Thursday, December 25, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Long-Suppressed Gay Star Trek Episode Comes Out
I have only seen a handful of Star Trek episodes (counting all of the different series). But I still thought this article was interesting.
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David Gerrold, famous for writing the "Trouble with Tribbles" Star Trek episode, also wrote an episode that included gay characters - but it was shot down by Paramount. Now you can watch it online.
To make the episode, Gerrold teamed up with the fan crew behind Star Trek: Phase II, a web series that's intended to be the fourth season of the original series. He dusted off his gay-themed script, called "Blood and Fire," and also directed it. Originally, "Blood and Fire" was written for Star Trek: TNG, and approved by series creator Gene Roddenberry, but executives at the network balked. Gerrold says they told him they were worried they'd lose their advertisers because "mommies" would call in to complain that they'd seen gay people on Star Trek.
For the webisode, Gerrold re-wrote the script to bring it up to date with issues like gay marriage, and also to make the characters more openly gay. In the original, they were portrayed as friends - the only hint that they were gay was one character asking them how long they'd been together. In the new version, as you can see in the clip here, there's no question that they're lovers.
The episode is about the Enterprise responding to a distress call, and dealing with scary "bloodworms." It introduces a new character, Peter Kirk, the gay nephew of the captain.
According to AfterElton's Brent Hartinger, who has seen the full episode:
There’s tension between Peter and his famous uncle, who is determined to keep him out of harm’s way, even if it means treating him differently than the other crewmembers. Eventually, Peter reveals the real reason he requested a stint on the Enterprise: to be near his boyfriend, Alex Freeman (Evan Fowler). When the couple make plans to marry, Kirk agrees to officiate, but only “after the away mission” — which may or may not bode well for the future of this relationship . . . The portrayal of Peter and Alex's romantic relationship is treated no differently than any of the dozens of heterosexual relationships the various Star Trek incarnations have included over the decades. Indeed, the storyline is incorporated so naturally as to make the “official” Trek's inexcusable lack of gay characters even more obvious.
The first half of "Blood and Fire" goes online this Saturday on the Star Trek: Phase II website. The second half airs in February.
You can see more images and a longer clip at AfterElton.
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This entire article was copied from here.
My favorite posts in the comments section:
So, going where no man has gone before except for that one night at college?
The bottom guy's in red. I don't see them being together much longer.
-----------
David Gerrold, famous for writing the "Trouble with Tribbles" Star Trek episode, also wrote an episode that included gay characters - but it was shot down by Paramount. Now you can watch it online.
To make the episode, Gerrold teamed up with the fan crew behind Star Trek: Phase II, a web series that's intended to be the fourth season of the original series. He dusted off his gay-themed script, called "Blood and Fire," and also directed it. Originally, "Blood and Fire" was written for Star Trek: TNG, and approved by series creator Gene Roddenberry, but executives at the network balked. Gerrold says they told him they were worried they'd lose their advertisers because "mommies" would call in to complain that they'd seen gay people on Star Trek.
For the webisode, Gerrold re-wrote the script to bring it up to date with issues like gay marriage, and also to make the characters more openly gay. In the original, they were portrayed as friends - the only hint that they were gay was one character asking them how long they'd been together. In the new version, as you can see in the clip here, there's no question that they're lovers.
The episode is about the Enterprise responding to a distress call, and dealing with scary "bloodworms." It introduces a new character, Peter Kirk, the gay nephew of the captain.
According to AfterElton's Brent Hartinger, who has seen the full episode:
There’s tension between Peter and his famous uncle, who is determined to keep him out of harm’s way, even if it means treating him differently than the other crewmembers. Eventually, Peter reveals the real reason he requested a stint on the Enterprise: to be near his boyfriend, Alex Freeman (Evan Fowler). When the couple make plans to marry, Kirk agrees to officiate, but only “after the away mission” — which may or may not bode well for the future of this relationship . . . The portrayal of Peter and Alex's romantic relationship is treated no differently than any of the dozens of heterosexual relationships the various Star Trek incarnations have included over the decades. Indeed, the storyline is incorporated so naturally as to make the “official” Trek's inexcusable lack of gay characters even more obvious.
The first half of "Blood and Fire" goes online this Saturday on the Star Trek: Phase II website. The second half airs in February.
You can see more images and a longer clip at AfterElton.
----------
This entire article was copied from here.
My favorite posts in the comments section:
So, going where no man has gone before except for that one night at college?
The bottom guy's in red. I don't see them being together much longer.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Thanksgiving 2008 Quotes
I spent five days in Atlanta for Thanksgiving, driving there with my sister Christine and her girlfriend Karlie.
