Category: tragic

civil rights, listen up!, politics, that is so gay, tragic, venting, wtf?!

redistributing hate

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I know that I already posted today, but this has me in such an uproar, that I literally feel my skin crawling as I sit here typing this. A close friend of mine who lives in California has alerted me to what can only be described as a redistribution of hate. I actually had to read this twice, because I wanted to deny that people would be this blatantly racist and hateful; especially the very people that are currently experiencing such hate themselves!!!

So listen up: GAYS!!! DO NOT become a racist because YOU think that “blacks” are to blame for Prop 8. PEOPLE are responsible for it. People voted for it, and people need to be convinced that Prop 8 has no place in the law. It doesn’t matter what color of skin they had when they voted; WHITE people voted for it to! DO NOT under any circumstances think that it is now okay to turn the hate that has been thrust upon us onto another oppressed group; doing so is so unbelievably hypocritical, not to mention insanely hurtful to the black gay and lesbians that are also a part of our community.

If you find yourself mad because of Prop 8, I am WITH YOU. But I will turn on you in a fucking heartbeat if I hear any of the shit come from that was described in the aforementioned article. There is NO PLACE for redistributed hate, and I frankly am ashamed that white gay people would act this way. You know better. We ALL know better. Let’s fight this fight together, against anyone that voted for or believes that gay people don’t deserve civil rights… the color of their skin is inconsequential, and it is outright racism to place blame on any one race; especially when white people voted for Prop 8 too.

I honestly don’t want to believe that something like this would still happen. I was born to a southern family who threw around the N word as if it were common language, and I find it unacceptable that people are still racist towards black people; especially gay people experiencing the same level of bigotry from this vote. My friend told me that he found it hard to go out and fight the fight with the rest of his so-called gay brethren because of this displaced hatred, and I really, really want him to know that I am ashamed that anyone could be so hateful, and I hope that we can stop all of this finger pointing, and focus on Prop 8; not the color of someone’s skin who voted for Prop 8. I wish that I could make everyone of those people perpetrating this behavior understand how wrong they are for doing this.

Wow. I am just in shock.

get involved, is it just me?, listen up!, politics, tragic, venting, well?, wtf?!

how much further to rock bottom?

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Gas is pretty much coming up short here in ATL; it is getting hard to find gas at most of the gas pumps that I have seen around town. It just makes me wonder, just how prepared are we for disaster? I mean, this shortage is because of two hurricanes in the gulf coast… that happened over a week ago. We aren’t talking months, just a handful of days, and we are already out of gas. That is just scary, isn’t it?

Also, our seriously fledgling economy took a MAJOR hit last week, and in a half-assed effort that one can only see as a move to save his rich friends from being held responsible, our own president is trying to shove the tab on the back of already struggling Americans. Nice. I thought that people that said they were Republican but not conservative said so because of “fiscal responsibility” and “less governmental control”? What is going on then? This plan, being put forth BY Republicans is going to cause even further fiscal irresponsibility (which these companies started in the first place) and more governmental control over our money (by making us pick up the tab)? Do you think that saving companies that prey on the American public makes any fucking sense at all? I don’t… and I’m a Democrat. The government never should have been involved in making corporations something that are an entities that exist outside of the rules and regulations of basic business; if a small business makes mistakes, it has to pay for them. However, if you are a corporation, apparently, you can just be excused of that debt, and have the government take it for you (and then quickly put it on the backs of their citizens, or you, me, and every other tax paying American). Why don’t we get a say so in this decision? Isn’t our government supposed to represent us? What do we get to do when it clearly goes against our best interests? The more I read the news, the less I feel like I live in a democratic society; the government makes decisions, and we follow along without any of our needs even being heard. It sounds more like a dictatorship to me, which again, is supposed to be the opposite of the fundamental Republican, or even the financially concerned Libertarian beliefs, right? I may be wrong, but giving 700 billion dollars to these companies to save them just seems like robbing the poor to feed the rich to me. I can bet money that the money will be used to save executive jobs, while the working class will get shit on again. Fuck yeah… I’m proud to be a (probably soon to be starving) American. We get fucked, and the rich get richer… that seems to be the new Republican way.

