Obscurity Knocks

After the Victorians: The Decline of Britain in the World

2011-07-28T16:23:00.005-05:00

I read "After the Victorians: The Decline of Britain in the World" by A. N. Wilson. The book deals with British history from the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 to the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. As is the case in his other books that I've read, Wilson paints a vivid picture of people and events. His ability to describe in detail a scene or event makes the book interesting. There's no question that Wilson is a truly amazing writer and someone with an exceptional intellect. He uses irony, cynicism, and cutting wit throughout, making the book more compelling. He's particularly adept at highlighting the foibles and errors of elected officials across the political spectrum.

As I've noted about other books by Wilson, some of the subject he covers aren't overly familiar and could use additional context for a reader in the USA. And I say this as someone who took two graduate courses on British history in the 19th and 20th centuries.

This book is particularly relevant for the USA now. Just as Britain was eclipsed by the United States in the 20th century, the USA may be eclipsed by China in the 21st century. As such, Wilson's account of how and why Britain declined is well worth studying.

7 of 10.

Half marathons I've run

2011-05-07T11:37:00.003-05:00

This morning I ran the Wisconsin Half Marathon in Kenosha. I've aspired to break 90 minutes (1 hour, 30 minutes) in a half marathon, and I did it today, finishing in 1 hour, 29 minutes. Breaking 1:30 in a half marathon is a fairly decent accomplishment in running, and I wasn't sure if I could do it. The weather was ideal for running in Kenosha this morning with temperatures in the low 50s, not much wind, and partly cloudy skies. I felt really good for the first 12 miles, and needed to dig deep in the last mile to come in under 90 minutes. All in all, it was a great day.

Half marathons I've run in the past three years:

1. Wisconsin Half Marathon (Kenosha), 2011. 1 hour, 29 minutes.

2. South Shore Half Marathon (Milwaukee), 2011. 1 hour, 32 minutes.

3. Badgerland Striders Half Marathon (Milwaukee), 2011. 1 hour, 33 minutes.
4. Wisconsin Half Marathon (Kenosha), 2010. 1 hour, 34 minutes.
5. South Shore Half Marathon (Milwaukee), 2010. 1 hour, 35 minutes.
6. Lake Geneva Half Marathon, 2009. 1 hour, 41 minutes.
7. Wisconsin Half Marathon (Kenosha), 2009. 1 hour, 37 minutes.

Marathons I've run

2011-05-07T11:35:00.000-05:00

7. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, 2010. 3 hours, 19 minutes.

Next up: Milwaukee again with Dave (my brother), Andy (cousin), Lindsay (Andy's wife), Brian (cousin), and Neil.

'Reading Jackie' and 'Jackie as Editor'

2011-02-20T13:25:00.005-06:00

In 1997 I wrote my master's thesis on the historical memory of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, so I was thrilled with the recent publication of two books about Jackie's career as a book editor: "Reading Jackie: Her Autobiography in Books" by William Kuhn and "Jackie as Editor: The Literary Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" by Greg Lawrence. This article from the New York Times provides better context than I could. Both books are very well done. Most importantly, both Kuhn and Lawrence add substantially to this essential portion of Jackie's life. Most biographies of Jackie up until the publication of these two books focus on her time as First Lady and as Aristotle Onassis's husband, treating her career as an afterthought. Jackie was First Lady for two years and 10 months. That time must be an essential part of her biography. She was married to Aristotle Onassis for less than seven years (1968-1975). She was a book editor for almost 18 years, longer than either of her marriages. That is why it's so unfortunate that biographies of Jackie up until now (see books on Jackie by Sarah Bradford, C. David Heymann, Christopher Anderson, Edward Klein, Barbara Leaming, Jay Mulvaney, Sally Bedell Smith, Wayne Koestenbaum, etc.) treat the period from 1975 to 1994 so shabbily. Until now, most writers about Jackie mention her career as an editor, but focus primarily on her relationship with diamond merchant Maurice Tempelsman, her role as mother and grandmother, and her work preserving and enhancing the legacy of President Kennedy as more important than her career. It's as if these talented authors and the public refused to see her as anything more than primarily the widow of John F. Kennedy (the graceful and grieving widow of the slain President) and secondarily the widow of Aristotle Onassis (rich society woman who went on incredibly shopping sprees). Hence the focus on Tempelsman, who was indeed important in the 1975-1994 period, but where Kuhn and Lawrence break new ground is demonstrating the importance and legitimacy of her career as a book editor. Finally Jackie's life wasn't focused on her husband. As both Kuhn and Lawrence capably demonstrate, Jackie was a talented and hard-working editor, starting out green and inexperienced, then growing into the job, and eventually thriving and enjoying well-earned respect from her peers. Perhaps the best evidence of her talent as an editor is the fact that neither Kuhn nor Lawrence were able to find author who worked with her who criticized her skills as an editor. She cared deeply for her authors and their books. She was involved in line editing, design, publicity, and shepherding authors through the writing, editing, and publication of their books. Both Kuhn and Lawrence provide a list of the books that Jackie edited throughout her career and relate interviews with authors and colleagues at Viking and Doubleday.

Lawrence writes the more conventional book that is arranged chronologically. He worked with Jackie as the co-writer of the ballerina Gelsey Kirkland's autobiography "Dancing on My Grave." Lawrence does an excellent job of advancing knowledge of Jackie's considerable talents and success as an editor. "Frank Rich writing in 'The New York Times' lamented that the woman Jackie was remained a mystery, inadequately eulogized by the mantralike repetition of four words: 'grace, dignity, style, class.' The image of Jackie crouching on the floor surrounded by manuscript pages never appeared in the media coverage [of her death], which ultimately yielded to a dazzling kaleidoscope drawn from other chapters of her life" (Lawrence 270). This is a vitally important point made by Lawrence. Indeed, in my M.A. thesis, I did a statistical analysis of the words used to describe Jackie at the time of her death in May 1994, and the four he mentions, grace, dignity, style, and class, were at the top of the list in my analysis. Lawrence's book skimps on photos, and aesthetically doesn't hold a candle to Kuhn's.

Kuhn addresses Jackie's career more thematically and less chronologically. His use of photographs is very much in line with the books that Jackie herself edited, and the many photos help him tell the story. Kuhn's primary innovation is that he focuses on the books Jackie edited and what these books tell us about her. Jackie never wrote her memoirs, and when asked about doing so, she always indicated that she'd rather live her life than focus on the past, which is understandable given the intense grief she suffered in the public eye and the fact that from 1960 until her death, her life was intensely chronicled and photographed. Kuhn is taking a big chance and making a leap of faith in pursuing this method. In doing so, he has to use the facts to make his case, but he's ultimately going from facts to interpretation when he writes about what the books she edited say about her. That is what makes Kuhn's book ultimately more interesting and rewarding than Lawrence's, even though Lawrence's book probably has more new Jackie anecdotes. Some may not appreciate or agree with Kuhn's drawing from Jackie's publishing list as her unwritten autobiography, but I think that he strikes gold with this way of proceeding. Without going too far, Kuhn helps the reader understand Jackie's views on many topics, among them love, marriage, work, the visual and performing arts, beauty, and travel. Yes, Kuhn risks criticism of his interpretation, but in taking the line he does, he makes the more important contribution to the historiography of Jacqueline Kenned Onassis.

As a huge and longtime fan of Jackie, I'm grateful to both Lawrence and Kuhn for telling this previously untold part of her life and for the new insights they both give us into the life of this incredibly fascinating woman who played a significant part in American history.

"Reading Jackie:" 10 of 10.

"Jackie as Editor:" 9 of 10.

The Victorians

2011-02-20T12:38:00.003-06:00

Having grown rather fond of A. N. Wilson's highly entertaining writing in "Our Times: The Age of Elizabeth II" and in the book mentioned immediately below, I read what is probably his best-reviewed book, "The Victorians." It's not a standard history of the Victorian era (1837-1901), but rather visits into particular people and issues from the time arranged more-or-less chronologically. I appreciated how one of Wilson's primary aims is to point out the differences between Victorian society and culture and our 21st century culture. This is effective and most appreciated since most people lack the historical knowledge to appreciate the differences between then and now. This 760 page book covers Darwin, Marx, the zenith of the age of aristocracy, Palmerston, Disraeli, Gladstone, colonialism, and seemingly everything that happened in Britain during Victoria's reign. In graduate school, I took a readings course in 19th century Britain, and in spite of that, I had trouble putting certain events in context. For example, Wilson never effectively places the Crimean War in context of why it happened and what the consequences were for Britain and Europe. Yet overall the book is a fascinating look into the people and events that Wilson has selected as the most interesting to write about during the period. While he clearly admires some of the politicians, particularly Disraeli, he's also candid about the terrible conditions faced by the working class. Wilson is most effective in putting you in the time and place with memorable anecdotes, and that's probably why I enjoy reading his books since that anecdotal aspect of history has always been my favorite. 8 of 10.

The Rise and Fall of the House of Windsor

2011-02-20T12:29:00.002-06:00

Finding A. N. Wilson's writing interesting, I read "The Rise and Fall of the House of Windsor," a volume he published in 1993. 1993 was the year after the Queen's annus horribilus when the marriages of three of her four children collapsed publicly; Windsor Castle, the residence she considers as her home, burned in a raging fire; and she agreed to pay income tax on her private fortune. Wilson is always a smart and entertaining writer. Not all of his claims pass the smell test, but he's still a highly fun read. His positions are very clear: Prince Charles isn't qualified to be King because he meddles in politics outside of what is constitutionally permissible, and the Royal Family needs to be boring. Wilson is provocative and asks some interesting questions, many of which still hold up today, some 18 years after the book's publication. He does rise above the usual tawdry gossip and lays out some meritorious constitutional questions. Wilson recognizes the value of a constitutional monarchy. 7 of 10.

Life With The Queen

2011-02-20T12:25:00.002-06:00

Brian Hoey is a fairly prolific biographer of the Queen and the Royal Family, so I thought I'd try "Life With The Queen." Unfortunately, the book is pretty much a rehash of his prior books, "Her Majesty: Fifty Regal Years," and "At Home With The Queen." There's really no new information in this book, which was disappointing. It appears to be something that Hoey and his publisher threw together that didn't require much effort. I've enjoyed Hoey's previous books, but this one was lazy. 4 of 10.