Carlos stayed in New Orleans. (Melissa and Steve were in town.)
Here’s a snapshot of my trip via quotes.
“Karlie says that nothing goes in the back seat except for her.” Christine (the spokesperson for their relationship) to Carlos and me as we smashed my luggage in the trunk, while observing Karlie lounging in the back seat.
“That’s nothing but static. Please turn that off.” Karlie, expressing her feelings about what I was listening to on the radio as I was driving us back to New Orleans.
“You’re welcome to ride with me, but I’m not riding with y’all ever again. Your car has too many rules.” A future quote, whenever Karlie and Christine ask me to ride with them ever again.
“Go away, okay?” Eden, my niece (my sister Claudia’s two and a half year old daughter), carefully explaining to me that she doesn’t want me to be around her. She usually takes about three days to warm up to me. Then she and I bond.
“They have to let me in. I’m a Gay Breeder.” My parents live in Faubourg Marigny, an area of New Orleans that has the largest gay population in the city. My mom loves to swim. The closest swimming pool is a health club two blocks away, usually overrun by nude gay men. That doesn’t bother my mom at all, but my dad figures that they (“The Gays”) will be uncomfortable with my mom being there. My mom responded that she would have to play The Gay Card: “….I must be: two of my three kids are gay.”
Best Quote Ever.
Carlos stayed in New Orleans. (Melissa and Steve were in town.)
Here’s a snapshot of my trip via quotes.
“Karlie says that nothing goes in the back seat except for her.” Christine (the spokesperson for their relationship) to Carlos and me as we smashed my luggage in the trunk, while observing Karlie lounging in the back seat.
“That’s nothing but static. Please turn that off.” Karlie, expressing her feelings about what I was listening to on the radio as I was driving us back to New Orleans.
“You’re welcome to ride with me, but I’m not riding with y’all ever again. Your car has too many rules.” A future quote, whenever Karlie and Christine ask me to ride with them ever again.
“Go away, okay?” Eden, my niece (my sister Claudia’s two and a half year old daughter), carefully explaining to me that she doesn’t want me to be around her. She usually takes about three days to warm up to me. Then she and I bond.
“They have to let me in. I’m a Gay Breeder.” My parents live in Faubourg Marigny, an area of New Orleans that has the largest gay population in the city. My mom loves to swim. The closest swimming pool is a health club two blocks away, usually overrun by nude gay men. That doesn’t bother my mom at all, but my dad figures that they (“The Gays”) will be uncomfortable with my mom being there. My mom responded that she would have to play The Gay Card: “….I must be: two of my three kids are gay.”
Best Quote Ever.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Expert Witness
After my recent jury duty, I thought it would be years before I saw the inside of a courtroom again.
I was wrong.
Let me back up a bit. I have described my office in a little detail in the past. Here are some more. Our office handles all the printing for the entire university campus, including all the forms for the hospitals in our area. Pre-Katrina, I was the sole designer and typesetter of those forms, as well as managing the department that produced and distributed them.
Around campus, I was referred to as simply the Forms Guy. Our customers that have known me since then still refer to me as that, even though post-Katrina I have many additional duties.
As the Forms Guy, I receive regular emails from the hospital’s legal department, asking for copies of current and past versions of certain forms. (I keep on file every present and past version of all 1400+ active forms. I am the only one on campus that has this information.)
Last week, I received a request for a form, and sent it on. The next day, I received this email: “You may be called to court as an expert witness on our forms. Would you be available to discuss that?”
This past Monday, a lawyer for the hospital called me to ask me many detailed questions about a certain form. “How can you tell it’s an original and not a copy? Can you show that the form when sold has writing only on the front? Do you have examples of other forms that when sold are duplex?” And many, many other very specific questions about forms.
This past Tuesday, I was asked to testify in court at a civil trial (including a 12-person jury), and, after some questions about my job, its duties, and some other background information, I was sworn in as an expert witness.
I was on the stand for almost 30 minutes.
From what I can gather, a former patient was suing a doctor. The doctor had written some instructions about the patient on the back of a form that officially did not have a back. (That is, the form didn’t have lines on the back, nor “-front” at the bottom to signify that there was a “-back”.) The next shift at the hospital did not see the writing on the back and didn’t copy it. That missing information caused something to go wrong with the patient’s surgery.
I’m sure there are many more details, and I could have those details incorrect, but I only know about the case what I was told. I did not attend the beginning or the end of the trial. Only my part.
The hospital’s lawyer called me later Tuesday afternoon, leaving me this voicemail: “Thank you for your help today. I’m sorry the prosecuting lawyer was so harsh with you, but you handled him well. I will call you when the jury reaches a verdict. It’s nice to know you’re around. We may need you for future trials.”
