The Fighter'
Helena Bonham Carter, 'The King's Speech'
Mila Kunis, 'Black Swan'
Melissa Leo, 'The Fighter'
Hailee Steinfeld, 'True Grit'

Really strong list.  I'm feeling Melissa Leo.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE

'Black Swan'
'The Fighter'
'The Kids Are All Right'
'The King's Speech'
'The Social Network'

The Social Network will win.  Why does that feel underwheming?
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Steve Buscemi, "Boardwalk Empire"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House M.D."

I feel like the last four on this list have dominated this category for something like 37 years.  I think Buscemi will break-out and win.
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Glenn Close, "Damages"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: SVU"
Julianna Margulies, "The Good Wife"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

Elisabeth Moss is feeling way overdue, but awards shows love, love, love Mariska Hargitay.  So I guess Kyra Sedgwick will take it.  All of that is just my way of saying I don't really have a guess for this category.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Chris Colfer, "Glee"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Chris Colfer!!!!  Come on Chris!  I'd like to see anyone else on this list do Rose's Kurt's Turn. 

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Betty White, "Hot in Cleveland"

It's nice to see Hot in Cleveland honored, although I suspect it reflects Hollywood's on-going Betty White mania.  Hey, I love Miss White too, but I think Sue Sylvester will add to her trophy case. 

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

"Boardwalk Empire"
"The Closer"
"Dexter"
"The Good Wife"
"Mad Men"

Boardwalk Empire could snatch this away from Mad Men.

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

"30 Rock"
"Glee"
"Hot in Cleveland"
"Modern Family"
"The Office"

Personally, I love the cast of Hot in Cleveland and believe each of those women deserve her own show.  That being said, I want Glee to win, but I think it'll go to Modern Family. 

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

"Burn Notice"
"CSI: NY"
"Dexter"
"Southland"
"True Blood"

Let's give it to True Blood, since it was shamefully left out of the other nominations. 

DA/DT Repeal Passes House

The vote was 250-175.  Now it moves to the Senate where Sen. Olympia Snowe has said she'll join her Maine colleague in voting for repeal.  Harry Reid says a vote won't happen until next week.  47 senators have co-sponsored the bill. 

Asking Kevin Spacey if He's Gay = Bullying Gay Kids

I am not kidding.  Kevin Sessums interviewed the Golden Globe nominee and asked him about the gay rumors that have followed him throughout his career.  Here's an excerpt from the interview, with Sessums' questions in bold and Spacey's answers in italics:

We gay men have always proudly claimed you as a member of our tribe, and yet you don't proudly claim us back. Why?


Look, I might have lived in England for the last several years but I'm still an American citizen and I have not given up my right to privacy.

But that's where we differ. I don't think being gay is a private matter. Heterosexuals don't consider their heterosexuality itself a private matter. I'm not asking you what goes on behind a locked door anymore than I would ask a heterosexual. I'm not asking if you're a top or bottom. That's none of my business.

Let's enlarge the subject even more. I think what we have seen in terms of gay teenagers committing suicide because of bullying is anguishing. I think young people, if they are feeling like they are confused, need to know that there are people to talk to and that there are places they can go and not feel alone. But I feel that they have just as many rights as I do to not be bullied. And I don't understand people who say, "Well, this is a terrible thing that is happening to this young person whose life is being exposed," and then turn around and do it to another person. People have different reasons for the way they live their lives. You cannot put everyone's reasons in the same box. It's just a line I've never crossed and never will.

Well, I don't equate my discussing this with you as bullying you. You are an accomplished grown man, not a fearful teenager. But would you do one of those "It Gets Better" videos? I think that would be great if you did one of those.

Yeah. Absolutely. I'd do one of those. But why is it in this country that kids might think it's okay to bully and make fun of somebody? I'll tell you why, because what do they see in the media happening all the time? In the media they seem to think that's okay. So if we stop using sexuality as a weapon against people maybe everyone will eventually get cool with it.

Despite the fact I believe Sessums was being overly-generous by saying we've always proudly claimed Spacey as a member of our tribe, Spacey's self-importance and lack of perspective is startling, even by movie star standards.  He's also not being truthful by saying "it's a line I've never crossed and never will."  He has explicitly denied being gay on the record at least once.  As Andrew Sullivan put it:

"One reason teens feel shame is because powerful gay men entrench the next generation's sense of isolation by staying needlessly in the closet".

