MikeSpeaksOut!

A Week of Intrigue!

At the urging of a friend who shall go nameless (Sharon), I am posting to my blog.  It seems that FaceBook (according to my friends) has turned into an obsession for me.  BTW....If you are on FaceBook...look me up.  It's off the chain.  AND LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY FACEBOOK EXEPRIENCE....First, I have truly been against getting a FB (that's what we call it) account.  But, at the urging of a wise man, I decided to jump in.  It seems that .....EVERYONE IS DOING IT!  Through FB, I have met friends that I have lost, been invited to events (I may even go to Christmas services at a church for which a former high school friend is Pastor).  I got invited to go see the movie "Milk" (see below).  I love looking at the photos -- and have even started sharing some photos.  Compass (see below) also has a page -- you can see our photos ... COOL.  NOW...I know what you are saying.....ADDICTION!  NO...NO ADDICTION!  Just because I spent days trying to figure out how to get the FB app to work on my iPhone...and even woke up in the middle of the night when the answer came to me in my sleep (the password was too long -- you can't have long passwords if you want your iPhone app to work)  Just because I was almost late to work the other day when I was trying to post photos on FB -- that was coincidence!

I am in AWE of the audacity of some people.  No, I am not the only person to write about this man.  BUT Mr. Madoff and his story have been nothing short of INCREDIBLE.  It is hard to believe that one man can literally take down THOUSANDS of people, destroy their financial futures, ruin foundations that support children and schools in need.....and really portray him self as an innocent person.  Locally, the local community is devastated.  The Picower Foundation, a huge supporter of schools and medical research will close its doors!  Eilie Weisel, famous holocaust survivor and novelist (Night, Dawn, etc.) also was deceived!  Shame on your Mr. Madoff!  May you rot in hell.....in a foreign country with a lack of air conditioning and clean water in their jails.

I was invited (through FaceBook) to go see the new movie, "Milk".  YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE!  I am NOT a huge Sean Penn fan.  But, honestly, if he doesn't win an Academy Award...he will have been robbed.  I knew the ending (read Milk's bio).  I still wept at the end.  The movie is true to the story -- showing the good parts and the bad parts.  Many famous people worked with and for Milk.  Including the founder of the NAMES Project (AIDS Quilt).....Oh....and the cool part is that there are a lot of other really good actors in it -- including James Broland and that kid from High School Musical (Sharpay's Brother).......COOL.

IN OTHER NEWS.....Jen bought me some really cool VINTAGE LGBT Pins (the pins aren't gay...they just ...well, you get it).  My favorite is one that has the pink triangle with the words of Pastor Martin Niemoller's Poem that starts...."First they came for the socialists......."  (See the link)

COMPASS' New Facility is going to be AWESOME!  i posted pics on FB........Can't wait...can't wait....can't wait!  OH....follow the link ... you can purchase items that will be used to furnish our new center!  SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT....Or for that matter, your "not so local" not-for-profit.

So there you go, Sharon......a POST.

In Memorium, Heath Ledger / Fred Phelps -- ASSHole 2K8!

While initially I had absolutely no intention of posting on this topic -- yes, I was sad that Heath Ledger had passed...nonetheless...it really wasn't a "bloggable" issue for me. I have only viewed a few of his movies -- you probably can guess witch. However...I have to talk about two really weird issues. I have an obsession. I read several websites (in order) each day. They are: The Palm Beach Post, The Sun-Sentinel, People Magazine, TMZ.com and Perezhilton.com. I lead a simple life...I admit it. Well, yesterday -- prior to his death -- People featured Heath Ledger in their "famous persons section". Interested, I read his bio, saw pics, etc. Not to talk ill of the dead ... but he wasn't on my "OH MY GOD HE IS HOT!! List"...but he was sort of interesting.

I get home and find out he is dead! Weird! Like many other Americans, I have been following the saga...."Was it drugs? Did he overdose? Was he depressed? Oh my god...What about his kid!". So....I have just finished my "end-of-the-day" ritual...checking my sites for one last time...and I read on Perezhilton.com that that ASSHOLE of the Year...Fred Phelps....is going to PROTEST AT LEDGER'S FUNERAL! What a dickhead! Read this document.... "
Download fred_phelps_heath_ledger.pdf You know...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! I have previously written about Mr. Phelps (and I use the term of courtesy as I choke on my own taste of vomit).....He has protested funerals of veterans....he really is a nut job! Let's hope we find him in a hotel room face down and naked unable to be revived this year!

I'm Baaack....Stephen Baldwin Rot In Hell!

First, my apologies for being away...ACTUALLY...I HAVE NO APOLOGIES! TypePad has been major drama with me for several months.....my billing got screwed up, my account was suspended, etc. etc. Every time I wanted to post -- no go! Work on this dissertation..I haven't had time to clear up everything.

NOW.....On to that ASS Stephen Baldwin...the actor and Born Again Christian....Stephen Baldwin. I used to like him. REMEMBER...the same guy who did that movie...Threesome. Well, it seems, according to Andy and Towleroad (and a broadcast he did on Howard Stern), that he hates the homos! I spit on you Stephen Baldwin.