Sorry for the ranting, I just feel so powerless; I invest money and try to save as much as I can, and things like this come along, where the government allow these companies to take it away, even though they are the ones that made the mistakes! I don’t understand why they have more rights than I do. I don’t think it’s fair, and in fact, I don’t think it should be legal. The only hope that I am clinging to at this point, is that Obama gets elected, and can do something better. Things are only getting worse, and worse, which really does make you wonder where the bottom line actually is. How bad is it going to get?

britney n' k-fed, is it just me?, mixed media, music musings, tragic

another year, another handjob from MTV

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I mean, that’s the whole point of the VMA’s, isn’t it? To jerk off the pop community? Well, after watching another year of mostly boring performances, mostly lame videos getting awards, and even lamer “celebrities” presenting said awards, I am convinced that the whole point of the show is kind of like those year end required recitals that every dance company has for the little kids in their classes. It’s just a little closure on a year in music, and it is pretty efficient in ignoring almost anyone but the hot act of the moment. Sorry, but this might get a bit long, you might want to get a soda and get comfortable…

There were highlights of course… I was happy that Britney won her first (and even won three before the end of the night) moon man award for what one can only assume was the song, NOT the video. I think that MTV felt remorse for throwing her to the hungry gators last year, and as penance, offered her these awards to make up for ignoring brilliant pop performances and great videos throughout her career (I mean come on… Slave 4 U would be just as hot if it were released today). While Piece of Me was definitely a highlight from Blackout, the video just showed us a taste of what Britney was always capable of, without the actual goods. We know she can do better, because she has. Hate her or love her, one thing is for sure, Britney has had a long career because pop music is all about the flash, the glitter, the dance, and the production; fellow music peers like Madonna are proof positive that it has very little to do with actual talent (although, Britney really can dance, and can definitely perform; which is definitely a talent). With all that being said, Britney looked fantastic last night, and was very together. I am excited that this may signal a real comeback with her next record; the one that Blackout was more than ready to give her… if only she had been ready at the time it was released.

As for the rest of the VMA’s, I have to pay special attention to something that has me in disbelief: I can’t believe that it is 2008 and that fucking sagging your pants and showing your underwear trend is STILL being trotted around by these rich ass motherfucking rappers. You have MILLIONS of dollars, Lil’ Wayne; wear a goddamned suit, or at least pull up your fucking pants. T.I. looked incredibly dapper… follow his example! UGH. All it does is makes it “cool” for kids to copy by example, and it isn’t cool to show your underwear unless you are a stripper in a strip club… again, PULL UP YOUR PANTS!

On to the performances… which were fun to watch for the most part… however, Rihanna should REALLY start doing what Janet and Britney do for their shows; record the track and lip sync it live. Her voice is pretty, but a live singer she is not. Leona Lewis got her start by singing live; so she can clearly do it… Rihanna, I’ll admit that you can sing great in a studio, but that’s about all; which is WAY more than many can say. Be proud you at least have singing talent.

I will go on record again, and say that I just do not get the Jonas Brothers. They have to be more than just “cute” for me to scream my fucking lungs out like the girls are doing for these boys. Seriously… I. Just. Don’t. Get. It. They sing through their noses! How do people not notice this?!?!?

The best performance of the night BY FAR came from P!nk, who has consistently gotten better with every subsequent release in her career. P!nk is a fucking great performer, and she tore it up last night. Fantastic.

I couldn’t believe how bad Paramore sounded; I guess her voice really is much like Rihanna’s; great in the studio, and that’s about it.

The performance by Christina Aguilera was good, but she is clearly channeling Alison Goldfrapp for her “new” sound. Well, I guess if by “new” she means 3 years ago, then at least we are all on the same page. Either way, her debuting her new single is part of what the VMA’s has always been about in the past, so it was nice to see that continuing to be part of the show.

I won’t touch Kanye West, because his ego is so gargantuan that he doesn’t even exist within this realm of existence anyway. Every time he opens his mouth to do anything buy sing, I lose more and more respect for him. I guess some people really are that full of themselves.