The Help

2010-12-22T13:55:00.002-06:00

Kathryn Stockett's "The Help" is definitely the best book that I've read in a long time. I know that I'm late to this party, as I've heard quite a few friends, co-workers, and acquaintances talking about this book over the past year or so. I finally decided to read it based on a number of positive recommendations, and I'm glad that I did. It was one of those rare books that I didn't want to put down, and I didn't want it to end. "The Help" centers around African American maids in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s and the white women they work for. Stockett does a spectacular job of creating real, vivid, human characters. Aibileen and Minnie, two of the maids, are memorable and delightful characters. They're people you wish that you knew. Of course, there' s a villain, and her name is Hilly, the evil, racist, bossy, powerful white woman who heads up the Jackson Junior League. Stockett's creative and original story details what life was like only 50 years ago in the segregated South, and sheds light on the complex relationships between African American maids and their white employers. It's one thing to study the civil rights movement and read about the events that helped everyone, including African Americans, receive their Constitutionally guaranteed civil rights. It's another to hear about real people and what they went through. While fiction, the stories of Aibileen, Minnie, and the other maids personalize in a vivid manner what life was like in the Deep South for African Americans not that long ago. Similarly, Hilly, Elisabeth, and the other white women give readers an idea of the deep racism held by white people during that time. Stockett effectively portrays the contradiction that the maids effectively raised the white children, but could not use the same bathroom as their white employers. Skeeter, a white woman who is a recent college graduate, has had enough of the immoral racism of her peers, and she sets out to learn and share the stories of the maids. The story is compelling and well told.

For me, "The Help" is in a similar genre as "To Kill a Mockingbird," and I mean that as high praise. A wonderful portrayal of humanity. 10 of 10.

Emma

2010-12-22T13:47:00.002-06:00

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" is one of my favorite books. 10 of 10. "Sense and Sensibility" is also a great read. So I thought that I'd try "Emma." To say that for me "Emma" pales in comparison to "Pride and Prejudice" is a huge understatement. For as much as I love "Pride and Prejudice," I didn't care for "Emma." I found every character in the book, particularly Emma herself, Mr. George Knightley, Frank Churchill, Jane Fairfax, Mr. Woodhouse, Harriet Smith - the whole lot was irritating. Emma is a spoiled and bossy brat who always gets her way. And she's rewarded with a kind, albeit boring, husband at the end of the book in spite of her impetuous selfishness.

And don't accuse me of being anti-Jane Austen. I think she's great in "Pride and Prejudice" and in "Sense and Sensibility." But Emma was terrible. I was incredibly glad to finally finish reading this seemingly never ending novel. 2 of 10.

The Longest Trip Home

2010-12-22T13:38:00.002-06:00

My mom and my brother read "The Longest Trip Home" by John Grogan. I wanted to avoid the book, but they convined me to read it. The memoir of Grogan's childhood in white suburban Detroit is extremely maudlin, nostalgic, and self-indulgent. There's a lot about Grogan's boyhood pranks with his friends, his discovery of girls and first romances, and his relationship with his parents. But I was interested since one of the themes of the book is Grogan's relationship with Roman Catholicism, how he broke away from the Catholic Church, and how his extremely Catholic (with a capital C) parents dealt with that. I enjoyed this aspect of the book since I was raised Catholic, but left that faith more than five years ago. Another part of the book that had merit was how Grogan dealt with his father's cancer and his mother's dementia. I found this aspect touching and well-done. Overall, though, it wasn't a favorite. 5 of 10.

Netflix streaming update

2010-12-22T09:12:00.002-06:00

I wrote about the difficulties I've been having with Netflix streaming in this post. Since that time I've done quite a bit of troubleshooting. Netflix and Time Warner both agree that the problem is with my RoadRunner Internet service. Both Netflix and Time Warner acknowledge that the Mbps of my RoadRunner looks like a roller coaster. Sometimes it's high (in excess of 23 Mbps), and at other times it's low (1.5 Mbps). There are no difficulties with my TV, Blu-Ray player, wireless router, or with Netflix; the problem is with Time Warner's RoadRunner. TimeWarner re-set my Internet service, but that didn't do anything. Now they want me to bring in my modem, which is circa 2004, and get a newer version. Hopefully that will do the trick, but I'm not optimistic. We'll see what happens with the new modem.

White House Staff: It Gets Better

2010-12-22T09:02:00.005-06:00

What a great video from members of the White House staff. These men and women are fine role models. I wish that there had been role models such as this when I was young. I'm glad that young people today can see role models like these great people. It gets better!

I like to make passes at guys who wear glasses

2010-12-22T09:02:00.002-06:00

Well, hello

2010-12-15T16:17:00.001-06:00

Being 37

2010-12-13T14:57:00.002-06:00

Being 37 means that you spend more time in doctor and dentist offices than you did in your 20s. Mikel wrote about this reality on his blog.

I had six cavities that were drilled and filled when I was young. Back then dentists used silver amalgam fillings that contained mercury, which can have pretty bad side effects if those fillings break down and the mercury gets into your system. My dentist (she's been my dentist since 1988 by the way) told me that she wanted to replace the silver amalgam fillings with tooth colored resin. I had the last two silver amalgam fillings replaced with new tooth colored resin on Friday. So now that's done.

This morning I went to my internal medicine/primary care doctor for my annual physical, which I haven't had done in about 20 months. The exam and my labs were all fine, so that was good news to receive.

One minor issue: I pointed out a spot on my scalp that has seemed kind of strange the past three months. With skin as fair (read: pale) as mine, I've learned that I need to be vigilant about any unusual freckles or other unusual things on my skin, since I'm in a high risk group for skin cancer with my red hair, fair skin, and freckles. The doctor said that it was an actinic keratosis, which basically means an unusual patch of skin that could, over time, develop into skin cancer. The doctor used liquid nitrogen to freeze those skin cells, causing them to die, and that takes care of the problem. Another word for the procedure they did is cryotherapy, and it's incredibly easy and noninvasive, even if it's temporarily uncomfortable. The liquid nitrogen freezing is easy compared to something that needs to be cut off, in which case a dermatologist has to physically cut the nevus (freckle) off, and they usually have it biopsied to make certain it's not cancerous. I've had that done a couple of times, as well. The actual cutting isn't a big deal, either, but the freezing is easier.

I recommend a visit to the dermatologist for anyone with a concern about an ABCDE on their skin.

Next up: annual eye exam in April. Annual dermatologist visit late spring/early summer.

Netlifx streaming: not all it's cracked up to be

2010-11-29T09:00:00.005-06:00

An open letter to Netflix CEO Mr. Reed Hastings and Time Warner CEO Mr. Jeffrey L. Bewkes:

Mr. Reed Hastings, CEO, Netflix
Mr. Jeffrey L. Bewkes, CEO, Time Warner

Dear Mr. Hastings and Mr. Bewkes:

I am a Netflix subscriber and I also have Time Warner's Road Runner high speed Internet service. Recently Netflix announced a price increase. I was on the three DVDs at a time plan from Netflix. Since that plan is increasing from $16.99 to $19.99 per month, I switched to the two DVDs at a time plan which recently increased from $13.99 to $14.99 per month. I understand that Mr. Hastings and Netflix want to move their customers from DVDs to Internet streaming. Doing so allows Netflix to reduce what it pays in mailing costs to the US Postal Service. I understand and appreciate that someday Netflix will likely be all streaming and no DVDs. Although Netflix has a long way to go before accomplishing this goal since less than one-third of my Netflix queue is available on streaming, hence my decision to be on the two DVDs at a time plan.

Since I want to move forward with technology, this weekend I bought a Sony Blu-Ray player (BDPS570) with Wi-Fi. The sales associate at Best Buy explained that this Blu-Ray player would allow me to watch streaming Netflix on my Sony Bravia TV in HD. Great, I thought.

I got everything hooked up without any trouble. I was excited to watch my first Netflix streaming movie. I selected "The Rape of Europa," a documentary about how the Nazis looted and destroyed a significant amount of the world's art in the 1930s and 1940s. The movie started playing on my TV, and I was thrilled with the sharp and bright HD picture. The sound was good, as well. But then the difficulties began. The documentary is 1 hour and 56 minutes in length. It stopped playing approximately 50 times to buffer. Instead of taking 1 hour and 56 minutes to watch, it took me 2 hours and 21 minutes, meaning that the many, many stops for buffering totalled a mind-numbing 25 minutes. Mr. Hastings, if this is streaming Netflix, I'm not interested. Give me the DVD where I don't have to be constantly wondering when the movie is going to stop for buffering. I'll go insane if this is how I have to watch movies.

I wondered if my Road Runner high speed Internet connection was inadequate for Netflix streaming. I tested the speed twice using speedtest.net, and my results were 22.83 Mbps and 25.85 Mbps, which the site said was average. Perhaps my difficulty is with Time Warner's Road Runner; I don't know. If it is, then I'd respectfully request that Time Warner and Mr. Bewkes provide me with improved Road Runner service. I live in the City of Milwaukee. I acknowledge that I don't live in Palo Alto, but Milwaukee is a fairly major city and should have truly high speed Internet service. By way of comparison, my work computer tested at 92 Mbps, but that's a very good service.

However, I think that the problem lies with Netflix. I found this article entitled "How Netflix is Failing You," indicating that I'm hardly the only person experiencing this problem with buffering. My question for Netflix is this: Why are you trying to move your customers to Internet streaming when your Internet streaming service is so inadequate? Shouldn't you have the proper infrastructure in place before you increase your prices to move people to streaming? Isn't there a way that when I select a movie, all the buffering could take place before the movie starts playing, so that once the movie starts playing it won't stop?

Until Netflix can get its act together, I don't plan on using the streaming service since it's so maddeningly frustrating with the constant buffering.

I'd welcome hearing from Mr. Hastings and Mr. Bewkes and/or their associates.

