Amidst Despair: Inspiration

Thanks to my friends who've encouraged me to be patient. That inspiration and passion for my blog will return. At least for today, it has.

In the face of every shared experience we've endured as a nation over the past decade, we dare not imagine our country facing the level of devastation witnessed in Haiti. Individually and collaboratively, we reach out to help a nation in despair.

Regardless of social, economic, political or spiritual differences, I hope we can rally as one behind the efforts of the current administration. To give every muscle, every hand, every mind, and every dime we can spare. Of particular note, thanks to the 4,000+ registered nurses taking unpaid leave to travel and volunteer for the relief in Haiti.

Every bead of sweat has impact far beyond Haiti's borders. It is this nature of our common humanity that speaks loudest, to those in the furthest of quarters. Each dollar spent there speaks tenfold, that of one spent in Afghanistan. It speaks about what we value most as a people, as a nation, as an idea.

Taking this moment to turn from our own problems and unite, might give recent wounds to our pride some time and space to heal. And perhaps, close some of the divisiveness we've created amongst ourselves.

Amidst despair, today we look appropriately for inspiration, to someone who was more than a great preacher or a great activist, but a great philosopher. The Quote of the Day:

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift, is approaching spiritual doom." ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Holiday Greetings from The Golden Gate

It's been awhile since I posted anything here. I've been taking a small break from the internet. Sometimes I feel caught up in the impersonal connections that we've become accustomed to on the internet. I like to disconnect, and introspect, for awhile.

Tomorrow, I'll be traveling to Oklahoma to be with my family for Christmas. As much as I love San Francisco during the holidays, Christmas-Time is about family, and that is where I belong. Before I go, I thought I'd share some of my adopted hometown's holiday spirit with my limited, but much appreciated audience. Enjoy...and Merry Everything!

This beautiful song is called "Christmas by the Bay" by Tim Hockenberry. The link on the song title is to the album on Amazon. This video has some beautiful photography to accompany the song. (3:44)

Quote of the Day: Muhammad Ali

"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20, has wasted 30 years of his life." ~Muhhamad Ali

Happy Birthday to Bette Midler, The Divine Miss M

If you ever start feeling old, just play this clip of 'The Divine Miss M', Bette Midler. Filmed about a year ago, Bette was 63 years old in this performance. Today, she turns 64. You look fabulous Bette...and we will still need ya...and we will still feed ya...when you're sixty-five! Be sure you watch the very end of the clip.


Bette Midler's early career started out playing the bathhouses of New York City. In an interview years later, she was asked about the friends she made while living there. She replied: "They're dead...they are all dead. I never knew I'd be on such intimate terms with death at such an early age." It's ironic, but somehow befitting that Miss Midler shares her birthday with World AIDS Day. The following clip is from an AIDS benefit in approximately 1994. She sings two of her standards. Very moving. Happy Birthday Bette...and many more.

World AIDS Day: Honoring Pioneers

Typically when we think of AIDS activists, or symbols of the Anti-AIDS movement, Elizabeth Taylor, Elton John and Bill Clinton come to mind. This article takes a moment to honor just three of the less-known, less-celebrated pioneers in the movement, before AIDS activism was fashionable.

Louise Hay: Over three million copies of her book "You Can Heal Your Life", have sold worldwide. But it was in 1985, before supporting AIDS causes was popular, that Louise began a support group known as "The Hayride" with six men diagnosed with AIDS. By 1988, the weekly meeting drew a crowd of 800 people, and had to be moved to an auditorium in Santa Monica. During that time, she wrote "The AIDS Book: Creating a Positive Approach".

Louise went on to establish two nonprofit organizations, The Hay Foundation, and The Louis L. Hay Charitable Fund. Both charities support many diverse organizations, including those dealing with AIDS. Ms. Hay was considered highly controversial at the time she began working with AIDS patients, as were many who fought this highly politicized disease. Hats off to Louise.

Nkosi Johnson: When Nkosi died at the age of twelve, at the time he was the longest-surviving HIV positive child. Born with HIV, he first became widely known in 1997, when a primary school near Johannesburg refused to accept him as a student because of his status.

During his struggle, Nkosi was eventually credited for his huge impact on public perceptions of AIDS/HIV in South Africa. Before his death, he was the keynote speaker at the 13th International AIDS Conference. Nelson Mandela referred to Nkosi as an "icon for the struggle of life". Rest in peace, Nkosi.

Judith Light: Among all of the celebrity activists now out there fighting AIDS, one in particular stands out. Judith Light was not only there in the early days of HIV/AIDS, but has been a long-time supporter of equal rights for gays and lesbians. When asked about her passion for AIDS causes she replied: "I'm losing my friends. There's a very real epidemic out there that is preventable and I will not sit by passively and watch my friends die."

Judith's impressive resume includes work with the following causes: The Names Project, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Heart Strings, Northern Lights Alternatives, AmFAR, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Project Angel Food, Hollywood Supports, Shanti, and more. She has received numerous awards for her longstanding and devoted commitment to ending this disease. We love you Judith. Keep up the fight.

Quote of the Day: Eskimo Proverb

"Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."

~Eskimo Proverb

Clip of the Day: Judith Light PSA

Why does Judith Light care about AIDS? Watch and find out:


Here is another great PSA I found on YouTube...chilling:


And finally, this shocking but important PSA from MTV:

News: Uganda's Nazi-Esque Anti-Homosexual Bill

A recently proposed bill in the Ugandan Parliament provides for the following penalties:

1. Alleged homosexuals face life imprisonment or death.
2. Parents failing to denounce a homosexual child, face $2,650 fine, or three years in prison.
3. Teachers failing to report homosexual students, face $2,650 fine, or three years in prison.
4. Landlords suspected of giving housing to a homosexual face seven years in prison.

