Some Truth In Reality

I'm not a huge fan of "reality" television. I've never seen "Big Brother," "Survivor," or "Fear Factor," and I don't even get whether "Hills" is a reality show, or not. I'll admit that I exposed myself, just once, to "The Housewives of New Jersey," and I really dig "Project Runway" and "Top Chef." Mostly, I'm content to watch re-runs of "The Golden Girls," "Roseanne," and "I Love Lucy" - and, admittedly, too much "Rachel Maddow" and "Anderson Cooper."

I do think that television affects society, at least as much as reflects society. I'm not sure what the current state of television, in particular the ridiculous popularity of "reality" shows based on the spectacle of instant celebrity and humiliation, says about our current state as a society. And, tonight we'll have a brand new spectacle to soak up - "Miami Social."

As devoted Nibblers here at the Lair know, I recently moved to Atlanta, after living in Miami for 15 years. Twelve of those years were spent in South Beach. I wrote about my long-term relationship with South Beach a few years ago, and I knew then that my Miami chapter was coming to a close. I arrived in South Beach as a 23 year old kid, and I became an adult there. I found and built strong friendships with people who I will never stop missing. And I will always dream of the endless ocean and pink, purple and orange skies.

But, unfortunately, the reality of "Miami Social" has a lot of truth in its depiction of current South Beach culture - and that I will never miss. Sure, there are a lot of people in South Beach who aren't as vapid and artificial as the "cast" of this new show...but I think most would be surprised by how many are. And, the problem is that if you work in real estate or hospitality (basically the only legal industries in Miami), you have to deal with these types of people all day long.

I'm surprised by how much I don't miss Miami. I don't miss the rude drivers, or the lack of common courtesy. I don't miss the cashiers and waiters who wouldn't acknowledge my presence, or the tacky plastic VIPs. And, I definitely don't miss the reality of "Miami Social."

Sincerely,

I loved this letter to the DNC, posted on Salon.com (I was tipped to it over at Joe.My.God.). Tony sent an abridged version in response to a written request for more money....

On The Sidelines

I grew up in Pittsburgh. And the first things that come to mind when most people think of Pittsburgh are steel mills and professional sports. For most people, the Steel City conjures images of the grimy, smoky city of the Deer Hunter era - a place where beer drinking steelworkers cheered "Mean "Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, and Willie Stargell on to make sports history.

And, when I was a kid, Pittsburgh wasn't far from the imagined. The steel industry was already on the decline, but football and baseball held the city together. Even for a kid, like me, who couldn't be less interested in team sports, there wasn't a day without terrible towels, "We Are Family," and the distinctly Pittsburgh voice of Myron Cope. I go back to visit once or twice a year, and I can assure anyone that, while the steel mills have been replaced with tree-lined, mixed-use shopping districts and "green" technology start-ups, Pittsburgh is still very much a sports town. So, it always comes as a real surprise to others when I mention that I have never attended a professional sports game. Yep. I'm from Pittsburgh, and I have never - not once - attended a Steelers game. Or a Pirates game. Or even a Penguins match. Never. I suppose it's like someone from Italy who's never had pasta.

So, on Sunday, I became a professional sports spectator for the first time. One of Tony's colleagues had a couple of extra tickets to the Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox game, and he was kind enough to invite us. It was a great introduction, despite the scorching 98 degree heat. We were seated at first base, in the third row, and we had a great view of everything.

Having now had the inside spectator experience, I can now say, with full authority, "I just don't get team sports." I'm actually fascinated by how much I don't "get it." I'll concede that, had I had a more clear understanding of all the rules and such, it might've been a little different. But, I'm sure that my not "getting it" is much more fundamental than that.

For one, I just don't get what makes people so passionately devoted to a team. So, most of the people sitting around us were from Atlanta. And, they were passionate Atlanta Braves fans. They jumped up and down with joy when the Atlanta team scored a homerun or a stole a base. And they heckled and booed the Boston players every chance they had - and at times were really fucking obnoxious about it. Here's what I don't get...few, if any, of the Braves players are from Atlanta, or have even ever lived in Atlanta. The Atlanta Braves are a marketed franchise, like Subway or McDonald's. The franchise buys players from all over the world. But, these people from Atlanta put their hearts and souls into being Braves fans. I just don't understand why folks feel so passionate about an Atlanta team that in no way at all represents anything about the City of Atlanta.

Second. I don't get the behavior of heckling and booing the other team. I just don't understand what joy people get out of screaming "you suck!" and "papi, you're a big loser!" And, I don't get how that's acceptable and expected behavior, just because of the game setting. People actually pay money, so that they can sit in stadium seats and hurl insults at other people. Weird.