Overall, the host shouted the entire show, and the production value of the night was haphazard at best. I remember past VMA’s that were star studded, and didn’t look like they were held in a parking lot of a Kmart. I guess it is fun and all, but it really is getting more and more obvious that MTV is really just incapable of doing anything outside of the realm of the super expected anymore. Pop music is definitely a passion of mine, and I will always have a hard time avoiding such train wrecks as the VMA’s, but hey, at least I can talk shit about it behind it’s back the next day, right?

civil rights, get involved, is it just me?, listen up!, mixed media, politics, public health, show the love, that is so gay, tragic, venting, well?, wtf?!

reflecting on a few news items

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First up, something wonderful, because the last things are very, very disappointing. A couple of times, I have written previously about how I was really proud of athletes in the Olympics, specifically Michael Phelps, but there was one guy that I am beaming over even more. Matthew Mitcham is an Australian diver that took the gold in his event; even though it was highly favored to go to the Chinese (as all 7 other medals in diving did). One small thing… he’s gay! He was actually the only out gay male athlete to win a medal at the Olympics, and it was not only an upset victory, but he took home gold! After his medal ceremony, he ran up to the stands to embrace his mother and his partner. It’s great that the gay community can embrace another positive role model; an Olympic champion! Woo hoo! Make sure to check out the video of his performance and his medal ceremony, which apparently caused some controversy, because it wasn’t broadcast in full, and which is posted below:


Inspirational, to say the least!

Next, this harrowing revelation that HIV infection rates continue to not only soar, but that they are soaring at an even higher rate in New York City. We are more than 25 years into this disease; when are people going to take testing, safe sex, and prevention more seriously? I know that it is hard to do, but it is clear that people are ignoring something, because the increase in HIV rates cannot be described by “mistake” alone… get tested, and be safe people! YOUR LIFE depends on it!

This makes me feel so ill, that I want to violently puke. Seriously. Such a raping of human rights is disgusting, and should not be tolerated; especially in a country that we are currently occupying!!! What are we doing America? If we really want to make things better for the people of Iraq (which is continually touted as our mission), why not ALL Iraqi people?? Do the gay ones just not matter to us? It disgusts me that gay people are being treated so horribly, and being hunted in Iraq. Why can’t we offer them asylum? Why can’t we offer them protection? What are we even doing to help them? We have GOT to do something; these are freaking human beings, and they clearly have been put into a worse situation because of our actions. I can’t believe that things like this are allowed to happen; it really, REALLY lowers my faith in humanity. I will never understand how people can, a) be so cruel to their own people, and b) why we can’t do something to stop it if we are already there, ESPECIALLY since the situation they are in is a direct result of our military actions in Iraq? It’s not just gay people either, but they are actively being hunted… and it’s wrong! It just makes me shake my head, and hope that those gay people facing this “hunt” are lucky enough to get out with their lives intact. I will never ever understand religious fanaticism; it always seems to do way more harm than good.

Finally, a great piece of graffiti. Damn, sometimes, you just have to reflect, and feel good about the things that are going right in life; things could be worse.

is it just me?, mixed media, tragic, venting, wtf?!

but they tied

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Last night, I was watching some great women’s gymnastics when something happened that really kind of bothered me. I am all about sportsmanship and fairness when it comes to this thing, because it really is the only thing that the world can come together on and participate in and not fight over (and if they do, they usually just get pissy, and that’s about it). Well, the girls were doing the uneven bars, and the two top girls, one from China, and one from the USA, both had the same start difficulty value, AND they both scored exactly the same on their routines. Well, one would think that since they were both the top scorers, then they would both share a gold medal. However, that is not what happened. They pulled some bullshit “tie breaking” procedural crap, and gave the gold to the Chinese girl, and the American girl got the silver; even though they both scored the same! It was bullshit. I felt bad for the American girl, because she clearly deserved the gold as well. It was just fucked up, really, because of all the “rules” they have in place to make it “fair”, and all it does is make it fair for one, but completely UNFAIR for the other. I just felt like it puts a damper on the spirit of the games when it isn’t based on your performance, or your ability, and instead comes down to algorithms and shit like that. I just don’t see how you can score the same, and one of you is still made to be second. Oh well.

all about me, that is so gay, tragic, venting, wtf?!

the wrong way to act take two: bitchy old queen of a bartender edition

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What happened last night can only be described as surreal. Trying to order a drink at a bar got me yelled at, to which I walked away from, and then the bartender came after me for more, which led to my ultimately leaving the bar. I think that what I wrote for my yelp review is pretty expressive of the experience, so I felt that I should let that tell the story (with minor edits):

To the bitchy, old, full of herself queen that works the bar:

Just because you are bitter that you have to work Saturday nights, instead of getting your party on, doesn’t make it okay to take it out on the patrons of this clearly “second tier” establishment. You clearly have some anger issues that need professional attention, and I suggest that if you are going to continue to be a bartender, that being a complete and utter ASSHOLE should be something that you should work on, stat.