She called me Wednesday. The doctor was found not guilty.
I was wrong.
Let me back up a bit. I have described my office in a little detail in the past. Here are some more. Our office handles all the printing for the entire university campus, including all the forms for the hospitals in our area. Pre-Katrina, I was the sole designer and typesetter of those forms, as well as managing the department that produced and distributed them.
Around campus, I was referred to as simply the Forms Guy. Our customers that have known me since then still refer to me as that, even though post-Katrina I have many additional duties.
As the Forms Guy, I receive regular emails from the hospital’s legal department, asking for copies of current and past versions of certain forms. (I keep on file every present and past version of all 1400+ active forms. I am the only one on campus that has this information.)
Last week, I received a request for a form, and sent it on. The next day, I received this email: “You may be called to court as an expert witness on our forms. Would you be available to discuss that?”
This past Monday, a lawyer for the hospital called me to ask me many detailed questions about a certain form. “How can you tell it’s an original and not a copy? Can you show that the form when sold has writing only on the front? Do you have examples of other forms that when sold are duplex?” And many, many other very specific questions about forms.
This past Tuesday, I was asked to testify in court at a civil trial (including a 12-person jury), and, after some questions about my job, its duties, and some other background information, I was sworn in as an expert witness.
I was on the stand for almost 30 minutes.
From what I can gather, a former patient was suing a doctor. The doctor had written some instructions about the patient on the back of a form that officially did not have a back. (That is, the form didn’t have lines on the back, nor “-front” at the bottom to signify that there was a “-back”.) The next shift at the hospital did not see the writing on the back and didn’t copy it. That missing information caused something to go wrong with the patient’s surgery.
I’m sure there are many more details, and I could have those details incorrect, but I only know about the case what I was told. I did not attend the beginning or the end of the trial. Only my part.
The hospital’s lawyer called me later Tuesday afternoon, leaving me this voicemail: “Thank you for your help today. I’m sorry the prosecuting lawyer was so harsh with you, but you handled him well. I will call you when the jury reaches a verdict. It’s nice to know you’re around. We may need you for future trials.”
She called me Wednesday. The doctor was found not guilty.
Monday, November 17, 2008
New Discovery: Girl Talk
Oddly enough, I found out about Girl Talk because the new CD was reviewed on National Public Radio last week.
Here is one of their songs...
Actually, I guess that would be "his" songs because it's just one guy. To read about Girl Talk, click here.
If you want to buy the new CD, click here.
Here is one of their songs...
Actually, I guess that would be "his" songs because it's just one guy. To read about Girl Talk, click here.
If you want to buy the new CD, click here.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Keith Olbermann on Gay Marriage
In a follow up to my Hallmark Corners Gay Marriage Card Market entry, my friend Michael sent me a link to a recent segment on Keith Olbermann's show.
It also fits in nicely with this older post of mine.
Thank you, Michael.
Thank you, Keith Olbermann.
It also fits in nicely with this older post of mine.
Thank you, Michael.
Thank you, Keith Olbermann.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Monday, November 03, 2008
News Story: Northwestern State suspends fraternity
This is the chapter of Kappa Sigma that I was at in the late 1980's. They were a bunch of rednecks back then too.
NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State University chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity has been suspended indefinitely by the university and the national office.
The move comes as NSU is asking the national office of Kappa Sigma to investigate actions of fraternity members at an off-campus party which took place Wednesday night.
Five members of the fraternity attending an auction were dressed in a racially offensive manner. Photos from the event were posted on the Web site Facebook.
The NSU chapter will not be allowed to have any official events until the investigation is completed. The investigation should be complete within two weeks.
“All of us at the university are disappointed in what appears to be poor judgment on the part of some fraternity members,” said Northwestern State President Dr. Randall J. Webb. “Our university embraces and promotes diversity and will not tolerate any actions or activities that jeopardize the climate of diversity and unity that exists at the university."
I have been trying unsuccessfully to find their Facebook page. I wonder what a "racially offensive manner" means.
My guess...
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Update: I found this forum - with over 250 entries - about the subject.
NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State University chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity has been suspended indefinitely by the university and the national office.
The move comes as NSU is asking the national office of Kappa Sigma to investigate actions of fraternity members at an off-campus party which took place Wednesday night.
Five members of the fraternity attending an auction were dressed in a racially offensive manner. Photos from the event were posted on the Web site Facebook.
The NSU chapter will not be allowed to have any official events until the investigation is completed. The investigation should be complete within two weeks.
“All of us at the university are disappointed in what appears to be poor judgment on the part of some fraternity members,” said Northwestern State President Dr. Randall J. Webb. “Our university embraces and promotes diversity and will not tolerate any actions or activities that jeopardize the climate of diversity and unity that exists at the university."