Sincerely,
Steve F.
atticus12@fastmail.fm

Jake Gyllenhaal

2010-11-29T08:56:00.002-06:00

I haven't seen "Love and Other Drugs" yet, but I'm definitely a fan of Jake Gyllenhaal.

The Other Side of Ethel Mertz

2010-11-13T15:48:00.003-06:00

Lesley also sent me "The Other Side of Ethel Mertz: The Life Story of Vivian Vance" for my birthday. I'm a huge Ethel Mertz fan. When I watch "I Love Lucy," I always envision myself as most similar to the Ethel Mertz character. I'm probably not clever enough to come up with schemes on my own, but I can likely be talked into becoming a part of someone else's scheme. While there's no question that Lucille Ball was a true comedic genius, I'd argue that Vivian Vance was, as well. Playing second banana isn't as easy as it might seem, and Vivian Vance set the gold standard for playing second banana. Without Ethel Mertz, there could have never been a Rhoda Morganstern, let alone just about any supporting actress in a comedy.

The book describes Vivian Vance's childhood, particularly her religiously devout mother who believed that performing on the stage was sinful. Vivian left home as a teenager, got married, and decided to pursue a career on the stage. She ended up married four times, the fourth time to a gay man named John Dodd, who stayed with her until her death from cancer. Vivan made her way to New York, where after modeling and singing in nightclubs, she got a break and became a Broadway actress, usually in supporting comedic roles.

Desi Arnaz discovered Vivian Vance when she was performing at the La Jolla Playhouse, and offered her the part that would define her career and her life, Ethel Mertz. Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance had a complicated relationship, but the book makes clear that they had a mutual respect for each other and a deep friendship in spite of their frequent arguments. Both came to depend on the other, and neither one had much success after "I Love Lucy" without the other. Vivan eventually learned to stand up to Lucy and not let Lucy push her around. And Lucy went from being skeptical of Vivan to depending on her professionally.

Vivian's relationship with William Frawley, who played Fred Mertz, is well-documented. To say that there was mutual disrespect between them would be putting it mildly. Vivian never accepted the fact that her television husband was 22 years her senior, and could have been her father. When she learned at a restaurant that Frawley had died, Vance became elated and bought champagne for the whole restaurant.

Vance also battled depression throughout her life, suffering a number of nervous breakdowns. She was usually in the best mental health when working and especially so during the run of "I Love Lucy."

The book demonstrates that Vivian Vance was a complex personality and a talented actress. 8 of 10.

Love, Lucy

2010-11-13T15:39:00.002-06:00

Lesley sent me "Love, Lucy," Lucille Ball's autobiography that she wrote in the 1960s but wasn't published until after her death in 1989. As someone who has seen every episode of the legendary "I Love Lucy" television series, I found this an interesting book detailing Lucy's rise to stardom. She really paid her dues in a large number of B movies in the 1930s and 1940s before her true star turn with "I Love Lucy." It's evident that Lucy was dedicated to her career and wasn't afraid of hard work. She was willing to put in the hours needed in rehearsal to deliver a top-notch performance. I wish that the book spent more time detailing "I Love Lucy" and less on her rise to stardom, but it was a good read nonetheless. She's upfront about her marital problems with Desi Arnaz. They clearly loved each other, but eventually realized that they were better off not married. There's no question that she was a television pioneer and a comedic legend. 7 of 10.

Gunn's Golden Rules

2010-11-13T15:09:00.002-06:00

My birthday was in mid-September. My favorite gift this year was a package that arrived at my office from my friend Lauren which contained an autographed copy of Tim Gunn's book, "Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons For Making It Work." You can see what Tim wrote in the photo above. Needless to say, I was thrilled with this gift.

Tim's book is not a major literary accomplishment, but it's not mean to be. Instead, it's a fun and quick read that's full of interesting stories and fun advice. Tim has a great way of pointing out the absurd behavior of certain celebrities by just writing about the facts and allowing the reader to draw his or her own opinion on the matter. He does that effectively with Anna Wintour and Isaac Mizrahi. There's also a hilarious story about how Tim might have seen J. Edgar Hoover dressed up as Vivian Vance in his childhood. I especially enjoyed his make it work recounting of his involvement with the White House Christmas tree during the Carter administration.

Tim isn't afraid to tell it like it is, yet he remains respectful. A great read for any "Project Runway" fan. Thanks so much, Lauren! 9 of 10.

StoryCorps: David Wilson

2010-10-18T08:56:00.002-05:00

I'm a big fan of StoryCorps, having interviewed my mom when the group had a booth in Milwaukee in 2007. I later interviewed my brother and he interviewed me in 2009. It's an amazing and rewarding experience. If I can figure out how to post audio on this blog or if someone can help me, I'll post all three of those StoryCorps interviews here.

This week's featured StoryCorps interview with David Wilson is particularly touching and is definitely worth a listen.

Our Times

2010-10-08T15:36:00.002-05:00

I recently read "Our Times: The Age of Elizabeth II" by A. N. Wilson. It's a history of Britain from 1952 to 2008. Wilson is clearly an extremely talented author and a most entertaining writer. I'd hate to have to go head to head with him intellectually, because there's no question that he'd decimate me. With the exception of one chapter, the book isn't about the Royal Family or Queen Elizabeth II. Rather, it's a political, social, and intellectual history of Britain during the Queen's reign. Wilson takes no prisoners, eviscerating just about every major political figure over the period. The Prime Ministers, in particular, are taken to task and ruthlessly attacked. He seems to argue that Margaret Thatcher did the most, although Wilson certainly doesn't agree with the dramatic changes that Thatcher's premiership brought to Britain. His biggest attack is on Harold Macmillan. No political leader emerges unscathed from Wilson's attacks, some of which are well-deserved and accurate, others are simply mean spirited and unnecessary. Wilson makes a good case for the ineptness of politicians over the period, and he illustrates this vividly and with often humorous anecdotes. He shines in his overview of the decline of the established Anglican Church and Roman Catholicism in Britain, and provides a sharp contrast between these declines and the radical Islam that is a reality of the present day. Wilson is also critical of the decline in quality of the arts in Britain during this time period, and he makes his case effectively in this regard when he compares authors and artists before 1952 with those who came after. Overall, the book bemoans Britain's decline and places the blame squarely on the ineffective politicians who governed Britain during the Queen's reign.

Wilson concedes the many ways that life is better for Britons in 2008 than it was in 1952, particularly the significant rise in the standard of living, the role of women, and the decriminalisation of homosexuality. While affirming this progress, he bemoans the loss of British-ness and how devolution is threatening the existence of the UK, predicting that Scotland will become an independent nation in the 21st century. Wilson may be prophetic here, but I can't imagine that it will happen since the English presently provide a fairly significant monetary subsidy to the Scots, something that would be difficult for the Scots to give up.

While the book is a most entertaining read, Wilson plays fast and loose with the facts. He gets the date of the Glorious Revolution incorrect (1688 is the correct date), uses Wikipedia as a source in a footnote, and claims that 26,000 American soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, which simply isn't accurate.

With respect to the Royal Family, Wilson offers the best assessment I've read to date of the Prince of Wales, making the case for the many positive qualities of Prince Charles while also fairly and accurately pointing out his weaknesses. Wilson's assessment of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 and its relevance to modern Britain is insightful.

9 of 10 on entertainment value. 5 of 10 on historical accuracy and respect for others.

Beethoven's Ninth

2010-10-08T14:54:00.002-05:00

I attended a concert of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra recently where the orchestra played Beethoven's Ninth Symphony as well as Copeland's Suite from Appalachian Spring conducted by Edo de Waart. The Copeland was great and quite beautiful. This was my third time hearing Beethoven's Ninth live. The first two times the orchestra was under the direction of Andreas Delfs, so it was interesting to hear the Ninth conducted by de Waart. De Waart and the orchestra were sublime in the third movement; I've never heard it sound better. As for the first, second, and fourth movements, they were excellent, yet lacking. De Waart didn't bring the passion, intensity, urgency, and thunder to these movements that I think Beethoven calls for in the Ninth. de Waart was too gentle, dainty, delicate, and passive in the first, second, and fourth movements. I found that disappointing. Perhaps it's because he's older, or maybe de Waart just isn't as passionate as Delfs. Delfs conducted the Ninth, and all the Beethoven symphonies, without a score. Delfs knows them in his heart, and that comes through in his conducting. De Waart is more intellectual, which is fine with music from the Classical or modern eras. But for music from the Romantic era, you need the heartfelt passion, which de Waart brought to the third movement but not the others. In spite of this, the fourth movement moved me to tears. The orchestra and the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus were firing on all cylinders. As I've written previously, I think that the Ninth is the pinnacle of all music.

I was glad that Neil, my parents, my brother, and sister-in-law joined me at the concert, as I think that everyone should experience the Ninth live at some point in life. Overall, a wonderful evening.

O.C.D.

2010-10-02T15:18:00.001-05:00

Nate gave me this card with some common obsessions and compulsions. I've annotated it to indicate the ones that are applicable or partially applicable to me. Thanks, Nate!

Andy Roddick

2010-10-02T15:08:00.006-05:00

Andy Roddick lost in the second round at the US Open. It seems as if he's been unable to rebound from his brutal and heartbreaking loss in the 2009 Wimbledon final versus Roger Federer, whereRoddick lost the fifth set 16-14. Nevertheless, he's as hot as ever. I especially like this photo because you can see all of Andy's chest hair and how it extends onto his neck. Very hot.

Hot

2010-10-02T14:43:00.000-05:00

Summer may be over, but this guy from Instinct magazine makes me feel the heat.