Basically, here’s the story. I have been to Oscars several times, but never have I thought anything other than, “oh, we have to go there… ugh”. Mostly, because the bar is a bit tragic, and as far as gay bars go in ATL, it was always very close to the bottom of my list of choices. Well, after last night, it is now the last place I would EVER step foot into again.

A good friend of mine was celebrating his birthday, and we decided to go to Burkharts, which is right across the parking lot from Oscars. After becoming annoyed with the ever growing crowd at Burkharts, it was decided that we should move on to Oscars, because, as expected, it wouldn’t be as crowded (it never really is… which is probably reflective of why I will never set foot in there again). After paying tabs and making our way over, we settled on the patio outside, which was empty except for our group.

I went back inside to get a drink, and found an empty place at the bar to lean in and ask for a drink. There were two bartenders standing directly in front of me, one mixing a drink, and the other just standing there. They both made continual eye contact with me, and taking that as a cue, I simply leaned in and said, “can I have a miller lite?”, assuming that their eye contact meant that they were curious as to how they could help me. What I wasn’t expecting was the aforementioned old bitchy asshole’s response. He was the one making the drink. His response literally took me by surprise, because he said in a very derogatory way, “well, I will, if you can WAIT YOUR TURN“, literally yelling the last part at me. Being the person that I am, who doesn’t really put up with bullshit, especially in situations where I am paying for a service, I put my money back in my pocket, said “fine then”, and walked back outside to my friends. I was a bit taken aback that he would be so rude, but just decided that this place wouldn’t be getting any of my money, and tried to move on.

Then, about 5 minutes later, the other bartender came outside to “cool me off” I guess, and stated that the asshole bartender was “just like that”, to which I told him that it was really rude, and that I wasn’t going to be going back in there to deal with it. He asked me if I wanted anything, and I told him that I didn’t appreciate the attitude, and that I was fine, for him to leave me alone. The whole conversation was civil, but still awkward, as the asshole had sent someone else out to feign a half-hearted attempt at an apology.

What I thought was over, can only be followed by a situation that ranks near the top of the most ridiculous, immature, and completely unacceptable experiences I have had in my life. The asshole that had been rude to be decided that he was going to come out and “straighten me out”. He came out on to the patio, and loudly declared that he was “looking for the idiot that couldn’t take a fucking joke”. I thought I could avoid the situation by remaining silent, but after continual demanding shouts of the same demeaning request, my blood was boiling, and so I told him that I was not an idiot because I didn’t want to put up with his attitude.

This quickly escalated into an all out shouting match between the asshole and myself; with every attempt I made to get him to leave me alone was met with him insulting me over and over again at the top of his lungs. It was clear that this asshole was 100% asshole, and there was no way that he was going to back down. I kept asking him to just shut up, and leave me alone, and he would not back down. I kept saying that I couldn’t believe that I was having such a ridiculous conversation with such an immature individual, to which he kept saying that he couldn’t believe how he was talking to such an idiot. I told him that he must be talking to himself, because I am not an idiot for decidedly not putting up with some asshole’s rude behavior. Finally, I told him that what he was expecting was for me to just put up with him being and asshole, and if that is what he wanted, that he could fuck off, and at that, he demanded that I leave the bar.

I told the people I was with that if they had rode with me, that I was clearly leaving, and the asshole even continued shouting at me as I tried to get out of the bar as fast as I could. He just wouldn’t stop. Needless to say, I left, and will NEVER return to Oscars again.

What really bothers me looking back on the situation, is how it escalated to a point where I was standing in a group of my friends trying to get this old fucker to leave me alone, and NO ONE spoke up, or defended me. Even after I left the bar, only one of my friends came outside to see how I was, and out of a group of almost 10 of my friends, not a single person inquired as to how I was after the obviously ridiculous and intense moment. I can say that without a shadow of a doubt, that if the same thing had happened to one of them, I would have spoken up, or at least seen how they were after the situation, but none of the same was afforded to me. That really bugs me, but there is nothing I can do about it, I can’t dictate the actions of others, which is clear when I couldn’t diffuse the bitchy asshole’s misplaced rant on me for not putting up with his bullshit.

