In Memoriam

Bill Hunter (1940-2011)

A great character actor and a legend in his native Australia, Bill Hunter starred in over 100 movies in his lifetime.

I remember him fondly in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

America the Exceptional (?)

Ray sent me a link to this must-read article (it’s a little long, but totally worth it) about the many ways in which the US might seem exceptional, but not for the right reasons.

It also gives brief historical comparisons that shine a sad light on the downward path the country has been travelling for the past few decades.

Really sobering.

A few excerpts:

What is this American exceptionalism Republicans so venerate? After interviewing many Republican leaders, Washington Post Reporter Karen Tumulty concludes it is the belief that America “is inherently superior to the world’s other nations”. It is a widely held belief. Indeed, most Americans believe our superiority is not only inherent but divinely ordained. A survey by the Public Religious Research Institute and the Brookings Institution found that 58 percent of Americans agree with the statement, “God has granted America a special role in human history.”

[...]

Indeed, to me there are two American exceptionalisms. One is the exceptionally favorable circumstances the United States found itself in at its founding and over its first 200 years. The second is the exceptional way in which we have squandered those advantages, in the process creating a value system singularly antagonistic to the changes needed when those advantages disappeared.

Americans did not become rich because of our rugged individualism or entrepreneurial drive or technical inventiveness. We were born rich.

[...]

Americans became the richest people on earth not because we were endowed with inherently superior national traits nor because we are God’s chosen people, nor because we have an elegant and compact Constitution and a noble sounding Declaration of Independence. We became rich because we were exceptionally lucky.

But the myth that we became richer than other countries because of our blessedness encouraged us to develop a truly exceptionalist culture, one that has left us singularly unequipped to prosper when our luck changed, when inexpensive land and energy proved exhaustible, when the best and the brightest in the world began staying at home rather than emigrating to our shores, when wars began to burden us and enrich our economic competitors.

[...]

Citizens in other countries are as critical of their governments as we are. But unlike us they do not criticize the importance of government itself or the fundamental role it plays in boosting the general welfare. They do not like to pay taxes, but they understand the necessity of taxes not only in building a public infrastructure but also in building a personal security infrastructure.

Far more than other peoples, Americans believe that skill and hard work are the keys to success and wealth is a measure of how hard you work or how skilled you are. Which leads us to believe that people should have the right to amass as much wealth as they can and view a graduated income tax as a punitive penalty on success and a sturdy social safety net an invitation to slothfulness, reduced productivity and an overall slowdown in economic growth.

[...]

The United States is also exceptional among industrialized nations not only in having by far the world’s most unequal income distribution but in believing that this inequality benefits us all, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary.

[...]

Conservatives proudly point to the Declaration of Independence as the foundational source of their guiding principles. “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

But American exceptionalism has bred a culture and value system that have in turn embraced policies that have made the pursuit of happiness exceedingly difficult.

[...]

America has been and continues to be exceptional. At first we were exceptional because of circumstances that conferred on us enormous advantages over other nations. Today we are exceptional because of our culture, a culture born of our unusually fortunate history and now perhaps the single biggest handicap to our collective survival and prosperity in the less favorable circumstances of the 21^st century.

And since a picture is worth a thousand words, a few of the graphs from the bottom of the article:

 

Overall, quite informative and, now that I live here, saddening.

Why we need immigration equality

This video made me feel very sad for the people portrayed, primarily because while Ray and I have never been in their situation, the possibility has always been there:

Light as a feather

Via Towleroad comes this incredible video of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo’s first “feather” reentry test flight:

During the test flight, SS2 was dropped from 51,000 feet and the change in configuration to the feather position appear to cause a significant nose up pitch attitude during the transition. Once the tail surfaces are raised to about 65 degrees and SS2 is established in the feather position, the space craft descends nearly vertically. In the feather position, SS2 appears to be closer to a flat pitch attitude with some oscillations in pitch, roll and yaw.