Lastly, I just don't get why the masses are so attracted to team sports, as opposed to individual athletic achievement. I actually love watching many of the Olympics events. And, I'm not sure what that big difference is for me. I'm sure that the big spectacle of team sports stimulates some genetic militaristic tendency that I just don't have, but the sociology of team sports is just so intriguing to me.

Any thoughts?

Iran So Far Away

Watching the post-election events in Iran has been a very emotional experience for me. My heart breaks for the people in the street who were brutalized, beaten, gassed, shot and murdered by their own government And, I'm so, so sad for their families and friends. I'm afraid for those who have been rounded up and imprisoned. But, I'm also deeply moved by the bravery of those fighting in the streets against injustice and corruption. I understand the rage generated by a stolen election, and I stand in awe at their raw courage.

The images that made it out of Iran tell the story of a people desperate for change. And, I can't help but to think of the incredible joy that I felt watching the era of the Bush / Cheney regime come to a close on the day of President Obama's inauguration. My only wish now for the people of Iran is that they soon know that same feeling of joy. And, I believe that they will.

I think it's obvious that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon be completely irrelevant. His smirky arrogance, his uneducated simple-mindedness, and his belligerant love of power worked well during the Bush years. Ahmadinejad and Bush needed each other. Bush needed a scary Axis of Evil to entertain the USA-chanting masses, and Ahmadinejad needed a Crusading Western Empire to keep his power flowing. And the common good-hearted people of both countries were caught in the middle.

But, now Bush is gone, and against the wishes of the dwindling GOP, President Obama has refused to step into the required role. Obama's brilliant speech in Cairo left Ahmadinejad standing alone. And the people of Iran voted to accept Obama's invitation to a better world. Unfortunately, their voices were denied by system-wide election rigging. And then, they took to the streets.

I don't know exactly how the story will play out. But, I do know that Obama's promise of change in the world is coming to pass, and I know that eventually the people of Iran will know hope. Until then, I will hope for them.

This past Saturday, I had the honor of witnessing some from the Iranian-American community here in Atlanta, stand up in solidarity with the people in their homeland. It was a very moving experience. Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to take part, but I've joined the local Facebook group and next time, I'm so there.

Farewell

The Sanctity of Marriage Warriors

1. I am the Lord, thy God.
2. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
3. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
4. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
5. Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy.
6. Honor thy father and thy mother.
7. Thou shalt not kill.
8. Thou shall not commit adultery.
9. Thou shalt not steal.
10. Thou shall not covet.

And, yet nothing about the great evil of homosexuals getting married. Not one word about the gays in the highest and most sacred rules of the Judeo-Christian tradition? The same Judeo-Christian tradition that we hear about non-fucking-stop from those folks who are tirelessly defending the word marriage from being "re-defined" to allow federal recognition of the lives and commitments of same-sex couples?

Let's take a look at some of that tireless work that's being done to save traditional opposite marriage, shall we? Due to limits of time and space, we'll only be able to delve into the past 2 weeks. For more information on the Sanctity of Marriage warriors, please click on any of the following adulterous hypocrites: Marion Barry, David Vitter, Newt Gingrich, Larry Craig, Randall Tobias, Mark Foley, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Bowers, Vito Fossella, Connie Mack....

Senator John Ensign

In 1998, the born-again Christian and Nevada Republican Representative John Ensign, was the among the first in Congress to condemn Bill Clinton's adulterous affair with Monica Lewinsky. He called on President to quit because "he has no credibility left." In 2004, Senator Ensign was a passionate supporter of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which if passed would've added an amendment to the Constitution of the United States banning states from recognizing same-sex marriages. He stated:

"Marriage is the cornerstone on which our society was founded. For those who say that the Constitution is so sacred that we cannot or should not adopt the Federal Marriage Amendment, I would simply point out that marriage, and the sanctity of that institution, predates the American Constitution and the founding of our nation."

On June 16th, Senator Ensign admitted publicly that he had an adulterous affair with a female campaign staffer from December 2007 to August 2008. While the affair took place, Senator Ensign doubled his mistress' salary - which was apparently being paid by the Republican Political Action Committee.

Governor Mark Sanford

Yesterday, South Carolina Governor and ardent defender of traditional marriage, Mark Sanford, admitted to abandoning his post as governor and secretly flying to Argentina to be with his mistress. His admission ends nearly a week of speculation as to the Governor's whereabouts. His adulterous affair has lasted nearly a year, so far. Incidentally, his trip to Argentina preempted Father's Day weekend, so his four children were unable to celebrate the fruits of traditional marriage with their father. Also incidentally, the Governor (and father of the year) voted to ban gay and lesbian people from adopting unwanted children. Um, yeah. And, while reporters dig to see if this Sanctity of Marriage warrior paid for his secret Argentine rendezvous with South Carolina taxpayer money, let's take a look at Governor Sanford's very recent cameo on the Joe Scarborough morning show....