The Ninth: Beethoven and the World in 1824

2010-10-02T14:20:00.002-05:00

In anticipation of seeing the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra play Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, I read a new book by Harvey Sachs entitled "The Ninth: Beethoven and the World in 1824." It was a fascinating book both about where Beethoven was in his life at the time that he composed the Ninth as well as the political, social, and intellectual world of 1824. I found the biographical information about Beethoven and his life in 1824 particularly captivating. By that time Beethoven was known throughout Europe as a gifted composer. Given his volatile personality, he had burned a lot of bridges by this time in his life. That made finding an orchestra to play the Ninth a fairly difficult proposition since there were quite a few musicians who Beethoven refused to work with or vice versa. Sachs does a remarkable job of giving the reader an idea of what it would have been like to attend the premiere in May 7, 1824 at the Karnthnertortheater in Vienna. Unfortunately, the time pressures meant that the copyists who transcribed the parts for the musicians made many errors. Couple that with the fact that in 1824 there was no such thing as the professional orchestra as we know it today; most of the musicians were amateurs, and the Ninth is a very difficult piece of music. This meant that the premier performance was likely riddled with errors. Yet in spite of these difficulties, the audience responded to the genius they heard, giving Beethoven a standing ovation, which was a rare occurrence at that time. It goes without saying that part of the fascination of the Ninth and Beethoven's middle and late period compositions is that he was deaf at the time he wrote them. This meant that Beethoven could hear his masterpiece only in his own mind. It's believed that Beethoven had to be prompted to turn around to see the audience giving him a standing ovation at the premiere. Sachs takes the reader into the fascinating personality of Beethoven such as his love for humanity yet his disgust for so many individual people. Another example is Beethoven's commitment to liberty, freedom, and joy, yet his living in the Hapsburg monarchy of Austria-Hungary. The Ninth was, of course, innovative in western music since it's the first symphony to incorporate voices. Beyond that, Beethoven pushes the boundaries of the genre in so many ways, which Sachs does a fine job of explaining.

Sachs then places the Ninth in the context of art at this point in the 19th century alongside Byron, Pushkin, and other early romantics. I found this portion the most challenging, probably since I wasn't familiar with most of the artists he writes about. I loved Sachs's analysis of the four movements of the Ninth and their value to music and artistic accomplishment. To me, the Ninth is the zenith of all music composed in human history, and I have a feeling that Sachs would likely agree with me. His book is a more intelligent way of saying that, even knowing that many would disagree with this claim.

A fascinating book, one that I'm very glad that I read.

9 of 10.

Peace Like a River

2010-10-02T14:10:00.002-05:00

Over the summer I read "Peace Like a River," a novel by Leif Enger. It was an interesting story about a family in rural Minnesota in the early 1960s. Enger raises some interesting questions about faith, tolerance, bullying, childhood, and trying to determine right and wrong in complex and messy situations. The story about twelve year-old Reuben Land and his kid sister Swede is a bit far fetched, yet it grabbed my attention. The story eventually becomes an old West type chase that seems inspired by Owen Wister. Overall, the novel was unique and held my attention. 7 of 10.

Dan Savage: It Will Get Better

2010-09-30T08:40:00.001-05:00

Tragedy at Rutgers

2010-09-30T08:31:00.003-05:00

I'm just sick about this terrible incident that occurred at Rutgers University. Tyler Clementi, a sensitive and talented gay student at Rutgers, died by suicide after his roommate and another classmate streamed an intimate encounter Tyler had with another man on the Internet. It never ceases to amaze me how young people are so cavalier with posting private information about others on the web. After learning what his roommate (Dharun Ravi) and his friend (Molly Wei) did, Tyler was so disheartened that he died by suicide. It breaks my heart that such a talented and promising young person felt so disheartened and helpless that he took that action. That's why it's important for all of us to support Dan Savage's project to post a video on YouTube saying that if you're young and gay, it will get better. I plan do post a video as soon as I get a working camera again. My camera's LCD screen broke a few weeks ago, and I have a new one ordered.

My condolences to Tyler's family and friends who must be going through a terrible time. I hope that it's some comfort for them to know how many of us are thinking of them and join them in their grief.

Lifeguards

2010-07-28T08:32:00.002-05:00

Nice photo of lifeguards at Bradford Beach from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Photo of Andy Roddick's shaved head

2010-07-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

Very nice.

Sixteen Candles

2010-07-20T12:01:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite 1980s movies is "Sixteen Candles," written and directed by the late and great John Hughes. I was only 10 when the film was released in early 1984, and, unfortunately, I didn't see it in the theater. I did see it on VHS in about 1985, and loved it from first viewing. What's not to love? Molly Ringwald stars as Samantha Baker playing the redheaded, freckle-faced, well-meaning 16 year-old that countless teenage girls and gay guys could relate to. Anthony Michael Hall is Ted aka The Geek, a spastic, earnest, and endearing freshman. And, of course, there's Michael Schoeffling as Jake Ryan, the paragon of dreamy guys. Jake is handsome, kind, thoughtful, and considerate. Did I mention that he's smoking hot? Everything a girl or gay guy could ask for in a man. And then some. Like many girls and gay guys of the 80s, Jake Ryan represented the ideal boyfriend for me. I'll admit it, he still does. It's hard to believe that the reclusive Michael Schoeffling will turn 50 later this year. Schoeffling is evidently a furniture craftsman in an Aidan Shaw-esque way.

This article from the "Washington Post," "Real Men Can't Hold a Match to Jake Ryan of Sixteen Candles" by Hank Stuever written in 2004 says it all.

I was definitely influenced by Hughes and the Jake Ryan ideal. After searching for many years for my own Jake Ryan, my first long-term boyfriend was a guy named Jake who I dated from 2001 to 2004. Unfortunately, this Jake was no Jake Ryan. I can now accept that an actual Jake Ryan type of guy probably doesn't exist, but I still believe in a world where that's possible. How could I not?

Sense and Sensibility

2010-07-20T10:40:00.003-05:00

Having seen "The Jane Austen Book Club" movie, I decided that I needed to read or re-read all six of Jane Austen's novels. I read "Sense and Sensibility" soon after seeing the Emma Thompson/Kate Winslet movie version of the novel in 1996. But that was more than 14 years ago, so I read it a second time, hopefully this time with more sense than I had back in 1996. There's no need to recount the plot since it is so well known. Most people, me included, can relate to aspects of both Elinor and Marianne Dashwood's personalities. The fun, of course, is seeing Elinor become more comfortable with and able to express her feelings (she gains sensibility), and Marianne to restrain her opinions and passions (she gains sense). I thought that Elinor and Colonel Brandon were better suited than Colonel Brandon and Marianne, although I can see why Austen has things turn out the way that they do. I was also perplexed by the scene where Mr. Willoughby confesses everything to Elinor while Marianne is ill. Willoughby's confession didn't make me have any sympathy for him; it may have even diminished any positive feelings that I did have for him. Perhaps that scene is meant to demonstrate that Elinor has emotion more than trying to create sympathy for Willoughby. Regardless, I have no positive feelings whatsoever for Willoughby. I love the cast of characters that Austen creates, especially Mrs. Jennings and the Steele sisters. A great book, for sure.

9 of 10.

Candy Everybody Wants

2010-07-20T10:23:00.003-05:00

After reading his memoir, I next read "Candy Everybody Wants," a work of fiction, by Josh Kilmer-Purcell. I enjoyed this book much more than "I Am Not Myself These Days." "Candy" was a delightful, campy summer read that had me laughing out loud at numerous points along the way. The book tells the story of Jayson Blocher, a gay teenager in 1980s Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, who yearns for fame, and his improbable journey to New York and Los Angeles in pursuit of stardom. Kilmer-Purcell is four years older than me, but the 80s pop culture references were amazing. As a frustrated star-in-waiting in Wisconsin, Jayson writes and directs his own soap opera, "Dallasty!" which is a great send-up of the 80s classic nighttime soaps. There were many hilarious moments in the book, everything from Jayson's mother Toni's art projects to her lesbian lover Franck, to his romance with a former child star, to his friendship with Helen Lawson. As someone who read "Valley of the Dolls" with a book club in the late 90s, I loved all of the Helen Lawson references. The moral of the story seems to be akin to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show": that your family can be more than your biological relatives and that even though your family might be crazy, love is all around. Great fun.

9 of 10.

I Am Not Myself These Days

2010-07-20T10:12:00.003-05:00

I recent read "I Am Not Myself These Days" by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, a memoir about his life in the 1990s living in New York. By day, he worked in advertising. By night, he was Aqua, a drag queen who had clear breasts with a goldfish swimming in each one. Kilmer-Purcell drank huge amounts of alcohol in these years. It was interesting to learn about the process involved in Josh becoming Aqua - all of the makeup, grooming, clothing, wigs, etc., that were involved. The memoir is also about Josh's relationship with Jack, a male escort who was addicted to crack cocaine. As you might expect, the combination of drag and a drug addict boyfriend make for some interesting stories. Kilmer-Purcell is most effective at dialogue, and many of the conversations he recounts in the book are fascinating. I also enjoyed the book since Kilmer-Purcell grew up in Oconomowic, Wisconsin, just a bit west of Milwaukee, so we're both gay Wisconsinites. The book showed me that my life in the 90s was way, way more square, vanilla, and boring than his, but I wouldn't trade places with him for anything. An effective memoir, although I've never been a huge fan of movies or books with lots of illegal drug use.

6 of 10.

Andy Roddick

2010-07-20T10:10:00.003-05:00

Nice to hear that Andy Roddick shaved his head. Let's hope that it gives him what he needs to win another major at the US Open. It would be great to see Andy win his secnod major.

Abby and George

2010-06-14T08:51:00.003-05:00

Here are some photos of Abby and George, my nice and newphew. They are too cute. Abby is 3 and George is 20 months.

Andy Roddick

2010-06-14T08:49:00.002-05:00

Nice photos of Andy Roddick on the beach. He did all right in the French Open, but lost fairly early at the Queen's Cup, a tuneup event for Wimbledon. I hope that he can pull it off this year and win at Wimbledon to get his second major.

Forever: A Novel

2010-06-14T08:34:00.002-05:00

I recently finished reading "Forever: A Novel" by Pete Hamill. My brother had read it, and he passed the book along to me. "Forever" (not to be confused with the Judy Blume book of the same name) is about a man named Cormac O'Connor who grows up in Ireland and makes his way to Manhattan in the 18th century. Here's the twist: as long as Cormac remains on Manhattan, he can live forever. So the novel proceeds through the colonial period, American Revolution, Civil War, etc., through September 11, 2001 with Cormac living through it all. Hamill skips over huge portions of history in the process. Oh, and Cormac is supposed to avenge the killings of his parents by an evil nobleman in Ireland. Overall, I found the book hokey and trite. Yet it was mildly entertaining. I've read worse. Score: 5 of 10.