I honestly wish I had never set foot in that bar last night, but I can’t take it back; just know that asking me to go back there is completely out of the question. And a final message for the bartender who acted like a complete asshole/child: grow up and learn how to deal with your anger, I am sure that it has ruined many relationships in your life, and you probably spend a lot of your time wondering what happened… well, I think I have an idea of where things might go wrong; stop being a douche to people that don’t deserve it, and perhaps people will be affording of your feelings in return. Just a thought.

civil rights, is it just me?, listen up!, that is so gay, tragic, venting, well?, wtf?!

what do you have against gay people, Katy Perry?

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If you don’t know who Katy Perry is, she is the chick that has made a hit out of kissing a girl (even though Jill Sobule did it many years ago, and unlike Perry, didn’t seem to have any issues with it) and then telling the world about it. As much as I wanted to like the song “I Kissed a Girl” (currently #2 on iTunes) by Perry, I initially didn’t feel like it was a good message. She sings about how it feels “wrong”, and even worse, she says that kissing girls isn’t what “good girls do”. However, after looking at the song from a different perspective, I figured that maybe she didn’t mean that at all; in fact, perhaps what good girls don’t do, is cheat on their boyfriends… and in that case, this song is playful, and not grounded in hate at all.

However (and a HUGE however), after checking her out further, and really trying to give her the benefit of the doubt with her “experimentation” with homosexual kissing, I found something that really makes me scratch my head and wonder if there is some problem that Katy has with gay people. She has a song called “Ur So Gay”, which has been called the “ultimate kiss-off” to a boy that was too “full of himself” to give her the time of day. In the song, she describes everything “wrong” with him, building to the conclusion that he must be gay, even though he doesn’t like boys (which, is the actual only ACCURATE use of the word gay… that which is glaringly absent from her song).

While many will see this accurately as a joke, the underlying message is too clear to ignore; Katy sees being gay as wrong, abnormal, and most importantly, as an insult that she uses to make herself feel better for being dissed. What’s wrong with that, some of you may wonder? Well, the underlying message is hate speech, and here again, I can’t believe that we have yet another example of someone using the description of a person’s sexual orientation as a slur of any kind.

Katy dear, this is 2008. We need to stop using gay as an insult; being gay is normal. If you use “gay” as synonym for bad, negative, horrible, stupid, or any of the many other derogatory words it has been used in place of to place insult, then you are propagating and continuing the underlying bigotry that is so fervent in this country. Continuing this form of “hidden” bigotry is just intolerable, and I for one feel like I must continue to speak out against it.

“Artists” like Katy Perry should be confronted with the fact that their “silly, harmless jokes” are grounded in hateful, shameful, and derogatory feelings that only further the bigotry against gay people in this country. It isn’t “cute” or “funny” that she kissed another girl, it is normal; whether or not she can deal with her homosexual feelings is her problem, not ours.

If you don’t see this as a big deal, ask yourself: would it be cute or funny if she wrote a song about how weird it was for her to kiss a black person?? How do you think that would that go over? Additionally, if she were to write a song about how awful a boy was because he was so “stereotypically black”, how would that sound? Well, I know how it would sound, in one word: RACIST. So I want to know why is it okay to apply that same sentiment to gay people?? Clearly, it isn’t, and I honestly can’t believe that this type of message is still put out there; yet here it is.

Shame on you Katy Perry. Grow up. Become more than that stereotypical playground bully. Gain some intelligence (clearly, that is lacking, because being gay means “liking boys” if you are male, and she doesn’t seem to put two and two together in her song) and perspective, and realize that, even in a “joking” manner, that using the term “gay” to insult someone is causing harm to the gay community in perpetuating the very hate and indifference we are fighting so hard to get rid of. I always cling to the hope that people can be better than they are, but it is people like Katy Perry that continually let me down. Unfortunately, there are people out there that are just waiting to gobble this crap up, and morons like Perry are ready to give them more. I have to ask myself, can there truly be a time when we can all stop the name calling, and just see each other as equal? Can their truly be a time when gay people can be treated as the normal people that we are, and not continually insulted and have our lifestyle continually used as a form of degradation? Little things like this really make me wonder if people are truly capable of that at all, unfortunately.

Sigh. Hopefully, she will fade into the distance soon, and people will rightfully forget about her ignorance; even though it is bound to pop up somewhere else.

civil rights, get involved, happenings, listen up!, music musings, music suggestion, show the love, that is so gay, tragic

5SF: april 25

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One final down, two to go. This really is a stressful time of year.