The feather position allows the space craft to reenter the atmosphere at a slow enough speed to reduce the heating problems that can occur as friction with the atmosphere increases. It also simplifies the process compared to needing a precise glide angle for reentry in order to avoid skipping off of the atmosphere.

This could completely revolutionize space travel, primarily by making it a lot safer, thereby increasing its commercial appeal.

SGU Stargate Universe

UPDATED THROUGHTOUT

The third entry in the Stargate oeuvre (after the original SG-1 and Atlantis) is already over.  I opted to watch this show because it started right after my beloved Battlestar Galactica ended and I desperately needed a weekly fix of sci-fi programming.

I also already knew what the Stargate at the center of the show was all about because I had watched, and liked, the 1994 movie by the same title.  And while I had never watched a single episode of SG-1, I had tried watching Atlantis but gave it up when I couldn’t get over how unnerving and annoying the character of the resident genius was.  He totally got under my skin every single time he was onscreen, which was constantly, being one of the main characters.

That character, apparently present in each incarnation of the show, is skillfully played in SGU by Emmy nominated actor Robert Carlyle.  Actually, he’s flanked by a second, younger and smarter, resident genius in this series, smartly played by David Blue.  Carlyle’s character often butted heads with the commander, a very good Louis Ferreira, who also saw his leadership challenged by both the military (Lou Diamond Phillips) and civilians (an excellent Ming-Na).

The premise: after a devastating alien attack on a key world outpost, a small number of survivors escape via the Stargate to the Destiny, a previously unknown ancient ship (pictured below) built by the same alien race that built the Stargates themselves.

The Destiny travels on autopilot through the universe on a path set up by “seed” ships, smaller versions of the Destiny, whose only job was to find habitable planets on which to place Stargates for the Destiny’s crew to step through.

While at first the crew has virtually no control over the ship’s instruments, they slowly gain more and more understanding of their inner workings.  Destiny’s mission is also a puzzle for a very long time, but eventually things start to become clearer.

Interstellar planets are explored, alien enemies valiantly fought, countless things discovered and learned.  In short, one hell of an adventure even though the likelihood of ever going back home grows smaller and smaller with the passage of time.

The show quickly grew on me and was stunned when I heard that it had been canceled after only two seasons.  Sure, not every episode was a winner, but the acting was very good, the action was enjoyable, the writing was good, the visual effects excellent, and the overall quality of the production quite good.

I actually found out the series had been canceled at the beginning of the year (apparently it was too costly to produce for its ratings) and figured the production knew and would prepare a good sendoff, but the series finale was really a season finale, with a nice cliffhanger, but certainly no closure or conclusion in sight.  As a season finale it was actually quite good, nicely setting up the usual “what’s gonna happen!?!” scenario, but I was a little disappointed because, naturally, we will never know.

Ultimately, having only watched this series, I cannot compare it to the others, but I thought it was pretty good.  If you’re a sci-fi lover, you might want to give it a try.

Grade: 8

If Only ...

A beautiful pro-gay, pro-tolerance, pro-acceptance video for Singapore’s Pink Dot Festival.

From Towleroad:

LOL x 10!!

This video made me laugh till my belly ached:

A good day for Delaware’s LGBT citizens

Today, Delaware’s Governor signed a Civil Union bill into law.  It’ll take effect on January 1, 2012 and will allow gay and lesbian citizens to move one giant step closer to the full equality enjoyed by their straight counterparts.

From Towleroad:

Tonight, with the signing of this law, we say to any Delawarean regardless of sexual orientation - if you’ve committed yourself to someone, and you’ve made that pledge to spend your life together in partnership, when life or death decisions come, we honor your right to make those decisions together.

Tonight, we say to loving and committed couples across the state who want the law to endorse the promise that they made long ago in their hearts - 'Your love is equally valid and deserving, your family is now equal under the law.'

