Deep Something

A Favorite Tales of The City Book-The Days of Anna Madrigal

January 5, 2014January 5, 2014 B. John 315 Views 1 Comment 28 Barbary Lane, Anna Madrigal, Armistead Maupin, San Francisco, Tales of the City

Without any doubt, my favorite series of books is the “Tales of The City” series written by Armistead Maupin, and there’s about to be a new and final book, The Days of Anna Madrigal. Tales of the City is a series of novels, the first portions of which were published initially as a newspaper serial starting on August 8, 1974, in a Marin County newspaper, The Pacific Sun, picked up in 1976 by the San Francisco Chronicle, and later reworked into the series of books published by HarperCollins.

Congress Featured Politics Society

Who’s Really Entitled

October 30, 2013 B. John 356 Views 0 Comments Entitlements, medicaid, Safety Net, Social Security

The topic of the cognitive dissonance amongst far-right conservatives has been on my mind a lot lately, and was brought to a head a week or so ago in a discussion on Facebook with someone I went to high school with all those many years ago. The point of view of the tea-baggers seems to be that they are entitled to government benefits, but everyone else who ever gets help is a freeloader (a taker).

Culture Entertainment Featured Fun Stuff Southern Travel

Decadence New Orleans 2013

September 4, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 274 Views 0 Comments Bourbon Street, Convergance, Decadence, new orleans

This past weekend we were in New Orleans for Decadence. It was fun, but it is the kind of thing I wouldn’t be excited about doing again. It was hot and humid (as you’d expect for late August in New Orleans). The bars are mostly in the French Quarter, and relatively small, so they were all packed. This meant that you mostly just hung out on the street, and waited in very long lines to get a drink.

Business Economy Featured Gay Issues Religion Right Wingnuts Society

Bryan Fischer Wrong Again On Oregon Baker

September 3, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 373 Views 0 Comments Bakery, Bryan Fischer, False Witness, liar, Lying, Matt Barber, Oregon, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Wedding Cake

The latest fabrication from the krazy kristian kooks is that a bakery in Oregon was “forced” to close because of gay marriage. If you read the stories cited by SPLC Designated Hate Group spokesperson, Brian Fischer, the bakery was forced out of business, and equally hateful and dishonest Matt Barber claims they were forced out of business by a “vicious boycott.”

Business Courts Economy Featured Gay Issues Politics Religion Right Wingnuts Society

Brian and Bryan Fail to Understand Constitution

August 23, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 455 Views 0 Comments AFA, Albuquerque, American Family Association, Brian Brown, Bryan Fischer, Elane Photography, hate group, National Organization for Marriage, New Mexico, Nom

Brian Brown of the anti-gay designated hate group National Organization for Marriage (NOM), and Bryan Fischer of the designated hate group American Family Association (AFA), both have their knickers in a twist over recent court ruling out of New Mexico. In this ruling, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled against a Albuquerque wedding photographer, Elane Photography who refused to work with a lesbian couple citing her deeply held religious beliefs.

Featured Gay Issues Methodism Religion Right Wingnuts Society

When A Methodist Pastor Withdraws the Welcome to Gays and Lesbians

August 5, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 1760 Views 4 Comments Administrative Council, Bill Josey, bishop, Bruce Toms, District Superintendent, Ken Carter, LGBT, Marty Peate, non-discrimination statement, Palma Ceia United Methodist, PCUMC, Rev. Dr. Walter E. Monroe, Statement of Welcome, The Discipline, The United Methodist Church

For over 10 years I’ve been a member of Palma Ceia United Methodist Church here in Tampa. In 2011, at the urging of a large group of members, the Administrative Council of the Church adopted a statement of welcome to all, which was to be placed on our website. Unfortunately, we were recently appointed a new pastor who’s animus towards gay people has caused to him to withdraw that welcome and remove the statement from all public display. In fact, he’s gone so far as to have our listing removed from a website that does nothing more than provide a geographic directory of gay-welcoming churches. He did it without any consultation with the Council, and has acted in some questionable ways.

Crime Featured Legislature Media Politics Society

The Zimmerman Trial

July 15, 2013July 29, 2013 B. John 350 Views 0 Comments court, florida, George Zimmerman, justice, Murder, Racism, Sanford, Trayvon Martin

I couldn’t let the George Zimmerman case go by without commenting. I think the main issues in the case are being overrun by our desire to make the main issue one of race. The case certainly has two points of race running through it, but the primary issues here are Florida’s draconian self-defense laws, and our concealed-carry law. Let’s get the racial issues out of the way first. I certainly believe race played a role in this case. Zimmerman clearly, based on the 911 call, profiled Trayvon Martin because he was a young black man, but that’s not the primary cause of this situation. Florida’s insane Republican Legislators have blood on their hands as well.

Business Economy Environment Featured Fun Stuff Science Travel Weather

United Airlines Epic Fail

June 2, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 814 Views 0 Comments Airport, Chicago, Customer Service, Fail, O"Hare, UAL, United Airlines

Last week I flew to Chicago to attend a professional conference. Due to delays caused by weather, it came out that, despite United being willing to give me $200 to take a flight the next morning if mine were overbooked, they wanted to charge me $75 to give up that same seat, but take an earlier flight that would have actually got me home on time.

Entertainment Featured Friends Fun Stuff

The Last Great Day

May 31, 2013November 2, 2022 B. John 301 Views 0 Comments carpe diem, college, Friendship, Great Days, high school, memories, NPR, Remembering

A brief portion of an NPR interview a couple of weeks ago set me off on a week of reflection and memories. Greta Gerwig said, “You don’t know when the last time of something happening is. You don’t know what the last great day you’ll spend with your best friend is. You’ll just know when you’ve never had that day again.” What are some of your last great days with friends?

Featured Gay Issues Legislature Politics Religion Right Wingnuts Society

Family Group Hates Anti-Bullying Campaigns

May 1, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 259 Views 0 Comments Anti-Gay, Bully, Bullying, GLAADCAP, hate, IFI, Illinois Family Institute, Laurie Higgins

Bob Kellogg, a reported for the SPLC designated hate group, American Family Association, has published an article about Laurie Higgins campaign against GLSEN’s anti-bullying campaign. Every expert says that to have an impact, these initiatives have to name the kinds bullying one wants to stop, but God’s gentle person, Laurie, doesn’t want LGBT students mentioned as targets. I can only assume that means, since she has no training or expertise in the topic, that she wants to reserve the right to bully LGBT students.

Featured Gay Issues Politics Religion Right Wingnuts Society

NOW Raising Money on Already Lost Marriage Causes

May 1, 2013September 29, 2018 B. John 293 Views 0 Comments Brian Bown, Fundraising, Gay Marriage, Nom

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), and their President, Brian Brown, just have not had a good year. Back in November they lost most of their anti-equality marriage amendments. Recently, several States have adopted equal marriage laws, and there are two cases before the Supreme Court related to gay marriage. If you’re Brian Brown and NOM, you squeeze your supporters even more.