Happy Birthday Lee Remick

The lovely Miss Lee Remick was born on this day in 1935.  Cancer took her life far before her time in 1991 at age 55.  Here are The Go-Betweens with their 1978 tribute to the Oscar-nominated actress: 

   

Via The Slog

Golden Globe Madness!

The Golden Globe Noms are out this morning and James Franco is a happy camper!  Here they are, with a few comments from me in italics:

1. Best Supporting Actress in a series, mini-series or TV movie
Hope Davis, The Special Relationship
Jane Lynch, Glee
Kelly McDonald, Boardwalk Empire
Julia Stiles, Dexter
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family

Miss Lynch in a walk. 

2. Best Actress in a TV series, comedy

Toni Collette, Unites States of Tara
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Bic C
Lea Michele, Glee

I would love to see Miss Michele take it, but it's probably between Miss Falco and Miss Collette. 

3. Best TV movie or mini-series

Carlos
The Pacific
Pillars of the Earth
Temple Grandin
You Don't Know Jack

Temple Grandin swept the Emmys and will sweep here, also.


4. Best original song – motion picture

Bound to You - Burlesque
Coming Home - Country Strong
I See the Light - Tangled
There's a Place for Us - Chronicles of Narnia: The Dawn Treader
You Haven't Seen the Last of Me - Burlesque

I want to see Cher perform You Haven't Seen the Last of Me at the Oscars. 


5. Best Actor, TV series comedy

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carrell, The Office
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matthew Morrison, Glee
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Parsons, I mean, obviously.

6. Best Actress in a TV series, drama

Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Elizabeth Moss, Mad Men
Piper Perabo Covert Affairs
Katey Sagal, Sons of Anarchy
Kyra Sedgwick, the Closer

I'm going with Piper Perabo only because I want to see some drunk presenter stumble over the name. 

7. Best original score – motion picture

Alexander Desplot - The King's Speech
Danny Elfman - Alice in Wonderland
A.R. Robin - 127 Hours
Trent Reznor - The Social Network
Hans Zimmer - Inception

Whatever.

8. Best screenplay – motion picture

Danny Boyle - 127 Hours
Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Hart - Kids are All Right
Christopher Nolan - Inception
Kings Speech
Aaron Sorkin - Social Network

The Social Network will win.  I'm already bored with saying that.

9. Best Supporting Actor in a series, mini-series, or TV movie

Scott Caan - Hawaii 5-0
Chris Colfer, Glee
Chris Noth, The Good Wife
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
David Strathern, Temple Grandin

Of course I want Chris Colfer to win.  I'd vote for Scott Caan if he'd agree to accept in the nude. 

10. Best TV Series, comedy

30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
The Big C
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie

GLEE!

11. Best foreign language film

Beautiful, Mexico, Spain
The Concert, France
The Edge, Russia
I Am Love, Italy
In a Better World, Denmark

I Am Love was the most extraordinary film I saw all year.

12. Best animated feature film

Despicable Me
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
Tangled
Toy Story 3

Again, whatever.

13. Best Actor in a mini-series or TV movie

Idris Alba, Luther
Ian McShane, Pillars of the Earth
Al Pacino, You Don't Know Jack
Dennis Quaid, The Special Relationship
Edward Ramirez, Carlos

Didn't see any of them.


14. Best Actress in a mini-series or TV movie

Hayley Atwell, Pillars of the Earth
Claire Danes, Temple Grandin
Judi Dench, Return to Cranford
Romola Garai- Emma
Jennifer Love Hewitt, The Client List

J-Love?  Seriously?  On a list with Judi Dench?  Only at the Globes.  Claire Danes will nab it.

15. Best Actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Annette Bening - The Kids Are All Right
Anne Hathaway - Love and Other Drugs
Angelina Jolie The Tourist
Julianne Moore - The Kids Are All Right
Emma Stone - Easy A

Miss Benning for the win, though it will be tough beating Emma Stone's nuanced, moving portrait of a teen virgin in Easy A.  Plus, Easy A is the only actual comedy or musical on this list.