And tonight, we say to children of gay and lesbian parents in committed relationships all over our state – and there are so many wonderful kids, including many here tonight, growing up in those families all over our state – we say to you: It doesn't matter if your parents are gay or straight. The people you love and look up to and that are dedicating their lives and love to raising you – those are your parents. You are a family. And while we’ve known it, and you’ve known it for years, tonight, that equality becomes real under law."

Hopefully this will be a quick stepping stone towards full marriage equality.

Utter nonsense

Yesterday I read a post in my Tweeter feed that made me do a double take, because I had to verify whether it was from the satirical site The Onion or from the news site Breaking News.

It said:

Breaking News (@BreakingNews)
5/10/11 1:30 PM
Sons of bin Laden accuse US of violating legal principles by killing an unarmed man, in statement to nytimes nyti.ms/m5CIOR

And this is the article’s opening paragraph:

The adult sons of Osama bin Laden have lashed out at President Obama in their first public reaction to their father’s death, accusing the United States of violating its basic legal principles by killing an unarmed man, shooting his family members and disposing of his body in the sea.

I didn’t even bother reading the rest because in my view that accusation is utter nonsense.

Osama bin Laden was a terrorist who, by his own admission, plotted and carried out the killing of thousands, which included not only unarmed men, but women and children as well.  Furthermore, the vast majority of his victims and targets were all innocent, regardless of whether they were armed or not.

In my view, when you become a terrorist, you give up any right to legal principles and legal protections.  You’re on your own and, if they catch you, you deserve to be unceremoniously killed.

End of story.

A Cold Heart, by Jonathan Kellerman

My first Kellerman novel and the first of the Alex Delaware series was a very good find.

Kellerman is a deft writer who creates multidimensional characters who live in such interesting worlds that you can’t help but crave for more.

A Cold Heart sees Delaware helping the police investigating a series of murders in the art world that might be linked together even though at first they all look like separate incidents.

A Cold Heart, so nicely written and with a cohesive narrative was a refreshing change from the last book I read, Meltzer’s The Zero Game.

Definitely recommended.

Grade: 8

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

After having contracted cancer, Andy Whitfield, the handsome star of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, had to drop out of the successful gladiators Starz show, causing a big delay to the production of the series’ second season.

In order not to leave the fans of the show without new episodes for 2 years, which would have likely doomed the series, Starz greenlit Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, a prequel to the original show that turned out to be just as good, if not better.

Gods of the Arena takes place several years before Blood and Sand, at a time when Batiatus has just taken the reins of his father’s ludus, a training school for gladiators.  His father is still alive, but ill health has forced him to move to Sicily.

What makes Gods of the Arena even better than its predecessor is that the kinks from the original have been smoothed over and worked out, which bodes well for Blood and Sand’s second season.

Furthermore, it’s always nice to find out more about the past of the main characters of a show, how they got to be who and where they are, and that’s exactly what we get with Gods of the Arena, a lot of backstory to fill that void.

         

Well pumped muscles, flesh, fights, and goriness obviously abound, as well as intrigue, cunning, political maneuvering, and loss of main characters.

If you liked Blood and Sand, don’t miss Gods of the Arena.  It’s a nice addition to the overall Spartacus universe, even though the Spartacus character isn’t in it.

Grade: 8

Big Love

I followed this HBO show from its inception to its recent conclusion and it once again proved that when you’re looking for high quality TV programming, you don’t have to look any farther than on HBO.

Big Love followed the everyday life of a polygamist family trying to balance the necessity to keep a low profile (since polygamy is illegal) and the desire to feel and be treated like any ordinary American citizen out there.

The show’s last season followed the family’s outing from the season 4 finale, which capped what is universally considered to be the show’s weakest and most bizarre one.

Fortunately, season 5 was well developed, with good story lines and plausible occurrences.  The most important plot lines were effectively brought to conclusion and the show ended on a positive, albeit sad note.

