Holy Crap.
Mitch O'Connell: Raquel Welch: Space-Girl Dance: Why the '70's were amazing!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
9/11
I have avoided the TV stories and news coverage about 9/11 again, as I do every year. It's willful avoidance rooted in my disgust at the media capitalizing on the horror and anguish of that day.
I know very well what happened on that day. I lived 30 miles from Manhattan, and a colleague from my site was killed on United flight 93. Another colleague from my (then) company was never found but believed killed at the WTC. My friend Rob lost two colleagues who died attempting to save lives in the Marriott hotel at the WTC site. The images of people leaping or blown out of the towers, plummeting to certain death... many times holding hands... are ones that will haunt me for the rest of my life. In my heart, I will never, ever forget who was responsible and in whose name they overtly carried out these acts.
At the time, I was in the midst of buying my first home. On the day we made the offer on the home, we marveled at the view of the towers from our street. When we closed on our home a few weeks later, the towers had been destroyed.
Ten years later I no longer trust the government narrative of what occurred. The twin towers to me are clear. I saw the second plane strike live on TV that warm, dry, sunny morning while at work in New Jersey. I no longer believe the official explanations for what happened at the Pentagon, nor at Seven World Trade Center. Rather than engaging in a lecture here, I rather encourage you to google and educate yourself on the alternative theories about what happened in both of these cases.
Rugby players, especially gay rugby players, also remember Mark Bingham for his heroism on 9/11. Bingham was a founding member of the San Francisco Fog Rugby club, and former champion player at Cal. Mark Bingham is believed to be one of the passengers who stormed the cockpit on United flight 93. NBC ran a wonderful video tribute during the halftime program on today's World Cup broadcast. My Partner was featured speaking with Alice Hoglan, Mark Bingham's mother; the footage came from a documentary about Bingham's life entitled "With You". The Bingham Cup is the premier tournament in gay rugby and is named in honor of Mark Bingham. I hope to play in my second Bingham Cup next year in Manchester, England.
At the time, I was in the midst of buying my first home. On the day we made the offer on the home, we marveled at the view of the towers from our street. When we closed on our home a few weeks later, the towers had been destroyed.
Ten years later I no longer trust the government narrative of what occurred. The twin towers to me are clear. I saw the second plane strike live on TV that warm, dry, sunny morning while at work in New Jersey. I no longer believe the official explanations for what happened at the Pentagon, nor at Seven World Trade Center. Rather than engaging in a lecture here, I rather encourage you to google and educate yourself on the alternative theories about what happened in both of these cases.
Rugby players, especially gay rugby players, also remember Mark Bingham for his heroism on 9/11. Bingham was a founding member of the San Francisco Fog Rugby club, and former champion player at Cal. Mark Bingham is believed to be one of the passengers who stormed the cockpit on United flight 93. NBC ran a wonderful video tribute during the halftime program on today's World Cup broadcast. My Partner was featured speaking with Alice Hoglan, Mark Bingham's mother; the footage came from a documentary about Bingham's life entitled "With You". The Bingham Cup is the premier tournament in gay rugby and is named in honor of Mark Bingham. I hope to play in my second Bingham Cup next year in Manchester, England.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Rugby Champion Ben Cohen to Participate in Dallas Pride Weekend
This is amazingly great news. Please join us in welcoming England World Rugby Cup champion Ben Cohen MBE to Dallas! Ben's Stand Up Foundation is dedicated to fighting youth bullying worldwide.
The Dallas Diablos RFC will be hosting Ben at Lake Highlands Park (Lake Highlands Dr & Buckner Blvd) on Saturday, Sep 17th from 11am-4pm. Ben will also be at several events around DFW speaking out as a straight ally of LGBT youth fighting against bullying and homophobia in sports. He will also be an Honorary Grand Marshal at this year’s Pride Parade and Celebration.
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| Ben Cohen |
The Dallas Diablos RFC will be hosting Ben at Lake Highlands Park (Lake Highlands Dr & Buckner Blvd) on Saturday, Sep 17th from 11am-4pm. Ben will also be at several events around DFW speaking out as a straight ally of LGBT youth fighting against bullying and homophobia in sports. He will also be an Honorary Grand Marshal at this year’s Pride Parade and Celebration.
Obama Says He Is "Proud" Of Hoffa After Union Leader's Remarks
Obama Says He Is "Proud" Of Hoffa After Union Leader's Remarks
For a president who called for a new era of civility, to praise Teamster president Jimmy Hoffa Jr. after his remarks about "taking these sons of bitches out" is the most cynical, disgusting kind of political pandering. The Teamsters have for decades embodied the dregs of union corruption, fat cat-ism and cronyism. That's not just my opinion, it's easy to research and see for yourself. But Obama is "proud" of him. Perhaps the same sort of pride as he felt in his anti-American and anti-Semitic pastor of twenty years, Jeremiah Wright?
As of 2010, union employees accounted for fewer than 12% of the American work force, continuing a steady decline of union prestige, influence and power that has been underway for at least 30 years. Among other reasons, that's because private sector workers in particular don't want anything to do with unions and their rampant corruption. Interestingly, that's about the same length of decline of prestige, influence and power among American liberals.
Maybe now those same private sector workers (including the silent but real minority of union members who despise their unions) will decide they don't want anything to do with this failed president and his cynical pandering to unions. This guy is providing so much easy fodder for his opponents, it's their game to lose in 2012.
For a president who called for a new era of civility, to praise Teamster president Jimmy Hoffa Jr. after his remarks about "taking these sons of bitches out" is the most cynical, disgusting kind of political pandering. The Teamsters have for decades embodied the dregs of union corruption, fat cat-ism and cronyism. That's not just my opinion, it's easy to research and see for yourself. But Obama is "proud" of him. Perhaps the same sort of pride as he felt in his anti-American and anti-Semitic pastor of twenty years, Jeremiah Wright?
As of 2010, union employees accounted for fewer than 12% of the American work force, continuing a steady decline of union prestige, influence and power that has been underway for at least 30 years. Among other reasons, that's because private sector workers in particular don't want anything to do with unions and their rampant corruption. Interestingly, that's about the same length of decline of prestige, influence and power among American liberals.
Maybe now those same private sector workers (including the silent but real minority of union members who despise their unions) will decide they don't want anything to do with this failed president and his cynical pandering to unions. This guy is providing so much easy fodder for his opponents, it's their game to lose in 2012.
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