16. Best Actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Johnny Depp - Alice in Wonderland
Johnny Depp - The Tourist
Paul Giamatti- Barney's Version
Jake Gyllenhaal - Love and Other Drugs
Kevin Spacey - Casino Jack

I love Jake, but his movie bored me and it wasn't a comedy.  If the award was for best butt, he'd win hands down.  Who knew Kevin Spacey made a movie this year? 

17. Best supporting Actor in a motion picture

Christian Bale - The Fighter
Michael Douglas - Wall Street, Money Never Sleeps
Jeremy Renner, The Town
Jeffrey Rush, The King's Speech

It's probably between Rush and Bale, but don't be surprised if Douglas wins it with a sympathy vote.

18. Best supporting Actress in a motion picture

Amy Adams, The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter - The King's Speech
Mila Kunis - Black Swan
Melissa Leo - The Fighter
Jackie Weaver - Animal Kingdom

Miss Leo seems to be gaining momentum. 

19. Best Actor in a TV series, drama

Steve Buscemi - Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
Michael C. Hall - Dexter
John Hamm Mad Men
Hugh Laurie - House

It should go to Buscemi, but who knows?

20. Best Director – motion picture

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan
David Fincher - Social Network
Tom Hooper - King's Speech
Christopher Nolan Inception
David - The Fighter

Notice how none of the "musical or comedy" directors are on this list?  Fincher will win. 

21. Best motion picture, musical or comedy

Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are All Right
Red
The Tourist

The Kids are All Right, of course.  It was a laugh out loud comedy!  Not.  Burlesque is on this list?  Did the 12 old men who vote on these things actually see it?


22. Best TV series, drama

Boardwalk Empire
Dexter
The Good Wife
Mad Men
The Walking Dead

Tough one.  Boardwalk Empire?  That's just a guess.


23. Best Actress in a motion picture, drama

Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice
Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole
Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone
Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

It will certainly be a stunning red carpet with that list.  I believe the lovely Miss Portman will win this and go home empty-handed on Oscar night.


24. Best Actor in a motion picture, drama

Jesse Eisenberg - Social Network
Colin Firth - The King's Speech
James Franco - 127 Hours
Ryan Gosling - Blue Valentine
Mark Wahlberg - The Fighter

This seems to be Franco's year, although I would have nominated him for Howl.  Maybe he'll accept in drag.  We can only hope.


25. Best motion picture, drama

Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King's Speech
The Social Network

The Social Network.  It's been anointed.

Monday's Man: Mark Ruffalo

I know I recently featured this picture of Mark Ruffalo from GQ, but I don't care.  I deserves a reprint.  He has a very unconventional look that probably shouldn't be sexy but totally is.   

I can't really explain it, but don't feel the need to do so.

If anyone can put it into words, let loose in the comments.   

Happy Holidays!

Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas has set up a web site called grinchalert.com to call out those businesses that dare to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.  Certainly, Christmas isn't commercialized enough and the best way to share the warm, true meaning of the season is to accuse Macy's of trying to "halt the celebration of Christmas" because an employee said "you too" when a customer wished him a Merry Christmas.  Seriously.  Pastor Jeffress is also known for his "Gay is not OK" sermon last year.  At right is a pic of the good pastor in a cute little red top.

One poster reported the horror of a Sonic carhop in OKC saying Happy Holidays this way:

"Americans drive is restricts Freedom of Speech!!!!!"

And you wonder who buys Sarah Palin's books. 

One church member defended Paster Jeffress in the Dallas Morning News by saying “If we don’t stand up for the King of Kings, who will?”  So, the way to "stand up for the King of Kings" is to berate a Wal Mart employee for not invoking Christ as he scans my debit card.   

I wrote a letter to the editor of the DMN that was, shockingly, not printed (although they did publish several well-written letters in opposition to Jeffress' grinch site).  Since they didn't run it, I'll do it myself:

Re. Rev. Jeffress' "Grinch List." Amen Pastor Jeffress!  It is incredible that some businesses fail to mention Christmas explicitly during their busiest shopping season.  When you pull out your credit card, you deserve a Merry Christmas to go with your deepening debt, not a rude, secular humanist "Happy Holidays."  Who runs these businesses anyway, liberal, Democrat homosexuals?  I want to see a creche when I buy that LED-LCD HDTV with integrated high-def disc player, otherwise it just doesn't feel like Christmas! 