Overall, a highly recommended show that for a while shined a spotlight on a controversial marital practice that although illegal in the US is still practiced in a few states.

Season 5 - Grade: 8

Show’s Overall Grade: 8

Musica Alma Sexo

I got tickets to see Ricky Martin live for Ray’s birthday, since he really likes him, and we both enjoyed the show very much.

Neither of us had every seen him perform live, but Ray has all his records and Ricky’s music brings back countless memories from the time when we first met and started living together in Turin, Italy, 15 years ago.

The concert was good, with lots of rhythm, lights, and images.  A real feast for the eyes, besides the ears.  I especially enjoyed the video projected halfway through the show on a huge cloth encompassing the entire stage!!

Knowing his audience, Ricky showed plenty of skin as well, which is always a plus when such a handsome guy is involved.

The part of the concert I loved the most was when he paused halfway through a ballad to soak in the waves of love his fans were sending his way.  The touching, heartfelt expressions on his face spoke volumes of the appreciation he had for all that love, as well as the promise to give it all back.

I was also very pleased to see that he has a really nice and powerful voice as well as countless good dance moves, and his closing number, the beautiful The Best Thing About Me Is You, was great!!

Speechless

Lady Gaga’s new album, Born This Way, is only a few days away from being released, so what better time to post one of my favorite songs of hers from her previous effort?

Watch the Gaga perform Speechless with only a piano to accompany her voice:

This video blows all the criticisms about Lady Gaga being all about image out of the water.

Clearly, she can sing.  Clearly, she can play.  Clearly, she’s a legitimate artist.

Go Gaga!!

Born This Way

I love the song but the video is just ok.

I actually never thought of this song as a rip-off of Madonna’s Express Yourself (as many critics have been endlessly harping about...), although I do see a lot more “borrowing” from Madonna’s oeuvre in the video than in the song itself.

The way I see it, there are a lot of songs out there that would sound alike when one starts manipulating tempos and removing embellishments.

Born This Way is a beautiful song, and its message is undeniably important.

Judas

While at first I wasn’t crazy about this song, I’m starting to like Judas, especially after watching this beautifully shot video:

As Lady Gaga herself said, it looks like a fresco painting coming alive.

The Monster Ball

I didn’t have a chance to get tickets to Lady Gaga’s undoubtedly spectacular live tour The Monster Ball, so I wasn’t going to miss this HBO special, recorded on her last Madison Square Garden’s performance.

As expected, the show was fun to watch and a treat for both eyes and ears.  Amazingly, she never even took a break, singing song after song for almost 2 hours!!

Everything, from costumes to accessories, from lighting to props, was perfectly tailored to Gaga’s extravaganza style and larger-than-life persona.

Her many interactions with her fans, whom she lovingly refers to as her Little Monsters, were precious insights into this basically simple girl out to ensure they had a great time and got what they paid for.

Lady Gaga is really a spectacular talent.  Her voice and musical prowess are truly godly gifts.

Here’s her rendition of Born This Way, sung a cappella, which closed the special:

The dreadful wait

This picture perfectly describes what was arguably the most worrisome hour of the Obama administration’s first term: watching live, in the White House’s Situation Room, while the strike that successfully takes out Osama bin Laden unfolds in Abbottabad, Pakistan:

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are: Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Standing, from left, are: Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; National Security Advisor Tom Donilon; Chief of Staff Bill Daley; Tony Binken, National Security Advisor to the Vice President; Audrey Tomason Director for Counterterrorism; John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Jack Vidgen

UPDATED (at bottom)

A name to remember, since I’m sure that in just a few years this Australian kid will be a super star:

I watched this video over and over, getting goose bumps and teary eyed, listening to such a powerful and beautiful voice.

Jack also made me long for the good old days when Whitney Houston’s voice graced our eardrums with wonderful musical creations, unparalleled and awe-inspiring.

Dogs are the cutest things!!