Zac Efron sure is looking good

2010-06-14T08:33:00.002-05:00

Nice. Wish that I was in Hawaii, too.

Marathons I've run

2010-05-03T09:39:00.002-05:00

Marathons I've run:
1. San Francisco Marathon, 2005. 4 hours, 14 minutes.
2. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, 2005. 3 hours, 37 minutes.
3. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, 2006. 3 hours, 33 minutes.
4. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, 2007. 3 hours, 32 minutes.
5. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, 2008. 3 hours, 21 minutes.
6. Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon, 2009. 3 hours, 31 minutes.

Half marathons I've run in past two years:
1. Wisconsin Half Marathon (Kenosha), 2010. 1 hour, 34 minutes.
2. South Shore Half Marathon (Milwaukee), 2010. 1 hour, 35 minutes.
3. Lake Geneva Half Marathon, 2009. 1 hour, 41 minutes.
4. Wisconsin Half Marathon, 2009. 1 hour, 37 minutes.

Next up: Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in early October. I'm excited because my Sally, my high school classmate who now lives in San Antonio, will also be running that race.

Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

2010-04-25T14:02:00.002-05:00

I'm gay, which means I'm supposed to love and worship Chelsea Handler. But I'm more of a Kathy Griffin gay. I've never gotten into Chelsea. My sister-in-law lent me Chelsea's book, "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea." I found parts of the book entertaining and funny, but others were either boring or even cringe-inducing. I enjoyed the chapter about her dating a redheaded guy, even though her attitude about redheaded men is deplorable yet emblematic of how it's acceptable to make fun of redheads in our society. The story about Chelsea and her dad on a trip to Costa Rica was funny. Some of the others, such as her clearly exaggerated story about spending a night in a Los Angeles jail and another about a dinner in the dark in London, were self-indulgent. Then again, I suppose that's the whole point about Chelsea - it's all about her. Maybe I need to watch her TV show sometime to understand Chelsea better. Score: 4 of 10.

The Fountainhead

2010-04-11T14:48:00.021-05:00

I had never read anything by Ayn Rand. My dad gave me a copy of "The Fountainhead" for Christmas, and he subsequently told me that it's the book that helped make him a lifelong reader when he was in his early 20s. He's not a Rand disciple, but he likes the book.

As a bleeding heart liberal and as a progressive Christian, I obviously have problems with Rand's Objectivist philosophy. Yet I found the book fascinating and a real page turner.
Howard Roark is definitely a fascinating character. I’ve been so struck at how Rand classifies people into four primary archetypes:

1. Roark – a person as a person should be;
2. Peter Keating – a man who couldn’t be but doesn’t know it;
3. Ellsworth Toohey – a man who couldn’t be and knows it; and
4. Gail Wynand – the man who could have been.

I'm definitely not an Objectivist or devotee of Rand. I do believe in personal responsibility and accountability which is rooted in the values I acquired from my parents and my own experience. Rand does an excellent job of showing the problems that can come from groups, committees, and the drawbacks of consensus and compromise. Trying to find a balance between individual goals and the greater good is a continuing challenge. It seems to me that a healthy tension between individualism and overall societal goals can help out society. The pendulum has swung both ways throughout American history. For me, I'll go with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, the Great Society programs of Lyndon Johnson, and Obama over the trickle down, fend for yourself philosophy of Reagan and the two Bushes.

I have come across my share of Peter Keatings and Ellsworth Tooheys. Very few Wynands and, unfortunately, even fewer Roarks.

The book was overly melodramatic, so I give it an 8 out of 10. I do want to read "Atlas Shrugged" later this year.

Open: An Autobiography

2010-04-11T14:19:00.003-05:00

I recently read Andre Agassi's "Open: An Autobiography." Agassi is 3.5 years older than me, and I remember when he first entered the scene as an up-and-coming teenage phenom. I followed his tennis career through the years, and was a spectator in Arthur Ashe Tennis Stadium at the 2006 US Open when Agassi had his epic five set victory over Marcos Baghdatis.

As a side note, there are only two times when I cried at a sporting event. The first was when I watched on television the Marquette men's basketball team beat Kentucky to advance to the Final Four in 2003. The second was when Agassi defeated Baghdatis at the US Open in in 2006, and I was fortunate to be at that one in person.

As a tennis fan and an Agassi fan, I found the book fascinating. Agassi isn't afraid to put everything out there, even difficult and painful emotional revelations. I got the sense that writing the book was a catharsis for Agassi. He writes in detail about how his dad's incessant pushing made him not only an amazing player, but also made him hate tennis. His issues with authority figures extended to Nick Bollettieri, the well-known tennis academy director and coach. Agassi isn't afraid to acknowledge the shortcomings of his education and how Bollettieri was motivated more by money and ego than by a desire for his students to succeed. You get all the details about his relationship, marriage, and divorce from Brooke Shields. Then you learn how Brad Gilbert helped him resurrect his tennis game, his comeback after falling below number 100, and how he met Steffi Graf.

The most interesting aspect of the book for me was reading the story of how Agassi came to grips with himself and with tennis. He uses his own experiences in a positive way to try to help others with his charter school in Las Vegas. While most sports autobiographies are focused on the rah-rah aspect of the writer's sport, this book is filled with brutal honesty. I found that refreshing. As someone who has also lost his hair, it was fascinating to read about how Agassi wore a hair piece, and how he lost a Roland Garros final at least partially due to fear that his hair piece would fall off. He also discussed his abuse of crystal meth to dull the pain he felt in his life and how he came back from that.

Overall, a great book, particularly for any tennis fan. 9 of 10.

A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School

2010-02-14T16:09:00.002-06:00

I read Carlotta Walls LaNier's book, "A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School." LaNier is one of the members of the Little Rock Nine, the African American teenagers who courageously integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The Little Rock Nine played a vital part in the civil rights movement in the United States. LaNier was the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, and she poignantly recounts the prejudice, hate, torment, and fear of September 1957 when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus used the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the black teenagers from attending school. After three weeks of being denied admittance by segregationists and the power structure of Arkansas, President Eisenhower eventually sent in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne to integrate the school and to enforce the Supreme Court's 1954 decision in "Brown v. Board of Education." Even with the protection of the Army, LaNier and her African American classmates suffered prejudice, hate, abuse, and torment from their white classmates. LaNier's home was bombed during her final semester of high school. To make that terrible act even worse, LaNier's father was considered a suspect in the bombing of his own home by white authorities in Little Rock, and an African American friend of LaNaier's served 18 months in jail for the crime even though there is absolutely no evidence that he was involved. It is likely that white racists were responsible for the bombing, but none were ever charged. LaNier's book is a fascinating first-hand account of an important chapter in United States history. Unfortunately, too few Americans are aware of the prophetic, courageous, and important contributions that the Little Rock Nine made to our society. Grade: 9.

I had the opportunity to meet Ms. LaNier earlier this week when she and other members of the Little Rock Nine visited my Alma Mater, Marquette University, to receive the Pere Marquette Discovery Award. It was fascinating to hear Ms. LaNier and the other members of the Little Rock Nine recount their story. They are true giants in American history. I was fortunate to have Ms. LaNier sign my copy of her book. It was a true honor to meet her and the other members of the Little Rock Nine. A moment that I will always remember.

The Lioness Roared: The Problems of Female Rule in English History

2010-02-14T16:01:00.002-06:00

Another book I read recently was "The Lioness Roared: The Problems of Female Rule in English History" by Charles Beem. Beem assesses female rulers throughout English history and one of his main arguments is that queens regnant are female kings, a premise that I definitely agree with. He uses the Empress Matilda from the 12th century, Mary I, and Anne as his primary examples. He also briefly discusses Victoria in relation to the Bedchamber crisis, but doesn't go into great detail for Victoria. I found the book well-researched and mostly interesting. However, my primary complaint is that he almost ignores the women who is arguably the best monarch in English history, Elizabeth I. Beem briefly mentions Elizabeth I in the introduction, but it's almost like he's forgotten that Elizabeth I set the standard for female monarchs. I think his reason was that Elizabeth I never married so her situation was different then Matilda, Mary I, Anne, and Victoria. Yet Elizabeth's example clearly informed the reigns of Mary II, Anne, and Victoria. Overall grade: 6. This is only for people who have an intense interest in the history of the British monarchy.

The Warden

2010-02-14T15:56:00.002-06:00

My friend Anne suggested that I read "The Warden" by Anthony Trollope. "The Warden" is the first volume in a series of novels about Barchester, a fictional cathedral town in England. I had never read anything by Trollope before, and I learned that he does an outstanding job of creating vivid and rich characters. In particular, the Bishop, Archdeacon Grantly, and Mr. Harding (The Warden) are very well-created characters. The plot was interesting, although not as relevant today as it was in Victorian times. An entertaining read and better than some of the drivel I've read in the past year (i.e., Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol."). Grade: 8.

Farewell in Splendor

2010-01-08T09:47:00.004-06:00

I'm going to try to do a brief post on each book that I read in 2010. Hopefully I can be disciplined enough to do it. Here is the first.

I just finished "Farewell in Splendor: The Passing of Queen Victoria and Her Age" by Jerrold M. Packard. It's a book about Queen Victoria's dying, death, and funeral services in 1901. In addition, it's a great primer about the Victorian Age as well as an excellent reminder of the role that Victoria's children and grandchildren played in Europe. Packard does a good job of describing the personality of Edward VII, Victoria's eldest son, who became King when his mother died. It also gives a great portrait of Victoria's eldest grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was Emperor of Germany from 1888 to 1918. Wilhelm II, who was instrumental in the German aggression that led to the carnage of the First World War.

Overall, I found this book to be a fascinating view into the personalities of Victoria and her family, as well as the near-universal grief that her death caused not only in Britain, but worldwide in 1901. Packard's writing is excellent, and he doesn't hold back in his frank and accurate descriptions of the odd personalities involved. No reverence for royalty here, and the book is better for it.