On a serious note, today is the National day of Silence, where people in schools across the country don’t speak, in order to bring attention to the fact that gay people are continually harassed verbally, and unfortunately, physically. This year is dedicated to the little boy, Lawrence King, who was murdered because he had a crush on his classmate. It still blows my mind how cruel and unusually hateful can be. I hope that this day, we can respectfully remember those that have been taken from us, and hopefully, these instances of abuse (and worse) can end. Being gay is normal, and in order to make that a reality, we all need to stop calling names, stop making fun, and treat gay people just as we are; normal.

On a less serious note, let’s do the five songs already.

Newton Faulkner – Dream Catch Me
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_425_newtonfaulkner-dreamcatchme.mp3]
I actually heard this song a long time ago, when my buddy Deb played it for me, but for whatever reason (again), it didn’t gel with me right away. I heard it again on the radio a few months ago, and have really been loving it ever since. I have been meaning to post it for two weeks now, but better late than never, right? Be warned, it is such a catchy song, with a fabulous melody and an infectious chorus, so there is a great chance that it will get stuck in your head after listening. You have been warned. Sometimes, you hear a refreshing, really well done pop song, and I am here to say that this is definitely one of those songs.

Feist – Mushaboom (Postal Service Remix)
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_425_feist-mushaboom(postalserviceremix).mp3]
After seeing Feist last week in concert, and remembering why I chose her amazing CD The Reminder as my number 2 of 2007, I have been revisiting the record, and feeling the need for more Feist. I went back and downloaded her first CD, and found this really great mix of Mushaboom on the compilation CD she released called Open Season. It’s a great song on it’s own, and I thought she performed it (and all of the others) flawlessly in concert. However, adding that Postal Service treatment to anything makes it instantly better, in my honest opinion. I wish they would release another record all ready!!! Well, at least I have the random collaborations that the did with fabulous artists like Feist to tide me over, I guess. Either way, it was great getting to see Feist, and it has been a great “reminder” of how great of an artist that she truly is.

Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_425_imogenheap-hideandseek.mp3]
First of all, wow. I mean seriously. This is my “blast from the past” song this week, and it is a doosy. I have loved this song immensely from the first moment that I heard it. The rest of this record is amazing, but this is one of those songs that carries emotion so pungently on the tip of each syllable, that is begs to be played over and over again. Imogen Heap’s voice is ethereal and amazing, and with the vocoder letting her use her voice as the instrument that drives this song truly defines her as an unconventional, yet amazingly talented music artist. I really look forward to what’s coming next from Imogen, because if it is anything like this, I know that I am going to LOVE it. *pardon me for a second while I play this song again… yep… amazing.*

Hayden – The Hardest Part
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_425_hayden-thehardestpart.mp3]
I posted a Hayden song a while back when I first found out that he was opening for Feist. It was the first song of his that I heard, way back when I was in high school, and since that time, I have had the chance to get to know his newest release, In Field and Town much more thoroughly. I can say now, that it is definitely one of the best records released so far in 2008, and if my love for the record continues to grow with each listen as it has, it will probably be amongst my favorites for the year. The harmonies and melody that Hayden plays with are effortless, and insanely beautiful. His raspy voice offers more emotion to these simple, but well crafted songs. Seeing him open for Feist was definitely a treat, and I am extremely glad to have been reintroduced to an artist that I forgot about nearly 10 years ago. This is my favorite song from his new record, and it is one that I could seriously listen to on repeat.

Danity Kane – Pretty Boy
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_425_danitykane-prettyboy.mp3]
On a final very danceable note, I present this brilliantly produced track from Nate “Danja” Hills. He worked wonders for Britney, as well as others like Katharine McPhee, and he pull out all the stops on this hot track for Danity Kane. Is it me, or is Danja totally the next Darkchild? I hope they release this as their next single, because I would love to see a video for this track. While I haven’t fallen as hard for their sophomore album, this song is definitely getting lots of play from me, it is HOT!! I am hoping that Danja has more of this up his sleeve, and less of that sleeper he did for Madge. This song is just twisted, and the beat is wickedly infectious, whereas the Madonna track is well… boring to me. Oh well, I guess we’ll see!

Well, there’s your five… what do you think?? And music suggestions for me too people!! I need them!

all about me, hmm interesting, near and dear, the catch-all-egory, tragic

too close for comfort

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So they have released a “final report” on the path of the tornado… and it ended literally 400 or so feet from our house. Wow. I mean, it is just surreal, because on the street where it ended (which you can literally throw a rock at from my back porch), the damage is way worse than on our street. I am extremely thankful that it stopped when it did. I honestly can’t believe that it got so close!! Who knows what would have happened with that massive tree that took out our fence if the storm would have kept going! The thought alone is just pounding in my brain this morning.