I have been trying unsuccessfully to find their Facebook page. I wonder what a "racially offensive manner" means.
My guess...
------------
Update: I found this forum - with over 250 entries - about the subject.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
One Big Happy Nielsen Family
I have been chosen as a Nielsen Family this week (actually from Thursday, October 30 through Thursday, November 6). During that time, I am supposed to write down every TV show I watch at least 5 minutes of.
I considered trying to look smart and only writing down PBS and Discovery Channel stuff, or trying to promote our Gay Agenda and only writing down gay-themed shows. Ultimately, I decided to be truthful.
Once the week is over, I'll post my entire detailed list here.
You can see for yourself what crap I actually watch.
I am supposed to also record the viewing habits of all visitors to my house. You'll get to see what crap Carlos watches too.
I considered trying to look smart and only writing down PBS and Discovery Channel stuff, or trying to promote our Gay Agenda and only writing down gay-themed shows. Ultimately, I decided to be truthful.
Once the week is over, I'll post my entire detailed list here.
You can see for yourself what crap I actually watch.
I am supposed to also record the viewing habits of all visitors to my house. You'll get to see what crap Carlos watches too.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tourist In Your Own Town – 2008
Missed Part I, our adventures last year? Go here
Carlos and I had a mini vacation this weekend – our second annual Tourist in Our Own Town weekend.
Here is a brief list of our adventures.
Friday –
We each took the afternoon off work, arriving at my parent’s Little Yellow House Bed and Breakfast around 2 pm.
Musée Conti Wax Museum
Entergy IMAX Theatre – to see The Dark Knight on the huge screen
A leisurely walk down Decatur and Frenchmen Streets, browsing through shops and Jazz clubs
Saturday –
Breakfast at La Peniche, a restaurant 2 blocks from our B&B
The Riverfront Streetcar to Canal Street and then we walked to…
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art
We wanted to start our day at the Confederate Museum, but it is closed until November.
World War II Museum, which we have been to numerous times, but we wanted to see a new exhibit – Lives Remembered: Portraits of a Community Lost
Beauregard-Keyes House, where my dad volunteers as a tour guide on Saturdays. We were the only ones on his 2 pm tour.
A walk through the French Market, where I bought some local art.
Dinner at Louisiana Pizza Kitchen. (We were going to go to Drago’s, as we did last year, but changed our minds.)
We took the Riverfront Streetcar to the movie theatre at Canal Place, planning to see the French thriller Tell No One, but the movie had started 10 minutes before. The next showing was at 9:40 pm so we walked across the street to Harrah’s Casino. I spent $15.00 to make $22.50. Carlos lost $20.00.
Sunday –
Carlos and I walked down Royal Street before meeting my parents at noon. The four of us had brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. It was elegant, but a total of $50 per person so I don’t think we’ll be doing that very often.
Phew!
Now I’m resting and getting ready for work tomorrow morning.
Carlos and I had a mini vacation this weekend – our second annual Tourist in Our Own Town weekend.
Here is a brief list of our adventures.
Friday –
We each took the afternoon off work, arriving at my parent’s Little Yellow House Bed and Breakfast around 2 pm.
Musée Conti Wax Museum
Entergy IMAX Theatre – to see The Dark Knight on the huge screen
A leisurely walk down Decatur and Frenchmen Streets, browsing through shops and Jazz clubs
Saturday –
Breakfast at La Peniche, a restaurant 2 blocks from our B&B
The Riverfront Streetcar to Canal Street and then we walked to…
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art
We wanted to start our day at the Confederate Museum, but it is closed until November.
World War II Museum, which we have been to numerous times, but we wanted to see a new exhibit – Lives Remembered: Portraits of a Community Lost
Beauregard-Keyes House, where my dad volunteers as a tour guide on Saturdays. We were the only ones on his 2 pm tour.
A walk through the French Market, where I bought some local art.
Dinner at Louisiana Pizza Kitchen. (We were going to go to Drago’s, as we did last year, but changed our minds.)
We took the Riverfront Streetcar to the movie theatre at Canal Place, planning to see the French thriller Tell No One, but the movie had started 10 minutes before. The next showing was at 9:40 pm so we walked across the street to Harrah’s Casino. I spent $15.00 to make $22.50. Carlos lost $20.00.
Sunday –
Carlos and I walked down Royal Street before meeting my parents at noon. The four of us had brunch at The Court of Two Sisters. It was elegant, but a total of $50 per person so I don’t think we’ll be doing that very often.
Phew!
Now I’m resting and getting ready for work tomorrow morning.
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