*** UPDATE *** As it turns out...Governor Mark Sanfor, Defender of Traditional Opposite Marriage and Decliner of President Obama's Irresponsible to the Taxpayers Stimulus Plan, did in fact use taxpayer money to fund his adulterous affair in Argentina - according to the New York Times. I wonder how relieved Governor Sanford was to hear of Michael Jackson's news dominating death.

Another World

"Another World" - Antony and the Johnsons

On The Beach

This past weekend, we were finally able to make it to the High Museum of Art, here in Atlanta. It's an impressive museum space, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, and it houses a significant collection of 19th and 20th century American and European art, African-American art, and some outstanding contemporary and modern pieces. The High (as it's often called here), has a partnership with the Louvre and is currently exhibiting Claude Monet's "Water Lilies," which was fairly interesting.

But, I was really intrigued and moved by an exhibit of Richard Misrach's photography series, "On The Beach." Each photo was huge, in some cases measuring 6 x 10 feet, and the detail captured in each was just extraordinary. The photos are of people in the ocean, and/or on the beach in various positions and postures - but photographed from an almost omniscient spot high above.

As Misrach explains, "The photographs that appear in On the Beach were made between January 2002 and November 2005. My thinking was influenced by the events of 9/11, as well as by the 1950s Cold War novel and film, On the Beach. I was drawn to the fragility and grace of the human figure in the landscape. For me, the work is both a celebration of our survival and an elegy. Paradise has become an uneasy dwelling place; the sublime sea frames our vulnerability, the precarious nature of life itself."

Truly fantastic.

The Knot For Equality

The great postmodern writer and thinker, Gore Vidal, once said "style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn." This week, the Levi's Company let the world know that Levi's is still at the forefront of American style. Shoppers and window shoppers of Levi's stores in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco will see mannequins wearing the new summer line, and small pinned "white knots" that symbolize support for marriage equality.

From the New York Times:

Levi's is getting in the spirit of the season by dressing its storefront mannequins in white. In Levi’s-owned stores in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco, that means more than just marking the passing of Memorial Day, the traditional date to begin wearing white: in 20 stores, the mannequins’ white Levi’s jeans and shirts are adorned with White Knots, a symbol of solidarity with the same-sex marriage movement.

The symbol was made more timely by the California Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday to uphold Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in the state. Developed by Frank Voci, a digital media consultant, as a response to Proposition 8’s passage last November, the White Knot for Equality is a white ribbon tied in a knot.

I could definitely use a few new pairs of jeans. Looks like I'll be heading to the Levi's store today.

Acid House Flashback # 13

"Pacific State" - 808 State - 1989

The Voice Of Morality

Last Tuesday, the city council of Washington DC, voted 12 to 1 to recognize same-sex marriages from the states that have now passed marriage equality laws - Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Maine. There was just one council member who opposed the measure - former Washington DC mayor, Marion Barry. Yes, the same Marion Barry who is apparently now serving as the moral voice for several local African-American churches, and who:

* In 1989 was arrested for cocaine possession.

* In 1990 was caught in a FBI undercover sting, smoking crack with a girlfriend in a hotel room. Mr. Barry was charged with three felony counts of perjury, one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to possess cocaine, and ten counts of misdemeanor drug possession. The incident was caught on tape, and Marion "Sanctity of Marriage" Barry was, at the time, married to his third wife, Effi. He was sentenced to six months in a federal prison, and the audio from the videotape where Mayor Barry declares "Bitch set me up! I shouldn't have come up here. God damned bitch!" played a bazillion times on local, national, and international news.

* In 2005, after being investigated by the IRS, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of failing to pay local and federal taxes. The mandatory drug testing for the hearing showed that Marion "Moral Leader" Barry was still smoking crack, as well as marijuana. He was sentenced to three years probation.

* In 2006, Marion "There's Gonna Be a Civil War" Barry was stopped by police for stopping at a green light and then running a red light. The police officers smelled alcohol and administered a field sobriety test. Councilman Barry was taken in for a breathalyzer test, and a urine test. The police claim that the breathalyzer was giving inaccurate results and Marion "I Didn't Do It" Barry refused to take the urine test. He received tickets for running a red light, and refusing to submit to a urine sobriety test.