Quote of the Day

"It still seems an unwritten rule in establishment Washington that homophobia is at most a misdemeanor. By this code, the Smithsonian’s surrender is no big deal; let the art world do its little protests. This attitude explains why the ever more absurd excuses concocted by John McCain for almost single-handedly thwarting the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are rarely called out for what they are—“bigotry disguised as prudence,” in the apt phrase of Slate’s military affairs columnist, Fred Kaplan. Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has been granted serious and sometimes unchallenged credence as a moral arbiter not just by Rupert Murdoch’s outlets but by CNN, MSNBC and The Post’s “On Faith” Web site even as he cites junk science to declare that “homosexuality poses a risk to children” and that being gay leads to being a child molester."

--Frank Rich in his must-read column in today's New York Times called Gay Bashing at the Pentagon. 

Rebecca Tigert Hawk: 12/11/1930-12/25/2008

Today would have been my beautiful mother's 80th birthday.  She died quickly and without warning on Christmas morning, 2008.  It was an aneurysm.  When the doctors were trying to save her, an MRI revealed undiagnosed pancreatic cancer.  The day after her funeral, we received a letter from a clinic where she had recently gone for a mammogram, asking her to come in for further evaluation.  When I was in college, she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and given 6 months to live.  She fought hard, beat it, and lived for another 25 years.  Unless you experienced it, you can't believe how harsh chemo was in the early 80s.  Apparently, the cancer came back with a vengeance.  When she died, she went quickly, saving herself and the rest of us a great deal of suffering.  I believe that on some level, she knew it.  Besides, a quick and unexpected death on Christmas morning was completely fitting for Becky Hawk.  She always had a flair for the dramatic.  She passed that on to me.  That's the two of us in the picture.  When I got the call that she had died, Wes and I were having guests for a Christmas celebration.  I didn't cancel because I knew that, if Mom had known that I was entertaining, her last words would have been "tell Sam not to cancel...and to make sure the silver is polished!" 

Right after her death, the editor of the Edgefield Advertiser asked me to write an article about her life, which they published.  I fired something off pretty quickly, and here it is, printed on this blog for the second time:

Becky Hawk: A Life of Style

By: Sam Hawk

My mother’s obituary was printed in this paper on December 31, and it covered the basics- education, survivors, funeral arrangements- but it could not possibly capture the essence of a woman who lived her life with intelligence, wit, and style. I flatter myself to think I could do so either, but I have enough of my mother in me to give it a shot.

Rebecca Tigert was born in Greer and raised mostly in Greenville, one of two daughters of a prominent lawyer and state legislator. At an early age, she was taught the value of giving back to the community and this was a lesson that guided her life. She always found time to volunteer, in whatever capacity she was needed, whether it was knitting baby blankets for disadvantaged infants, honoring veterans or beautifying her town. When the old North Augusta City Hall was built, she saw how barren it was and took the initiative to plant azaleas. Initiative was one of Becky Hawk’s defining characteristics. She didn’t wait to be told what to do; she planned, executed and led. These qualities were put to good use by the Edgefield County Hospital Auxiliary, the ECW, and garden clubs, including the state garden council which she served in various capacities. Becky Hawk could always be counted on to follow through.

She and my dad met at, of all romantic places, a rabies clinic. She was living in Beaufort, South Carolina, and took her sister’s fluffy white cat to get a shot. She was quite a looker, and her sweater was covered in fur. It took all of dad’s will power not to help her clean off the sweater. He had no idea who she was but couldn’t get her out of his mind. She had that effect on people. Eventually, he found her and they were married in Savannah in December, 1953. They celebrated their 55th anniversary in 2008.

She was a true southern lady who could shoot straight and entertain with elegance. In fact, shooting skeet across Port Royal Sound was one of her passions. She loved the coast, and was one of the great sun-worshippers. Some of my greatest memories are of endless hours walking down the beach with mom as she identified plants and birds and collected shells. She was also a fashion plate who was naturally chic. She had a good eye and an unerring sense of what worked for her and she always looked fabulous.

I would like to think I inherited some of these qualities. I know my sister Jane has. This past week, I have had the privilege of talking with many people whose lives she touched. This is her legacy.