9 out of 10.

Films I have rated 5 stars on Netflix

2009-12-29T14:28:00.002-06:00

Films that I have rated 5 stars on Netflix:

The Age of Innocence (1993)
Airplane! (1980)
All About Eve (1950)
All the President's Men (1976)
Amelie (2001)
Annie Hall (1977)
Apollo 13 (1995)
Back To the Future (1985)
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Best in Show (2000)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Casablanca (1942)
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Chicago (2002)
Cinderella (1950)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)
The Color Purple (1985)
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
The Departed (2006)
Dial M For Murder (1954)
Doubt (2008)
Down With Love (2003)
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
Elizabeth (1998)
Erin Brockovich (2000)
Everyone Says I Love You (1996)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
For the Bible Tells Me So (2007)
Frost/Nixon (2008)
Funny Girl (1968)
Ghost (1990)
Gone With the Wind (1939)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
The Goonies (1985)
Gran Torino (2008)
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967)
Hairspray (1988)
The Hours (2002)
The Hunt For Red October (1990)
Immortal Beloved (1994)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Interiors (1978)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Juno (2007)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Manhattan (1979)
Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Match Point (2005)
Milk (2008)
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Moulin Rouge (2001)
Mrs. Brown (1997)
Network (1976)
Nine to Five (1980)
North By Northwest (1959)
Notorious (1946)
Oceans Eleven (2001)
Ordinary People (1980)
Paths of Glory (1957)
Peter Pan (1953)
Pinocchio (1940)
A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Psycho (1960)
The Queen (2006)
Rear Window (1954)
The Remains of the Day (1993)
Rope (1948)
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Seabiscuit (2003)
Shakespeare In Love (1998)
Sicko (2007)
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
The Sixth Sense (1999)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The Sound of Music (1965)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
Stranger Than Fiction (2005)
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
United 93 (2006)
Vertigo (1958)
Warm Springs (2005)
Wit (2001)
Young @ Heart (2007)

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

2009-12-29T13:20:00.002-06:00

Damn, Mark-Paul Gosselaar looks mighty fine. What a hot man. He's much better looking now than during his "Saved By the Bell" days. Gotta love the chest hair especially. And he has a great sense of humor, as evidenced by his appearance earlier this year on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

Voters in Maine make wrong decision

2009-11-04T08:37:00.005-06:00

Very frustrated with the voters in Maine. Contrary to the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, our government sat back and let yet another group of Americans vote on whether or not gay people deserve equal rights. We don't, say the people of Maine. I wonder how many rights other minorities would have if their "peers" were allowed to pick and choose. Let's face it, if civil rights were granted based on referenda such as this, there's no way that African Americans would have civil rights in the South.

How would any other group feel about their rights, guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of U.S. Constitution, being put on the ballot for others to decide? It makes me sick.

The fight continues.

Fun video: gay TV characters

2009-10-29T09:15:00.003-05:00

I am all about this video. Love it! Some thoughts on the clips shown:

1. What is this mini-series from 1984 called “Tommy Thompson’s Celebrity”? I’m sure that the Tommy Thompson who made the “Celebrity” mini-series in 1984 isn’t the same Tommy Thompson who was governor of Wisconsin. The scene shown is pretty amazing. I am going to see if it’s available on Netflix. Oh shucks, it’s not.
2. The “Dynasty” clip is funny even though I never watched that show. I was a “Knots Landing” fan, not “Dynasty”.
3. The “I’ll Take Manhattan” clip is AMAZINGLY AWESOME AND FANTASTIC. I love it, and it got me all hot and bothered. Oh, that shirtless blond guy with all that chest hair! And the other guy is pretty beautiful. I can barely stand it! But all the excellent sexual tension left me disappointed since the scene ends in a hug, a reminder that in 1987 they could have never gotten away with a gay kiss on network TV (or probably even cable). My mom had the paperback of Judith Krantz’s “I’ll Take Manhattan.” I remember reading it in 1988. It was the first time I had ever encountered anything with a gay love scene. I read and re-read the couple of pages involving the gay couple literally hundreds of times. Unfortunately, “I’ll Take Manhattan” has not been released on DVD. Nevertheless, it's in my Netflix queue for if it's ever released.
4. I remember watching the “Melrose Place” scene in college. It was so disappointing. Of course, Matt was the only celibate character on that show, which was completely unfair.
5. I never watched “Dawson’s Creek.” But this scene is nice, and at least they were allowed to show the kiss on TV. BTW – I do have an adult video entitled “Dawson’s Crack,” but that’s a different story.
6. Of course, I’m all about the “Desperate Housewives” scenes. Justin, Andrew Van de Kemp's lab partner/lover, was portrayed by Ryan Carnes, who is smoking hot.
7. I am all about “Brothers & Sisters,” especially since I know that Ruben can’t stand it. But you have to give the show credit for having gay characters – especially Kevin and Scotty – who got married in Season 2.

Enjoy.

IKEA commercials you won't see in the USA

2009-10-14T08:56:00.001-05:00

Well, that happened

2009-09-09T16:32:00.002-05:00

A few odd items to report:

- Last night an unknown woman with a 415 area code called and left a lengthy voice mail message for me. In Russian. To quote Lesley, "Thanks, Mercury retrograde."

- Today at the gym there was a guy shaving his legs in the shower. This might be common in a women's locker room, but I've never seen it in a men's locker room, and hope that I won't see it again.

- I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that said, "Screw You."

A letter I mailed to 13 of my cousins

2009-08-31T16:56:00.003-05:00

September 1, 2009

At the burial service for Senator Ted Kennedy, several of his grandchildren took turns speaking about their grandfather. I want to share what one of his grandchildren said with you:
"But what I will miss the most are the times I woke up at 6:30 a.m. and would go to the front porch where my Grandpa would be sitting with Splash [his dog] and gazing out to sea. It would be just us on the porch for a while and we talked and talked, and I would get a feeling that the world was just right. It was me and him sitting on his porch watching a new day unfold."
I found these sentences moving and poignant. We could substitute a few words and say, "Where Grandpa would be sitting with his cup of coffee and gazing out into yard." Or "Where Grandma would be sitting with her cup of coffee and waiting for her babysitting kids to arrive." You get the picture.

I broke down in tears when I heard this reflection because it is so true. We all have many memories of Grandma and Grandpa, and many of them involve activities (fishing, baking cookies, going to Roy Lake, playing whist, etc.). Those activities were so much fun and were very memorable, but what I miss most of all is just being with Grandma and Grandpa and having a conversation with them. They would call it visiting. Oh, how I would love the opportunity to visit with them again.

I miss them every day, and am sure that you do, too. I miss all of the wisdom, kindness, and love that they shared with us. What a gift Grandma and Grandpa were to us. What a gift they continue to be for us.

Your cousin,
Steve

I'd rather irritated that only one of the 13 acknowledged receiving my letter, which I went via US Mail, not email. Oh well.

Popular names 2008 compared to 1973

2009-08-31T09:47:00.002-05:00

The Social Security Administration tracks the popularity of names. You can see the most popular names from 2008 and, by way of comparison, from 1973, the year I was born.

For 2008 I like all the boy names except Alexander and Anthony. On the girls side, they all seem pretty decent except I can't stand Madison. Why is that name so popular? It's the surname of the fourth president of the United States and the capital city of Wisconsin - not the first name of a girl. To my thinking, Madison just isn't a girl's name, but I guess I'd better get used to it since there are lots of girls named Madison.

I can tell that I'm getting older because I generally prefer the 1973 names to the 2008 ones. Before seeing the 1973 list, I predicted that Jennifer and Amy would be at the top since there were always tons of Jennys and Amys in my classes from kindergarten through college. In college, If I couldn't remember a girl's name, I'd always guess Jennifer or Amy, and oftentimes, I'd be right.

Steven was #20 in 1973. In my lifetime, Steven peaked at #18 and 1975, and has been declining in popularity ever since. For 2008 it ranks #104 after being #46 in 1998. You can look this up at the Social Security popular baby names site.

More Travis Rettenmaier

2009-08-31T09:22:00.001-05:00

A few more photos of Travis Rettenmaier.

Travis Rettenmaier

2009-08-31T09:20:00.004-05:00

Seeing these hot photos of doubled specialist Travis Rettenmaier makes me even more excited to be heading to New York for the US Open on Wednesday. Man, is Travis hot! I want to pull those white tennis shorts off and run my hands over his hot, ripped, hairy chest.

Wah-wah

2009-08-27T14:44:00.002-05:00

Three weeks ago, I made nine CDs and sent them to Paul, my college roommate who has lived in Alaska since we graduated from college in 1995. Today Paul emailed me that he had them in a rental car on a recent trip and they were stolen. Wah-wah. So now my iMac will get all irritated that I have to re-burn those nine discs.

Paul and I met the first day of college when he sat in front of me in Spanish 001. He was wearing a Morrissey t-shirt with the photograph from the cover of the "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" single. I knew right away that we'd hit it off given his great taste in music. So much of the music from those days brings me back to fun times with Paul.

The list of bands we both love is a long one, but ones that come to the top of my head include Morrissey, The Smiths, Electronic, New Order, The Ocean Blue, The Trash Can Sinatras, The Judybats, Pet Shop Boys, 10,000 Maniacs, The Church, Riverside, Material Issue, and School of Fish. Well, the list could go on and on.

Mr. Benfield

2009-08-27T09:01:00.002-05:00

During this back to school time, I found myself thinking about my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Benfield. I uncovered this letter to the editor that I wrote about Mr. Benfield back in 1995. Reading the letter 14 years later, the parable part at the end is a bit heavy-handed, but the rest holds up pretty well. I wonder of Mr. Benfield is still living. I hope so. He played an important part in my life.