* In 2007, Marion "Between a Man and a Woman" Barry was fighting federal prosecutors who sought to have his probation revoked because he failed to file his 2005 income taxes. A U.S. Magistrate judge ruled that it had not been proved that he willfully declined to file.

* In February of this year, federal prosecutors again filed a motion to have Marion "Traditional Marriage" Barry's probation revoked - this time because he failed to file his 2007 income tax returns. According to one of the prosecutors, Councilman Barry has not filed his tax returns for 8 of the last 9 years.

The hyprocrisy of this man, and his ilk, is simply nauseating. But, here we have it - the people and voices of the movement against marriage equality.

And now, for a word from the pro-marriage equality camp....

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Gaywatch - Marion Barry
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

On The Road Again

Did I mention that we're moving to Atlanta next week? Well, we are.

Buycott The Big Four!

Last Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court, unanimously decided that the state's law banning same-sex marriages was unconstitutional - and in doing so, became the third state to grant equal marriage rights to same-sex couples.

It's actually not that surprising that Iowa is at the forefront of marriage equality, as the state has a long history of leadership on civil rights issues. In 1839, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that a slave becomes free upon stepping foot on Iowa soil. And in 1868, the Court ruled against "separate but equal" segregation in schools - a full 85 years before the United States Supreme Court came to the same decision. The next year, in 1869, Iowa became the first state to permit women to practice law. Located in the very heart of the this country, Iowa does in many ways represent the very best of the American ideal - friendly, tolerant, practical. It's not the extremist America that we are exposed to everytime we turn on the tv. It's the real "silent majority." The people who hold and practice a live and let live worldview.

On Tuesday, Vermont became the fourth state to recognize marriage equality.

I think it's important, especially during these economic times, to spend money wisely. And, right now, I can't think of a better way to spend money than to purposefully buy products and services that support the working people of the four states that now offer a welcoming handshake to all Americans. A sort of thank you BUYcott.

Here's a very incomplete list of companies based in the Big Four Equality states, as well as a few travel points of interest.

Companies based in Iowa:Happy Joe's Pizza and Ice Cream Parlor, Hartig Drug, Kum and Go, Maytag Dairy Farms, Meredith Corporation ( Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Fitness), Palmer Candy Company, Panchero's Mexican Grill, Pizza Ranch, Winnebago, Stone Cliff Winery

Companies based in Connecticut: Aetna, Bevin Bells, Bigelow Tea, Bob's Discount Furniture, Cannondale Bicycles, Crabtree & Evelyn, Dooney & Bourke, Duracell, Ethan Allen, Harney & Sons Teas, Hartford Financial Services, Hosmer Mountain Soda, Newman's Own, PriceRite, Priceline.com, Subway, Time Warner Cable, United Natural Foods, World Wrestling Entertainment

Companies based in Massachusetts: 3Com, BJ's Wholesale Club, Autonomie Project, Aubuchon Hardware, Bertucci's, Brigham's Ice Cream, Cape Cod Potato Chips, Casual Male, Cherrybrook Kitchen, Converse, Cumberland Farms, Digital Federal Credit Union, Dunkin' Donuts, Friendly's, Filene's Basement, Bent's Cookie Factory, Gazelle, Gentle Giant Moving Company, Honey Dew Donuts, Independent Fabrication Bikes, Jordan's Furniture, Lycos, Massachusetts Bay Trading Company, Ninety Nine Restaurant, Ocean Spray, Papa Gino's, Rockport, Saucony, Stop & Shop, Tea Forte, Upromise, Welch's, Yankee Candle Company

Companies based in Vermont: Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Bruegger's, Building Green, Burton Snowboards, Cabot Cheese, Fine Paints of Europe, Green Mountain Coffee, King Arthur Flour, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Long Trail Brewing, Magic Hat Brewing Company, Maple Landmark Woodcraft, Otter Creek Brewing, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Rhino Foods, Stave Puzzles, Vermont Country Store

Friends of mine, Peter and George, at Miami Beach Pride, who have been together for 65 years. Photo by Jason Weaver.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, Cooler

Captainl0ver is possibly the next YouTube superstar, and most likely the impetus of a coming massive wave of popularity for ASL classes at community colleges across the nation. I can't get enough of his signed versions of pop videos. I'm completely fascinated by this one - "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk. Thanks to Stimpy for clueing me in.

The Word: Rigged

Just when I thought I couldn't love Stephen Colbert any more, comes this little gem (via Yahoo.com)....

WASHINGTON – NASA's online contest to name a new room at the international space station went awry. Comedian Stephen Colbert won.