Just how close to Nazism do these acts have to be, before the international community stands up and protests in disgust? For more on this story, and how you can help, visit The International Humanist and Ethical Union.

Quote of the Day: Vincent Lombardi

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.
~Vincent Lombardi

$weeps Issue #5: New York Trip - $30,000 Cash!

Here are four new listings of my sweepstakes/contest referalls. For the whole story, and useful information, read $weeps Issue #1: Introduction before jumping into this. You can find all the sweepstakes articles under the label $weeps.

First Up: Project Runway Fashion Week Trip
Project Runway and Lifetime television are giving away a trip for two to attend the Bryant Park fashion week in New York City. Includes round-trip airfare, two nights hotel stay, tickets to the Project Runway finale at Fashion Week, and $5,000 cash. Total value of prize is approximately $11,000. You are allowed to enter once each day, per person. (Promotion ends 1/4/2010.) Average WOT* Rating: 88.3

Second Up: Taste of Home $30,000 Dream Kitchen
TasteOfHome.com (a subsidiary of Reader's Digest), is giving away a "Dream Kitchen" valued at $30,000. The actual prize will be a check in the amount of $30,000, so you don't have to buy a kitchen if you'd rather have car or something! You are allowed one entry per day, and the promotion ends on 2/16/2010. Average WOT* Rating: 88.8

Third Up: Better Homes & Gardens $2,500 Get Cozy Sweeps
The Find-A-Pro division of Better Homes & Gardens, is having a drawing for your home improvement project. The prize is a check for $2,500. You are allowed one entry per day, per person. Deadline for this drawing is 12/31/2009. One entry daily allowed. Average WOT* Rating: 89.5

And Finally: $600 Shopping Spree at T.J. Maxx
Woman's Day magazine and T.J. Maxx are teaming up for this promotional giveaway. One winner will receive a $600 gift card, good at any T.J. Maxx store. One entry per day, per person is allowed. Deadline for this drawing is 12/20/2009. Average WOT* Rating: 85.0

*WOT: WebOfTrust rates websites on their trustworthiness.

Clip of the Day: Protect Insurance Companies PSA

This great little clip is from Funny or Die, and has received their "Chosen One" designation with 2.8 million views to date. (2:20)

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

And I Thought I Could Write

After reading back over what I wrote this morning, I couldn't believe how poorly constructed my thoughts were. I was still half-asleep when I wrote it. Nevertheless, my point came through.

To leave you with a final thought on Thanksgiving Day:

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true meaning of our thanksgiving." ~W.T. Purkiser

Here's to using my editing abilities better next time...LOL.

Giving Thanks: Deliberation & Forethought

On this day, I am most thankful for my dear friends and family. They are the foundation upon which I build my life and experiences. I am thankful for courageous leaders in the struggle for equal rights; for the fallen angels who led the early struggle with AIDS/HIV, and for the heroes among us who continue their fight.

Also, I've noticed much press lately, (really "talking heads'", not real journalists), considers President Obama slipshod, with no clear plan of action. They consider his deliberate and steady hand a "lack of decisiveness" on the war in Afghanistan. Frankly, I don't think he's exhibiting indecisive behavior at all.

Conversly, I believe he has been, and continues to be, decisive about his intent to remain informed, deliberate, and bring serious forethought to the impact of his actions. Past attempts to approach these decisions without the type of scrutiny he is giving them, have cost the U.S. untold blood and treasure...in Afghanistan and elsewhere. "What are your thoughts?"

So my thanks to Obamas; "Don't Listen to the Barbarians at the Gate". Review, deliberate, and push everyone to think out of the box, until you have a plan that will most efficiently invest what remaining blood and treasure we have for this endeavor. God speed to you, your advisors, and the soldiers on the ground who will carry out your orders.

These "talking heads" obviously don't care that the majority of our allies see Obama's caution and deliberation with great pride and admiration. So do I. Even one less dead soldier, will be worth Obama's time investment. It takes courage to drown out the barbarians at the gate, while you devise a way to save their homes and country. Happy Thanksgiving to the First Family. Our prayers are with you.

Clip of the Day: WKRP's Turkey Drop

Favorite Sitcom Moments: The Turkey Drop, WKRP in Cincinnati (6:44)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

"As God is my witness...I thought Turkeys could fly."

Adam Lambert: Double Standard for Gay Men?

If you saw the American Music Awards, you most likely saw the controversial performance by Adam Lambert. While Lambert admits the performance got a bit more sexual than he intended, he points out that it was nearly 11pm by the time he took the stage. He emphasized that "family hour" was over at that time, and suggested that parents should Tivo such programs before allowing their children to view them. Active parenting, a radical concept.

An interview with Lambert slated on ABC's Good Morning America was canceled. CBS's Early Show picked up the ball, and invited Lambert. In the promotional tape prior to the show, CBS showed a photo from the 2003 MTV Music Awards, with Madonna kissing Britney Spears. During the interview, a photo of Lambert's performance was shown, but with the controversial kiss pixelated. Lambert contends a double-standard exists for media tolerance of gay men. That it's somehow acceptable to view two women kissing, but unacceptable to see two men doing the same. CBS's actions seemed to support his contention.

For more, see Ed Kennedy's blog on AfterElton.com