November 10, 1995

Teacher Stories
Herald Times Reporter
902 Franklin Street
Manitowoc, Wisconsin 54220

Dear Sir/Madam:

When I read the call for stories about outstanding teachers, I immediately thought of Mr. Kenneth Benfield. I was privileged to be a student in Mr. Benfield's sixth grade class during the 1984-1985 school year. While that experience is now more than ten years old, the lessons I learned from Mr. Benfield at Andrew Jackson School have had a tremendous impact on my life.

Mr. Benfield had earned a reputation as an ardent disciplinarian, and his students quickly discovered that he lived up to that reputation. Soon after beginning the sixth grade, our class came to understand that Mr. Benfield expected much from us. Assignments were to be completed on time, and there were no excuses for late or incomplete work. This came as a shock to many of us, since up until this time we had not been held accountable for our work. If your assignment was not completed on time, you had to write for Mr. Benfield. This writing was referred to as "sides." Mr. Benfield would say, "Give me five sides on how your assignment should be finished on time." In addition, late or missing work resulted in the loss of recess privileges. For 11 and 12 year-olds, not being able to join our friends at recess was generally motivation to reform our ways. I remember that when he would correct spelling tests, Mr. Benfield often used a magnifying glass to determine whether or not a student's writing was off the line. In short, Mr. Benfield demanded excellence in all things. Anything less was not satisfactory.

Mr. Benfield believed in personal responsibility. If you made a mistake, you had to face the consequences of your mistake, and hopefully learn something from the experience. He was always fair - he never had "pets" and he did not single out anyone unless he or she deserved it. For this, all of us respected him. He also possessed a wonderful sense of humor, and at the appropriate times, we had a great deal of fun.

So much of Mr. Benfield's teaching translates to life
outside the sixth grade:

If excellence is expected, excellence can be achieved.

There are consequences for all your actions that you must be responsible for.

Live your life with a sense of values.

You will have to work hard to attain success in life.

You must be dedicated to your work.

Life is not always easy, but with perseverance you will find fulfillment.

While being instructed about sentence structure and how to multiply and divide fractions, I was learning something more important - how to live a meaningful and value-filled life.

There is a parable where one person builds a house without a foundation and another digs deep, lays a foundation on rock, and then builds her house on this foundation. Mr. Benfield helped his students to dig deep foundations, so that the structure we later built could be sturdy enough to last a lifetime. The lessons I learned from Mr. Benfield are the rock, the foundation on which I have built my life. I am proud to say that I was Mr. Benfield's student, and I hope he knows that becuase of him, I am a better person.

Sincerely,
Steven F.

Runner's World September 2009 cover

2009-08-23T17:04:00.002-05:00

Here's the latest Runner's World cover. I features 27 year-old John Kenney, who is from Connecticut but now lives in Los Angeles. From the looks of it, he's in the category of "trying to make it as an actor in LA." I have to give him credit, though, because he's one hell of a good runner, clocking a time of 3 hours, 5 minutes at the 2009 Boston Marathon. That's top notch. Once again, I wonder why Runner's World and/or John made the decision that his chest had to be shaved. It's clear that John would have some hot chest hair if he let it grow. Stay away from the razor, John! Nevertheless, John Kenney is one hot runner.

Paula Abdul

2009-08-05T08:35:00.001-05:00

Yes, she’s crazy. Yes, she’s on something (or multiple things). But she’s good crazy, and I love her. The show will not be the same without her. Nate, Lesley, Sara, and I predicted a year ago when they brought the evil and stupid Kara DioGuardi on the show that Paula was doomed. I’m sad.

http://perezhilton.com/2009-08-04-abdul-leaving-idol-paula-speaks-about-bitter-departure
http://perezhilton.com/2009-08-04-paula-abdul-leaving-american-idol
http://www.dlisted.com/node/33266

I am cracking up about this

2009-07-09T16:33:00.000-05:00

The featured article on Wikipedia for July 9, 2009:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gropecunt_Lane

Jonas Brothers in Milwaukee

2009-07-09T16:31:00.001-05:00

So the Jonas Brothers are performing tonight in Milwaukee. On my way to work, I counted 14 semi trailers parked outside the Bradley Center. It must be an elaborate set.

Steve: I was just walking down Wisconsin Ave, minding my own business. An SUV with numerous teenage girls drove by. One of the girls screamed out the window at me, "Do you like the Jonas Brothers?" Then they all giggled and screamed with laughter.

Barbie: Well, at least you know it probably won't happen to you again tomorrow!

Steve: I hope not.

Sweet Lurline!

2009-06-18T08:22:00.002-05:00

Could Ryan Reynolds be any hotter? Holy sh!t! Those abs, that chest hair - perfection.

New York Times editorial

2009-06-16T13:23:00.002-05:00

Great editorial in today's New York Times regarding President Obama's unwillingness to advocate for equal and full civil rights for gays.

6 down, 44 to go

2009-06-04T08:47:00.002-05:00

New Hampshire became the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. 2009 has been a great year so far for civil rights. It sounds as if there are additional states in the Northeast that may also take the plunge. Let's hope so. New Hampshire has a long tradition of promoting individual rights, and I'm glad that the good people of the Granite State have made this historic decision. Way to go, New Hampshire!

The audacity of silence

2009-05-28T08:55:00.003-05:00

Here's the text of the open letter from Lorri L. Jean, the chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, to President Obama, who is visiting the Golden State right now. I wholeheartedly agree with her letter. It's too bad that President Obama has been so silent about equal rights for gays and lesbians.

Dear President Obama:

Welcome to California, Mr. President. I welcome you with a heavy heart because of the California Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Prop. 8, relegating same-sex couples to second-class status and denying us that most noble promise of America, “liberty and justice for all.”

You are arriving in Los Angeles on the heels of emotional demonstrations throughout California and our nation and your silence at such a time speaks volumes. LGBT people and our allies have the “audacity to hope” for a country that treats us fairly and equally and for a President with the will to stand up for those ideals. From you we expect nothing less.

We know the country faces many serious challenges and we have strived to be patient. We’ve waited for the slightest sign you would live up to your promise to be a “fierce advocate” for our equal rights while watching gay and lesbian members of the armed forces, who have never been more needed, get discharged from the military. And so far you have done nothing. No stop loss order. No call to cease such foolish and discriminatory actions that make our nation less safe.

You pledged to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Mr. President. You promised to support a “complete repeal” of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and pledged to advocate for legislation that would give same-sex couples the 1,100+ federal rights and benefits we are denied, including the same rights to social security benefits. You said, “Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples.”

What of those promises, Mr. President?

Your commitment to repeal DOMA has been removed from the White House website. Your promise to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was removed and then replaced with a watered-down version. And in the aftermath of yesterday’s California Supreme Court ruling, you have remained silent while your press secretary summarily dismisses questions about the issue.

We not only need to hear from our President, we need his action. And we need it now.

We need your words, Mr. President. But we also need your deeds. We expect you to fulfill the promises you made to us. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us, “Justice too long delayed is justice denied.” Do not delay, Mr. President. The time for action is now.

Sincerely,
Lorri L. Jean
Chief Executive Officer
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

Barbie's wedding weekend is officially underway!

2009-05-21T09:02:00.004-05:00

I'm in a super good mood because Barbie's Wedding Weekend is officially underway. It began for me last night when I had dinner with Lesley at Comet, then Lesley and I watched the "American Idol" finale. It's always a blast to be with Lesley, and last night was no exception. We hashed over all the wedding preparations over dinner, then lost ourselves in Idol. We particularly enjoyed seeing Cyndi Lauper and Lionel Richie perform. The show was entertaining, although Lesley was disappointed that Adam Lambert didn't win. I felt the same way, although I wasn't as emotional about it as Lesley was.

Nate arrives from Columbus this evening. He hasn't been to Milwaukee since Ruben and Mark's wedding in September 2007, so he's overdue for a visit.

Tomorrow I'm taking the day off to spend with Nate, then I'm hosting a Barbie's Wedding Eve/Ruben's birthday/Nate visits Milwaukee party in the evening at my condo. Should be a good day.

Then the actual wedding and reception are on Saturday. I'm so excited I can barely stand it. Although I haven't bought Barbie's wedding gift yet. Yikes - that is so un-Virgo of me. I'll either do it today or tomorrow.

Should be a fun weekend!

two half marathons

2009-05-15T10:15:00.002-05:00

I ran two half marathons this month. The first was the Wisconsin Half Marathon in Kenosha. My time was 1 hour, 37 minutes. The second was the Lake Geneva Half Marathon. My time was 1 hour, 41 minutes.

It was extremely windy in Lake Geneva, and I'm attributing my slower time to the wind. Both races were well-organized and fun. I ran in Kenosha with my friend Chris. Unfortunately, he had a knee issue and wasn't able to finish. I ran Lake Geneva with my brother and our friend Brett. The 13.1 miles was longest distance Brett had ever run, so he felt good about that.

The photos are from Kenosha. I can't figure out how to post the photos from Lake Geneva, because they're protected from the firm that shot them.

Aaron Schock

2009-05-15T09:02:00.002-05:00

I'm late to the game in posting about Congressman Aaron Schock from Illinois, the youngest member of Congress. Aaron will turn 28 later this month. He sure takes care of himself, and he's also a chest shaver, as you can see in the shirtless pic. Aaron, you'd look even better if you stayed natural. Aaron is one of those guys I love to hate: he's hot, he knows that he's hot, he's a narrow-minded Republican who is opposed to same sex marriage, and he probably enjoys golfing. All of which makes my twisted mind want him bad. Well, just because he's hot doesn't mean that he's a good legislator. Stop being anti-gay, Aaron.

Finally!

2009-05-15T08:57:00.002-05:00

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle promises to sign a state-wide smoking ban that will take effect on July 5, 2010. I sure wish that the law was going into effect sooner, but I'm thrilled that the ban passed and the Tavern League of Wisconsin has finally been defeated on this important public health issue. It will be great to go to restaurants and other places and not leave stinking of cigarette smoke. For once, Wisconsin gets it right.

Happy 37th birthday, David Charvet

2009-05-15T08:55:00.002-05:00

I had the biggest crush on David back in the 90s. I remember when he joined the cast of "Melrose Place." In about 1996 or so he appeared on the cover of "Details," and that issue of David and his hot chest hair provided me with a great deal of entertainment when I was in grad school.