The name "Colbert" beat out NASA's four suggested options in the space agency's effort to have the public help name the addition. The new room will be launched later this year.
NASA's mistake was allowing write-ins. Colbert urged viewers of his Comedy Central show, "The Colbert Report" to write in his name. And they complied, with 230,539 votes. That clobbered Serenity, one of the NASA choices, by more than 40,000 votes. Nearly 1.2 million votes were cast by the time the contest ended Friday.

NASA reserves the right to choose an appropriate name. Agency spokesman John Yembrick said NASA will decide in April, but will give top vote-getters "the most consideration."

Of course, it's all fun and games until the Space Shuttle Limbaugh takes off.

Acid House Flashback # 12

"Respect" - Adeva - 1989

A Report From The Frontlines - Part 3

In the time it's taken me to post the complete "report from the frontlines" trilogy, President Obama has succeeded in getting Congress to approve a stimulus plan to keep us from entering a Mad Max future. Personally, I hate that this "bailout" is necessary, and there is a part of me that thinks "bring on Thunderdome Tina Turner" just on principle, as a severe act of fairness for those of us who did not live so beyond our means. But, I agree with President Obama (damn, that still feels so good to say) that extraordinary measures need to be taken to pull our economy out of the downward spiral that it's in - and, currently, the practical solutions me is winning the battle with righteous Thunderdome me.

So, here are some of my ideas on how we, and our government, should proceed...

1. As I mentioned in the last installment of this oh-so-compelling three part series, the banks need to immediately put a halt to the waves of short sales that are propelling the real estate markets downward. Homeowners need to have just two options...pay the mortgage or have your property foreclosed upon.

2. The federal government should force all banks to modify each and every homeowner's primary residence mortgage to 30-year fixed 4% rate product. This is the only fair solution that will stop the waves of distressed properties entering the market due to re-setting ridiculously adjustable interest rates, as well as provide a benefit to the majority of people who are continuing to fulfill their mortgage obligations. A 4% interest rate would also bring buyers back in to the market, helping to further stabilize prices and banking systems.

3. There needs to be regulatory legislation that requires a minimum percentage of down payment for any real estate purchase - possibly 10%, which would help prevent another housing bubble, and still keep home ownership within reach to a significant portion of the population.

4. Instead of pouring money into the sinking financial systems, we need to pour money into job creation through infrastructure investment. There is a lot of this idea in the stimulus plan, but I'd like to see it go further than it does. Americans need to see some real, tangible results from the biggest spending package that our nation's history. I'd like to see the billions of dollars invested in putting Americans to work building wind and solar farms, massive public transportation systems, and new schools. The factories of the Detroit automakers that don't survive because of decades of bad business decisions could be used to build a new America and a better world.

5. End marijuana prohibition now. Listen, I'm not a stoner. I don't like pot, and haven't smoked out in more than a decade. But, it's just absurd that tobacco and alcohol, both of which are extremely addictive, dangerous and harmful, are available at the grocery store, while we spend billions of dollars per year investigating, intercepting, arresting and housing people who buy and sell a prohibited plant. We would immediately save an estimated $7.7 billion in prohibition enforcement, and we would gain about $6.2 billion in annual tax revenue.

6. Bring the troops in Iraq home now. The War on Iraq was lost the day we realized that there were no weapons of mass destruction. We invaded on the premise that Saddam Hussein had terrible biological and chemical weapons pointed at the United States and our goal was to dismantle the weapons and the sinister government behind them. And, now, almost six years after the initial invasion, and the announcement that there actually were no WMDs, we're still there. We don't know why we're there. We don't have any goals, other than to bring democracy to the Iraqi people - who, for the most part, just want us to get the fuck out of their homeland. Let's bring home 100,000 of our young men and women who are currently patrolling the streets and deserts of Iraq. Let's get them back home and into the economy, and cut out nearly a billion dollars of spending per month.

7. In the near future, in order to stimulate a new economic model, I would support eliminating income taxes and the IRS, and switching to a consumption tax. Trust me, it kills me to agree with Mike Huckabee on anything. But, the truth is that our current system of taxing income has become so complicated that it's become more of an art than a science, and it seems like no one really knows how much income tax they're really supposed to pay. Tim Geithner, the person in charge of the economic rescue of our nation, couldn't even figure out how much he was supposed to pay! A broad sales tax of, let say 30%, would be fair in its even distribution, logical in its eas of implementation, and smart in its promotion of savings and less use of limited resources.

8. Universal health care. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly not support a national system of high standard health care available to all Americans. Medical bills are the number one cause of personal bankruptcy in the United States.