The Palin Flop Continues

Sales of Sarah Palin's new book, that she totally wrote, America by Heart, Stories of Patriotism, Prayer, and Pimping Your Kids, or whatever the fuck the marketing department named it, are not exactly brisk.  HarperCollins has not ordered a second printing.  Also, ratings for her Presidential campaign infomercial reality show, Sarah Palin's Alaska, are tanking.  Cher said it best of the 1/2 term quitter:  "A stupid woman is a stupid woman."

DA/DT Repeal Fails

A vote in the Senate today to end cloture and begin debate on the Defense Authorization Bill failed today.  There were 57 yay votes, 40 nay and 2 not voting.  Susan Collins was the only Republican to vote yay.  Supposed repeal supporters Scott Brown and Lisa Murkowski voted nay, as did newly-seated WV Democrat Joe Manchin, who was the sole member of his party to so vote.  Joe Lieberman and Susan Collins have announced that they will introduce a free-standing DA/DT repeal bill.  That would have to pass both houses.   

Mirror, Mirror

In case you missed it, here is James Franco kissing his image.  It's part of a wonderful video gallery on the New York Times' web site called Fourteen Actors Acting.  It is well worth checking out.

Bye Bye Beard

I think my first beard came in pretty well and I'm oddly proud of it.  However, it goes today.  I have a job interview tomorrow and don't want any distractions.  If I walk into the interview and there's a panel of bearded men, I'll be royally pissed!

DA/DT Vote Today

Beginning at 11:00 AM Eastern Time, the Senate will vote on the following:

The motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act of 2010 (S.3992).


The motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (H.R.847).

Reconsideration of the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (S.3454).

Thus, the vote on the Defense Authorization Act, which includes a repeal of Don't Ask/Don't Tell, will probably come around noon. 

In related news, former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia, who killed President Clinton's attempts to lift the gay ban in 1993, has come around and believes DA/DT should be repealed:

"In an interview this week, Nunn told the Associated Press that the law known as 'don't ask, don't tell' should be overturned as long as there is enough time to prepare the troops for the change. He said the Pentagon should be given at least a year before the repeal takes effect to ensure operations in Afghanistan aren't affected.


'Society has changed, and the military has changed,' the former senator from Georgia said."

Quote of the Day

"He could have been president. But when you try and change your history too much, and try and recolor it because you don't like the way it was or you want it to be different to prove something new ... you lose touch with who you really are. You lose your way."


--Marianne Gingrich, one of Newt's ex-wives.  

DA/DT Vote Could Be Today

Politico is reporting that Senate Majority Leader Reid could bring the Defense Authorization Bill, which includes Don't Ask/Don't Tell repeal, to the floor for a vote as early as today:

"Such a move regarding the National Defense Authorization Act is likely only if other bills Reid has filed cloture motions on fail to muster the necessary 60 votes Wednesday. Those measures include the DREAM act immigration legalization bill, a $250 payment for seniors who set to received no annual Social Security increase next year, a bill to aid September 11 responders and a measure ending the right of states to block unionization of firefighters."

Support for DA/DT repeal is growing.  Conservative Democratic Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas has announced his support for repeal, bringing it one vote closer to reality.  Do we finally have momentum? 

Elizabeth Edwards: 1949-2010

Elizabeth Edwards has died of cancer at the age 61.  She died at home in Chapel Hill, surrounded by family.

She was born Mary Elizabeth Anania in Jacksonville, FL, the daughter of a Naval officer, and was raised around the country and overseas.  She attended Mary Washington College and transferred to the University of North Carolina where she earned both a bachelor's degree and a JD.  In law school, she met John Edwards who was smart enough to marry this beautiful, smart woman in 1977.  He became a millionaire medical malpractice attorney while she practiced bankruptcy and public service.  When their teenage son, Wade died in a car accident in 1996, she quit work and spent months in mourning.  When she emerged, she established a foundation in his name and had two more children.  When John Edwards entered politics, she was his most trusted advisor and played major roles in his campaigns.  She went public with her cancer and continued with his 2008 presidential run even when doctors told her it was inoperable.  Of course, her efforts on behalf of his political career were for naught when it crashed and burned.  That sordid tale is in every obituary, so I don't need to repeat it here. 

She was a successful attorney, the mother of four children, a savvy political advisor, the author of two memoirs, and an inspiration for cancer patients.  Hers was an amazing life cut tragically short.        