Here's a link to the Towelroad Blog....Andy Baldwin...The Ass (My Words)

Better yet, here's the trailer for the movie: Threesome Trailer

Check out the movies he's made..which includes that (take the moral high ground) blockbuster Half Baked....Stephen Baldwin IMDB Profile

Rot in Hell Stephen Baldwin!

Stand By Your Man!

No words ring more true :)

"Must See" Movie!

Several people think that I have been "too serious" lately. Sooooooo....I figured I would write about a funny movie I saw the other day. OVER THE HEDGE is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a long time! I love animated movies anyways....but I laughed so hard watching this movie! I found myself rewinding funny scenes. GO OUT AND BUY IT NOW!

Lane Garrison PSA

Regardless of how you feel about Lane, I was impressed by this video. Maybe it will save some lives. Lane is going to court today to hear his sentence.

NOTE: The original video has some extra dialogue in it. You can hear a girl screaming in the background after the accident "My boyfriend is dead...my boyfriend is dead". It was very creepy...but effective.

The Dance....

I had to go with my parents today to the hospital to speak about the possibility of removing my (38 year old) brother from oxygen. We decided to do dialysis and see what happens. My brother and I don't have a close relationship at all. I tried today to remember a time when we had good times. I remember as a little kid (he's my step-brother -- our parents married when I was 4) I remember out times riding down "Toad Mountain" (a big hill of dirt that was dredged from a canal near our hose. I remember racing bikes -- and a game of "chicken" that left me with a bust blood vessel in my foot (and a pissed off mom). I remember him protecting me from Terry Lissi -- that was wierd. I remember our getting into a fight in Marine Biology class....we were in the same class together all year (we have different last names)....I remember Mr. Gregory's horror when I threw him over a lab table and threatened to kill him....and then saying "You wait till I tell mom!"

My brother has made poor choices. HELL...I have made really crappy choices. I was stupid as recent as last night. I guess in the end, life is "A Dance".

I just finished watching the new Garth Brooks DVD collection. This song sort of sums up my past few weeks...

Today I saw my dad cry for the second time in my life...He and Dean have a strained relationship as well. He wanted me to go along so that I could be "supportive" of my "mom's decision". She put me on the phone with the nephrologist (kidney Dr.). She said to her, "I want you to tell my son what you just told me. I need him to understand it so that he can explain it to others." I guess in the end, my mom does respect me.....I guess in the end, life IS a dance.

Dean remains in ICU....only time will tell.

Congratulations Mr. President!

While George W. Bush, the appointed President, will probably ask the Supreme Court to intervene and declare the Academy Awards to be invalid, as of this moment, President Al Gore has won an Oscar for his documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. 

It is surprising to me .... well, not really ... that this current regime administration still refuses to admit that we have a global issue with global warming.  It's almost a "Hogan's Heroes" approach....."I see nothing....I see nothing!!!"

Well, last night MY President won an Academy Award. It was glad to see that a movie of substance and quality was recognized.  Regardless of what individuals think of Mr. Gore -- some say he is too soft spoken, some say he doesn't have the "fight in him", etc.  I dont' care.  He is a gentleman and a scholar....NO....REALLY..He is a scholar.

Many have downplayed how intelligent this man IS. 

I was proud to have elected him President.  I admire his dedication to the environment, he unwillingness to "Go gently into that dark night"....and....in the end, the man that he is.  Integrity and Intelligence is hard to find in tandem.  Too bad he was robbed of his Presidency.

See also the movie website

You can also get the book, "An Inconvenient Truth" at many Target Stores around the nation.

When Harry Found Hotness!

You know, I make no bones about the fact that I believe that the Harry Potter  books are the one of the best series of books ever written! For me, the writing of JK Rowling is perfect.  She has truly captured the imagination of children of all ages.  The cast has done a great job at bringing the books to life!  I remember telling my students the other day that when I saw the first Harry Potter movie (which was after I had read the first three books) I was truly amazed at how well the characters fit the descriptions given in the book.  IT WAS AMAZING!  Daniel Radcliffe did an outstanding job at truly capturing "everything Harry". 

It seems that we have all seen the characters grow -- both in their parts...and as individuals!  As they age, I hope that they can "hold on" long enough to finish the series.  Some are venturing out to start some project in between filmings.  None has done more of a 360 from their HP roll than Daniel......He is staring in Equus in London's West End.  It's a true .... well....you see.

Ummm....a 24 pack?  The directors of the stage show stated that they were "amazed" at how quickly Daniel transformed his body......I want his secrets.  I love my Harry Potter.....but....Daniel will do just fine!  Yee haw!  I am getting a horse!

A Must See

Someone decided that they were going to take a picture of themselves EVERY DAY for SIX YEARS.....My friend Dean at PeachCobbler.org brought me this one.....It's neato Pete-O.

Watch it here.