If I ruled the world, these would be some of my solutions to the mess that we're in. I think Obama's plan is a good one, and I'm hopeful that we are nearing the bottom of the spiral.

What are your thoughts?

A Report From The Frontlines - Part 2

The vast majority of homeowners, who are flooding the market with their short sale listings and sticking their lenders (most of which YOU now own) with hundred thousand dollar losses, could pay their mortgage if they felt they had to. But, because the Joneses down the street were able to get rid of their mortgage by short selling at a $75,000 loss to the bank , and they aren't facing any long-term consequences, well, now the Smiths want to do the same. And so do the Riveras and the Wongs and the McNeelys.

The safeguards that are in place to prevent "just anyone" from being approved by the bank for a short sale are failing miserably, and the result is that everyone thinks that they can just walk away from their mortgage obligation and just have a hit on their credit report for a couple of years. A candidate for a short sale is supposed to prove to the bank that they are completely bankrupt. The package that I am responsible for putting together and sending to the bank must contain the following as proof of insolvency:

1. A hardship letter - this is a one-page letter written by the homeowner explaining to the bank why they can't pay their mortgage.

2. Income tax returns from the past two years. -

3. Copies of all bank account statements from the past two months.

4. A financial worksheet showing all of the monthly sources of income and expenses.

I have a pretty good feeling that a lot of people are being about as honest with the financial information that they give me for the short sale request package as they were with the financial information they gave to the mortgage broker when they got their $550,000 loan. And, I can assure you that the banks are not checking to see if there are other bank accounts that weren't included, or if the information on the financial worksheet is accurate.

I come home each night, and I hear CNN hosts ranting about how poor, upstanding, hard-working, Main Street Americans are being forced out of their homes by big, evil, Wall Street tycoons. And, while Wall Street is ultimately responsible for creating loan "products" for people that couldn't afford them, and while there are a lot of people who really cannot fulfill their mortgage obligations because of lost jobs or resetting interest rates, there are also an awful lot of people who just don't want to keep paying. Media personalities, like Lou Dobbs, present, night after night, stories of poor people who got hoodwinked by the faceless Wall Street elite into signing those mortgage papers and now can't pay. And, I am certain that a lot of people really didn't understand what they were signing, and there were a lot of people preyed upon by predatory lenders. But, because of these heartbreaking stories of single mothers losing their suburban McMansions to foreclosure, too many people think that the right thing to do is to take revenge on those sinister mortgage lending banks by short selling.

The first solution that needs to be implemented: banks need to completely stop doing short sales (except in the case of the death of a spouse or a domestic partner). They need to simply foreclose on properties where the owners have stopped making payments. I guarantee that bank losses, in the long run, would be less if homeowners had only the options of paying the mortgage, or having a foreclosure destroy their credit for years and years to come.

Cutting out the option of short sale would also save a lot of people from "inadvertant foreclosure." What I see happening now, is that a lot of people who want to get out from under decide to list their property as a short sale, thinking that it will be as easy as it was for the Smiths down the street. But, months pass and still no buyer. Finally, after 8 months of marketing (and not paying the mortgage, or condo fees, or property taxes - but still going out to eat every night) they get an offer that's $100,000 below what they owe. Their realtor puts together the short sale request package and sends it to the bank. But, it takes 4 to 5 months to be processed by the bank's short sale department, and in that time the foreclosure department sets a date for the foreclosure sale. And, now these people, who could have paid their mortgage, but opted for a short sale, ended up with a foreclosure and will likely never be able to buy property again.

I have a few more observations and ideas regarding this mess...(to be continued)

A Report From The Frontlines - Part One

I have steered fairly clear of bringing my worklife back home to the Lair. Generally, I like to blog at work, not blog about work. But, alas, the time has come to share some observations from the frontlines of the economic meltdown.

I work as a transaction coordinator for one of the top-producing real estate teams in Florida. Basically, I do all of the behind-the-scenes work, all of the research and paperwork, and all of the detail necessary work - which allows the agents on my team to focus on selling real estate. It's a lot of work, a lot of stress, and it's definitely not my life's dream. But, for the moment it pays the bills, and well, I'm pretty good at it. And, of course, there's the benefit of having a ringside seat for the Great Depression 2.0.

I started working in real estate at the height of the market - January 2005. I didn't know a thing about real estate, but I quickly learned the industry lingo - "no doc interest only loan", "not contingent upon appraisal" and "preconstruction flip." From 2002 to 2005 the market in many Miami zip codes rose nearly 200% in value thanks to "creative financing" and the new "investor" class. I watched as nurses and construction workers and waiters bought condos for $400,000 and I wondered "how the fuck can everyone afford to buy at these prices?" Well, in October 2005, the market turned, nearly overnight, and like a big game of musical chairs, a lot of those in the "investor class" suddenly couldn't sell and got stuck without a chair.