This video is adorable:

Scary encounter

I’ve never seen a jellyfish, of any size, but I know that they can be quite dangerous.  Now, imagine stumbling upon one the size of a small house:

At first I actually failed to notice the man on the left side, mesmerized by the beauty of the animal.  Then I saw it and my jaw dropped!!

Here’s the caption:

The Lions Mane Jellyfish is the largest jellyfish in the world. They have been swimming in arctic waters since before the dinosaurs (over 650 million years ago) and are among some of the oldest surviving species in the world.

The largest can come in at about 6 meters and has tentacles over 50 meters long. Pretty amazing when you think these things have been swimming around for so long.

They have hundreds of poisonous tentacles that it used to catch passing by fish. it then slowly drags in it’s prey and eats it.

This species is older than the dinosaurs and it’s still around!!  Makes me wonder what else could be lurking around, still undiscovered...

Prince William marries Kate Middleton

On April 29, 2011, Prince William, second in line to the British throne, married his longtime sweetheart, commoner Kate Middleton, in London’s Westminster Abbey in what can only be described as a fairy-tale wedding.

Here are some shots from the ceremony, which I watched later that night since I’m a sucker for all things related to royalty...

Here’s the beautiful bride in her gorgeous dress arriving for the ceremony:

Here she just reached the altar accompanied by her father and, reportedly, William is telling her she looks beautiful:

The vows and the Prince giving his wife her wedding band (he won’t be wearing one):

Now officially married, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk down and out of the Abbey:

On the way to Buckingham Palace, surrounded by well wishers:

Saluting the crowd in front of the Palace:

And the long awaited kiss (apparently William and Kate had never been caught kissing in public!!):

It was a beautiful ceremony that went down without a hitch, which is itself incredible given the amount of coordination involved.

I wish them a happy marriage.

Leave it to the Onion to hit the nail on the head

Following up on the news that President Obama was able to bring Osama bin Laden to justice I realized that while he was dealing with tightening the noose around one of the worst terrorists the world has ever known, Obama had to deal with that petulant idiot birther of Donald Trump and his absurd and childish demands to see his birth certificate, to prove once and for all that he is indeed an American citizen and therefore legally the US President.

Reading this on the Onion’s website after Obama finally decided to put an end to the madness by releasing his long-form birth certificate made me burst out in laughter:

Afterbirthers Demand To See Obama's Placenta

WASHINGTON–In the continuing controversy surrounding the president's U.S. citizenship, a new fringe group informally known as "Afterbirthers" demanded Monday the authentication of Barack Obama's placenta from his time inside his mother's womb. "All we are asking is that the president produce a sample of his fetal membranes and vessels—preferably along with a photo of the crowning and delivery—and this will all be over," said former presidential candidate and Afterbirthers spokesman Alan Keyes, later adding that his organization would be willing to settle for a half-liter of maternal cord plasma. "To this day, the American people have not seen a cervical mucus plug, let alone one that has been signed and notarized by a state-certified Hawaiian health official. If the president was indeed born in the manner in which he claims, then where is his gestation sac?" Keyes said that if Obama did not soon produce at least a bloody bedsheet from his conception, Afterbirthers would push forward with efforts to exhume the president's deceased mother and inspect the corpse's pelvic bone and birth canal.

Simply hysterical!!

Obama gets Osama!!

YES!!  Finally, the evildoer known as Osama bin Laden is dead, and not of natural death or ill health either, he was killed in a special operations conducted by the US military and the CIA, under the direct supervision of President Barack Obama:

Mr. Obama said in his national address on Sunday night that it took months to firm up that information and last week he determined it was clear enough to authorize a secret operation in Pakistan. The forces attacked the compound in what Mr. Obama called a 'targeted operation' that left Mr. bin Laden dead. 'No Americans were harmed,' Mr. Obama said. 'They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.'

Here’s a death we can all rejoice for!Much more here.