Let the 80s Be

This promo for a Norwegian TV show has been making the rounds on the internet, but in case you haven't seen it, you must watch.  It's the most amazing, bizarre collection of 80s and 90s pop culture imaginable.  I was completely unaware of it until LC NY Bureau Chief Doug sent it to me:



Kathleen Turner!  Half of Milli Vanilli!  LA Law's most obscure character!  Tonya Harding!  Together at last!  Do you think Glenn Close knew she was going to be appearing with Bud Bundy?  Did somebody tell Kathleen Turner that she'd be in a group sing-a-long with Freddy Krueger?  I must say that Ana Alicia looked amazing especially considering how long ago Falcon Crest was.  Ditto for Philip Michael Thomas and the Twin Peaks girls.  Wasn't Kelly McGillis pretty?  OK, now watch the Cracked version with unauthorized subtitles:

If The WTF 'Let It Be' Video Had Honest Subtitles -- powered by Cracked.com

 

Don Meredith: 1938-2010

Legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith has died at the age of 72.  He suffered a brain hemorrhage at his home in Santa Fe, NM and slipped into a coma.  He died with his wife, Susan and daughter, Mary at his side.

Don Meredith was literally the first Dallas Cowboy.  The two-time All-American from SMU signed a contract in 1959 before the franchise even had a name.  Meredith quoted the contract as saying "If we get a National Football League franchise, we'd like for you to play quarterback."  After leading the Cowboys through the 60s, he abruptly retired from football in 1969 at age 31 saying his heart was no longer in it.  His second marriage was also falling apart at the time.  He left too early to be a part of the Cowboys first Super Bowl win in 1971. 

In 1970, ABC snapped him up for a risky little TV show they were about to start called Monday Night Football.  Meredith, Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell made the show an institution.  Meredith retired from broadcasting in 1984, but along the way became a TV actor, appearing in made for television movies, the series Police Story, and numerous Lipton Tea commercials.

Meredith is pictured below with another giant, Tom Landry:

Elizabeth Edwards Gravely Ill

Elizabeth Edwards' health has reportedly taken a serious turn for the worse and her doctor has determined that further cancer treatment would be "unproductive."  Here is the message posted to her Facebook page today:

"The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that," she wrote. "I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope," Edwards said. "These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined."


Like some other political wives I could name, I always thought she was the smarter, more dynamic one. 

Monday's Man: Darren Criss

Kurt's new boyfriend on Glee is a total dreamboat.   

Here he is in his real-life, shaggy haired persona.  What do you think?  Groomed or shaggy?  It's a close call, and I'm totally shaggy-dude-positive, but I think in this case, I have to go with the groomed, Dalton School boy.  Just in case you need more evidence, here he is with Chris Colfer singing Baby It's Cold Outside: 

OK, I know what you're thinking; why don't they kiss or put their arms around each other or something?  I agree, but keep in mind they're playing schoolboys who aren't officially dating yet and besides, the very fact that Glee features beautiful boys singing love songs to each other is a huge deal.   

Bearded Guy With iPhone

Or rather, bearded guy with Blackberry.  An iPhone would have taken a better picture.  This is me with the beard at a month +.  I thought it came in fairly nicely.  I'm memorializing it here, not just because it's my blog and I'll be vain if I want to, but also because I have a job interview one week from today and I'm planning on shaving it.  An interview is not the time to make a fashion statement, and besides, I can always grow it again.    

Anderson Cooper Takes Down Crazy Texas Rep.

Texas Republican State Representative Leo Berman of Tyler (naturally) recently introduced a bill to require any candidate for President or Vice President of the United States to show is birth certificate to the Texas Secretary of State.  Berman made the mistake of agreeing to an interview with Anderson Cooper who made him look like the fool he is:



His bill will probably pass. 

"We Know What You Do at Night"

From today's civil unions debate in the Illinois Senate today comes my newest hero, Senator Ricky Hendon.  He calls it like he sees it.  You have to watch this:



via Joe.My.God

Quote of the Day

"One does not need to run from their convictions when they choose to run for office."

--California's intelligent, sophisticated, and beautiful Attorney General-elect Kamala Harris reiterating her vow to not defend Prop 8.

 

World AIDS Day

December 1 is World AIDS Day.  Positively Aware magazine has posted an amazing series of photographs called A Day with HIV in America.  Pictured above is Christopher Wilson of Los Angeles.  View the rest here.