Our market has plummeted by nearly half since the height, and now I specialize in processing and negotiating short sales. A short sale occurs when a property owner sells her / his property for less than what he / she owes on the mortgage(s), thereby sticking the bank with the difference. It's my job to put together a convincing package for the bank to convince them that it's better to take, for example, a $100,000 hit than to foreclose on the property and lose even more through attorney's fees and further market depreciation. For the seller, a short sale is a much, much better option in that it only damages the seller's credit score for 2 to 3 years - as opposed to a foreclosure which obliterates the credit score for 8 years, and the seller will always have to disclose to any future mortgage lender that he / she has had a foreclosure in the past.

Unfortunately, what is occuring is a tidal wave of short sales, each one costing the banks tens of thousands, and often hundreds of thousands of dollars. And, each successful short sale brings down the value of the whole neighborhood - which causes more homeowners to become "upside down" - meaning that they now owe more than the property is worth. Then, everyone in the neighborhood wants to "get out" and short sell their property. It's a downward spiral fueled by fear and anxiety.

Just as the "safeguards" failed on the way up, the rules that are in place that regulate who can be approved for a short sale are failing on the way down. What do I mean? Well, here's what you won't hear from Lou Dobbs, or any of the other populist media personalities. (to be continued).

Acid House Flashback # 11

"Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" - Rozalla - 1991

Keeping The Conversation Going - The DOMA Protest

About 300 people turned out in Miami Beach for the Join The Impact protest to remind President-Elect Obama of his commitment to the GLBT community, and in particular his promise to push for a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. We began the evening by having supporters and passers-by sign the Join The Impact petition that will be sent to our new President.

Then, local celebrity Pussila, and Miami Beach mayor Matti Herrera-Bower, gave a great introduction to the event, and together led the crowd on a march down Ocean Drive, and across 11th Street to the "Old" City Hall building, which was lit up blue and lavender by the City of Miami Beach, as a symbol of equality and solidarity with the GLBT community.

There are an awful lot of tourists going back home in a few days with discussions of marriage equality as a souvenir. Mission accomplished.

Join The Impact Miami!

JOIN THE IMPACT NATIONAL PROTEST FOR THE REPEAL OF THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT!

WHEN? January 10th, 2009. From 5:00pm until 7:00pm

WHERE? Miami Beach's "Old" City Hall at 1130 Washington Avenue in South Beach.

WHAT IS IT? This protest, which will be coordinated with other protests around the country, will focus on the Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA is the 1996 law which bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex relationships as marriages, and which also means that same-sex marriages that are legal in one state do not have to be recognized by any other. Republicans wrote it, Clinton signed it into law, and Obama has said he will repeal it. LET'S HOLD HIM TO THAT PROMISE!

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING? Cities all over California will be lighting up their city hall buildings blue - the color blue as a symbol of equality. The City of Miami Beach will be joining California, and will light our "Old" City Hall blue! We will gather in Lummus Park (at 12th Street and Ocean Drive) and then march to the Old City Hall. Bring your signs, banners and slogans!

FOR MORE INFO: JOIN THE IMPACT MIAMI!

And The Oscar Goes To...

Tony, Jody and I saw "Slumdog Millionaire" last night. I don't want to give any of it away, or hype it beyond reasonable expectations...but it really is one of the best movies I have EVER seen. I thought we were going to have to take Tony out of the theatre on a stretcher.

Bring On 2009!

2008 will be remembered as a year of "challenges" - global climate change, the never-ending War on Iraq, the collapse of the American economy, genocide in Darfur, the exponentially increasing rate of species extinction, the exponentially increasing rate of population rocketing past 6.5 billion, Sarah Palin, Proposition 8 and Amendment 2, the rise of Nancy Grace, the War in Afghanistan, Bernie Madoff, "Drill Baby Drill", Bailout Bonuses, Joe the Plumber, massive foreclosures, the loss of Estelle Getty, Heath Ledger and Tim Russert, chaos in Pakistan, Fred Thompson, the floating island of toxic plastic trash in the Pacific, oil speculation, Britney's meltdown, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels.

In spite of the headlines, 2008 was, without a doubt, one of the best years of my life.

In January, Tony and I went to see Kathy Griffin - one of my true personal heroes. And we caught great performances of Sweeney Todd, Becoming a Man in 127 Easy Steps, and Altar Boyz.