Grey's Anatomy finale

2009-05-15T08:48:00.004-05:00

OK, so "Grey's Anatomy" had a rough season this year. But the last four episodes were a return to form.

Do you think that Izzy and George are both dead? Nate thinks that they’re both dead. I have a suspicion that Izzy will recover, but George is dead. Although I wouldn't blame Shonda Rhimes for getting rid of two whiny actors (in real life): T.R. Knight and Katherine Heigl. Heigl especially thinks that her sh*t doesn't stink and that she's too good for "Grey's." If that's the case, then I say good riddance. Of course, I love T.R. Knight because he's a flaming 'mo, but I find it incredibly odd that T.R. is 36 and his boyfriend is something like 19 or 20. Crazy. But I do love T.R.'s new buzzed haircut. Cute!

This is from a review of the season finale that I read online this morning. It sounds crazy, but it's true:
“Last night, she [Meredith] and Derek exchanged vows over Post-it notes as a cover of the "Flashdance" theme song played in the background.”

I can only hope that someday I will exchange vows as the “Flashdance” theme song plays in the background. A boy can dream, right???

Abby and George

2009-05-08T10:15:00.001-05:00

Here's a new photo of Abby and George, my niece and nephew. You can tell that Abby does not like sharing the limelight with her younger brother!

Finally - a smoking ban in Wisconsin

2009-05-07T08:26:00.002-05:00

It looks like we're finally getting a smoking ban here in Wisconsin. It's about time. The Tavern League is awful here, and has a huge amount of political power at the state level. The Tavern League is, of course, pro-smoking. They resisted a ban for years, but have now seemingly acquiesced to the interest of public health. Unfortunately, the ban won't go into effect until July 2010, more than a year from now. But at least it's going to happen. That is, unless some of the Republicans in the minority of the state legislature decide to try to water the ban down before final passage. Let's hope not. I can't wait for a smoke-free Wisconsin.

5 down, 45 to go

2009-05-07T08:24:00.002-05:00

I've always loved Maine, having visited and vacationed there on three separate occasions. Now I love Maine even more, as yesterday it became the fifth state to legalize gay marriage. 45 more to go...

4 down, 46 to go

2009-04-07T15:20:00.002-05:00

Vermont became the fourth state to legalize gay marriage today. Way to go Vermont!

After the passage of Proposition 8 in California last November, it seemed like we were in for a bad period when it comes to equal civil rights. However, Iowa and Vermont make me optimistic. Let's hope that other states will soon follow the great four of Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

3 down, 47 to go

2009-04-03T10:38:00.003-05:00

The ban on gay marriage in Iowa was ruled unconstitutional today in a unanimous decision by the Iowa Supreme Court. Iowa joins Massachusetts and Connecticut as the third state with legal gay marriage. New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Vermont offer civil unions. After the passage of Proposition 8 last November, California allows domestic partnerships only.

I think that the Iowa decision is particularly important because it shows a growing acceptance of gay marriage in the Midwest.

I'm now a huge fan of Iowa. Neil grew up there (he's completely corn fed), and now gay marriage is legal there. Kudos to Iowa!

Abby and George

2009-03-31T13:30:00.002-05:00

Here's some recent photos of Abby (age 2), my niece, and George (age 5 months), my nephew. They are too cute. I was glad to see them on Saturday.

photos with Neil, plus Ruben and Mark

2009-03-29T16:54:00.002-05:00

Last weekend Ruben, Mark, Neil, and I went to see Spiral Theater's production of Charles Busch's "Die Mommie Die." We stopped at The Room for a drink after the play. Here's a couple of photos from the evening. I'm super excited about Neil, and I'm also pleased with my new orange shirt from J. Crew.

Introducting: Neil

2009-03-29T16:51:00.003-05:00

I'm pleased to report that I have a boyfriend. It must be official because we're listed as "in a relationship" with each other on Facebook. His name is Neil, and I think that he's fantastic. We've had eight dates over the past four weeks, and all signs are positive. Here's a few photos from one of our dates when we went ice skating at the Pettit National Ice Center. I'm awfully excited about Neil and where this is heading. Stay tuned...

KA-POW!

2009-03-29T16:48:00.002-05:00

Lesley came to Milwaukee recently for Barbie's bridal shower. We got together for our usual dinner at Harry's. We couldn't help but notice the new KA-POW! painting in the dining room. It's funny because when Michelle saw the KA-POW! painting, she thought that she had already seen a photo of Lesley and me next to it. She hadn't, but she was wise to recognize that this painting was begging for a photo of Lesley and me next to it.

Why I love "Runner's World"

2009-03-29T16:28:00.002-05:00

I love "Runner's World" magazine because they consistently feature hot guys on the cover, as you can see above. I'm particularly taken with Dante Spencer, a 32 year-old runner from Los Angeles who graced the March 2009 issue. Woof! He is so freaking hot. If I lived in Los Angles, I'd do everything in my power to run into Dante. My only quarrel with the people at Rodale Press who publish "Runner's World" is that they make these guys shave their chest hair, and sometimes leg hair, for the photo shoot. Why? Looking at Dante's face, eyebrows, legs, and arms, you can tell that he would have a hairy chest. So why did the people at Rodale make him shave it? Yes, it's sexy in the photo, but it would be even hotter if he had stayed away from the razor. The same is true for the guy from the April 2009 inside cover. I can't locate his name because I already gave this issue away to a friend, but I think that his last name is Hounslow, he's 26, and he's from England. Again, you can see from his arms, head, and eyebrows that he would have a nice hairy chest if the folks at Rodale didn't make him shave it.

So people at Rodale and "Runner's World," keep the hot runners coming on your covers, but throw those razors away!

mint brownies

2009-03-29T16:25:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I went for a long weekend visit to see Bill and Mary Ellen, my uncle and aunt who live in Ponte Vedra Beach, near Jacksonville. I forgot my camera, and the only photo I got was from my phone of Mary Ellen with her homemade mint brownies. She gave me the recipe, and I've made them twice already here in Milwaukee. I shared them with her son and my cousin, Andy, and his girlfriend Lindsay.

Ruben and Mark

2009-03-29T16:08:00.002-05:00

Ruben, Mark, and I have an annual tradition of not watching the Super Bowl and instead watching something really gay. It started in 2006 when we watched "Absolutely Fabulous" episodes. Ruben and Mark love that show; I don't care for it. In 2007 we all enjoyed a screening of "9 to 5" starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin. In 2008 we watched "Die Mommie Die" and "Psycho Beach Party," the Charles Busch camp classics. How could we get more gay than that? Well, Ruben accepted the challenge this year and outdid himself. We watched the DVD of "Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall," Rufus Wainwright's tribute to Judy Garland's legendary concert at Carnegie Hall on April 23, 1961. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed Rufus's tribute, largely because it was a genuine homage to Judy Garland and not pure camp. True, there were some campy elements, but it was the real deal. Not that I have anything against camp, but you don't mess with Judy or the great American songbook. I just love the songs from Judy and Rufus's Carnegie Hall shows. Amazing. They don't write songs like that anymore. How can you not love "Stormy Weather," "The Man That Got Away," "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart," "San Francisco," and all the others?

I'm not sure what we'll do in 2010, but we'd better start formulating a plan now, because I'm not sure what can be more gay than Rufus Wainwright doing Judy Garland's Carnegie Hall concert.

karaoke wrap-up

2009-03-29T16:06:00.001-05:00

The highlight of the evening was Lesley singing some rap song that I had never heard of, but is evidently pretty popular. It had tons of lyrics, and she knew all of them. Plus it had the f word at least 50 times. Wish I could remember the name of the song, but take my word for it, Lesley did an amazing job performing it.

Photos of me singing "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6

2009-03-29T16:02:00.003-05:00

Evidence that I (a) have no shame, (b) don't really give a f*ck about embarrassing myself, and (c) I love the song "Nasty Girl" by Vanity 6.

Me performing Vanity 6's "Nasty Girl"

2009-03-29T16:00:00.001-05:00

My homage to Vanity.

Me singing "We Belong," the Pat Benetar classic

2009-03-29T15:58:00.002-05:00

With my trusty backup singers. With apologies to Pat Benetar.

Lesley sings "Papa Can You Hear Me?" from "Yentl"

2009-03-29T15:57:00.002-05:00

Great job, Honey! I know it's an autobiographical song for you.

Nate sings "Too Much Passion" by The Smithereens

2009-03-29T15:55:00.001-05:00

Good job, Nate!

Nate sings "My Baby Just Cares For Me" while Lesley dances

2009-03-29T15:54:00.000-05:00

more karaoke

2009-03-29T15:34:00.002-05:00

We do realize that it's not really intresting or fun for anyone but us, but we had a great time. I'm trying to remember some of the highlights. Lesley and I sang "Sunrise, Sunset" because we know that we aren't allowed to sing it at Barbie's wedding. I sang "You Needed Me" by Anne Murray and "Bigmouth Strikes Again" by The Smiths. Lesley did some fairly obscure songs from "Annie" and "A Chorus Line." Help me out, guys - what else did we sing?

4 hours of karaoke

2009-03-29T15:32:00.003-05:00

Yes, the three of us sang karaoke for four hours. And I feel no shame in that. It was a super fun fantastic night.

almost ready for karaoke

2009-03-29T15:29:00.002-05:00

I'm not exactly sure what "Mousse Fantasy" is, but perhaps a hair salon? On the way in to karaoke.

Japanese grocery store

2009-03-29T15:23:00.002-05:00

The karaoke place we went is next door to a Japanese grocery store. They don't sell alcohol in the karaoke place, but they don't mind if you bring your own in. So we stopped at the Japanese grocery store and stocked up on some Japanese beer as well as way too much Japanese candy. Here's a few shots of us clowning around in the store.

oh, here is that waiter

2009-03-29T15:19:00.002-05:00

Here's that waiter from the Japanese-French fusion restaurant.

walking from dinner to karaoke

2009-03-29T15:13:00.000-05:00

I love these candid shots of Lesley and Nate walking from dinner to the Japanese grocery store.