I can’t imagine what Sydney must have been thinking as it came through, because we weren’t even at home. Poor little guy!! I am honestly glad that we weren’t home; I think that it would have been very, very scary to hear all of the madness. Again, I am just incredibly glad, and I feel amazingly lucky, that it ended where it did… 400 more feet and things may have ended very differently for us!

On a completely different topic, I was driving on the freeway recently, and I saw a man driving with one hand holding his cell phone to his ear, and the other hand plugging his other ear so that he could hear. He was driving on 85 with no hands. NO HANDS! Where are the fucking police to pull over people like this?? Every time I drive down the freeway, I have to constantly adjust my speed and I have to be on constant alert for freaks around me, because cell-phone-talkers are constantly slamming on brakes, and drifting into and out of your lane. Hey police… POLICE the freeway and stop these dangerous freaks! It isn’t normal to have a major wreck on every major freeway in Atlanta every day. Pass a law or something, but this madness has to stop!

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another wacko religious fanatic gets the mic…

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I don’t know if you have all heard about this Republican representative named Sally Kern, and the speech that she gave about her views on homosexuality, but it is apparently all over the interwebs. I heard about it last week, but didn’t really feel a need to shine a light on yet another hateful rant that someone felt the need to give showing their bigoted views against homosexuality. However, after seeing the following clip, I felt compelled to say something:


First things first, I honestly feel that Sally Kern has every right to say whatever she wants; that is her right as a citizen of this country. However, as a state elected politician, there is a time and a place for everything. She represents people as a leader, and as such, she should keep her personal religious beliefs restricted to her religion. If she disagrees with homosexuality, that is fine, but speaking out, as a politician and a leader, and saying that homosexuality is worse than terrorism and that our “agenda” is to indoctrinate 2 year olds and to infiltrate our schools in spreading homosexuality, is spreading not only hate speech, but blatant lies as well.

Clearly, she is confused. Clearly, she has her facts wrong, and it becomes rapidly apparent when you hear just how deluded she is in stating the aforementioned items as fact. Yet, again, she has the right to say it. However, as a public figure, and as a representative, it isn’t her place to preach such hate. If she wants to open up her own church and spread as much religious fanaticism as she wants, so be it, but there is no place for elected people to be spreading such misinformation, and passing it off as fact.

I am frustrated by this woman, mostly because of the video above. She clearly has been called out, yet refuses to acknowledge that what she has done is spread misinformation, while representing herself as an elected public figure. I just think there should be some boundaries, and she clearly doesn’t agree. I personally hope that this is the, as she put it, “death knell” in the coffin of her public service career. Nutjobs like this belong in backwoods churches and not public office. Unfortunately, it is this type of message that leads to the killing of gays and lesbians, like the young boy who was murdered for wanting his classmate to be his valentine. It is sickening to be reminded by little things like this, that we live in a country where the people that hate us so vehemently don’t just live outside of our borders.

I personally think that it is sad that people have such little value in living their own lives, that they must find reasons to attack others. That they must find so much hate inside themselves, that they feel compelled to spread lies and further hateful ideas about certain people that they don’t “agree” with. I feel sorry for people like Sally. It must be difficult to live in a world where you are so clouded by the religious beliefs that you have chosen to use in shrouding you from truth, so much so, that you really and truly believe such ridiculous things as she said. Furthermore, I think that other Christians, more than we gays, should be (and probably are) completely ashamed that someone so clearly deranged is speaking out and representing them. It is just incredibly frustrating that people can wrap themselves in the Bible, and then become the biggest possible hypocrite in the world, by calling you a faggot at the same time. Where’s the love that your religion preaches Sally? Clearly, it isn’t in you.

Sally, you are worse than we. We don’t harm America; people like you do. Your speech shows an inability to learn or grow, and a mindset that fuels the very terrorism that you are so against. People like you are, and will remain, one of the biggest problems that plagues this nation. I sincerely hope that this is the last time that you are given the mic, and that soon, you will no longer be representing your religious fanaticism as an elected official.

In order to lighten the mood a bit, here’s a lovely clip from Ellen, who called Sally:


I love Ellen so much… she makes me proud to be a part of the gay community. I wonder how many Christians would say the same about Sally.