In February, we had a really great time in Atlanta. So much so, that we've been very seriously considering moving up north, to the Deep South, ever since. We climbed Stone Mountain, hiked Sweetwater Creek State Park, took the CNN tour, visited the awesome Georgia Aquarium, and generally had fun with Stimpy.

In March we really enjoyed Monty Python's Spamalot at the Performing Arts Center. We both totally loved the movie "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," and we saw a just-ok performance of Footloose at the Actor's Playhouse.

Stimpy came to visit it April, and we took a little road-trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth" for the weekend. Stimpy and I loved, loved, loved "Expedition Everest" at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Tony's more of an "It's a Small World" kinda guy.

In May, we finally got to see Avenue Q - and it was awesome! And, we spent the long Memorial Day weekend visiting my family in Pittsburgh, and had a fun time at Kennywood with Betty and Patrick.

June. Hmmm. June. What the heck did we do in June? Oh yeah. We went to Gay Disney, the defining moment of which was seeing the long line of bears waiting to get in to the Country Bear Jamboree.

July was the month of Fanny Pak. And the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Possibly the best thing I've ever seen on television. And we saw "WALL-E." Possibly movie of the year.

August was fucking hot. Like really fucking hot.

September was action packed! We road-tripped to Atlanta, with Olga, for a long, fun Labor Day Weekend. I had the time of my life with Tony in Italy. And, the Rachel Maddow Show premiered and made me wonder if I actually am a lesbian.

In October Tony and I headed to Pittsburgh for the Growing Alternative Youth 20-year reunion, which coincided with the Pittsburgh 250th Anniversary / almost Beijing fireworks display. It was really nice to see some old friends, and to visit the old stomping grounds, after so many years.

In November, we watched with joyful hearts and tearful eyes, as Barack Obama gave his victory speech. Until the day I die, I will never forget the feeling of hope that I felt at that moment. The next weekend we took a trip to visit Tony's family in Syracuse - and I got to finally meet Lisa - one of Tony's long-time friends. Then I got sick, and that totally sucked. On November 15th, we attended the Join The Impact protest, and became a part of Stonewall 2.0. A few days later, Tony asked me to marry him. I said ok. Then Tony got sick, and that sucked too. I had a great birthday at my favorite Indian restaurant. And we saw "Milk." Did I mention that Tony asked me to marry him? Yep, he did.

We had lots of fun in December too. We saw Gutenberg! The Musical at the Actor's Playhouse, with Olga, and we laughed our asses off. Really, really good show. Tony, Jason and I organized Miami's Light Up the Night for Equality event, and met a bunch of good people in doing so. Stimpy came to visit for the holidays, and Tony's friend, Bill the Cat, came for a quick overnight. The four of us went to the Corteo production of Cirque Du Soleil - one of the best Cirques that I've seen.

And 2009 started off with this...

It's a good life.

Acid House Flashback # 10

"Good Life" - Inner City - 1988

Out Of The Darkness

Last night was extraordinary.

Here, in a city much more known for its after-hours clubs and celebrity spottings than for progressive activism, a couple of hundred people came out to stand up for fairness and equality at our Light Up the Night for Equality demonstration. We stood, united, in the heart of South Beach, and we all did our part to keep the conversation going.

And, as a bonus, I had the pleasure of meeting superstar activist / blogger Eric Levan, who encouraged Miami to RAGE ON!

Light Up The Night For Equality

The Join the Impact protests brought hundreds of thousands of people into the streets, last month, in nearly every city across the nation, and marked the beginning of the next era of activism in our community. The next big action is a national candlelight vigil - in remembrance of the civil marriage rights that were lost, and in honor of the future of equality that is to come. Tony and I have stepped up to help organize the Miami event...so, I probably won't have much time to spend around here until after the 20th.

In the meantime, please watch this video, check out the event in your city, and help get the word out.

See you soon!

The Reason For The Season

'Tis the season for re-posting my annual updated anti-Black Friday post.....

The malls here in Miami began decking the halls 2 months ago, and had Santa's train installed just as the last back to school sales were ending. I know it's cliche at this point to feel nostalgic for the days when the holy season of giving gently revealed itself shortly after Thanksgiving. Today, a 5am scuffle in the line outside of Best Buy on Black Friday merely marks the halfway point in the season of stress and artifice.

Again, this year, I'm committing to honoring the reason for the season - the winter solstice - and celebrating this beautiful time of year by spending quality time with the people that I love, and sharing meaningful socially-conscious gifts instead of spending time fighting the crowds, so I can check people off my list with cheap plastic crap from Walmart and iPod iPhone accessories.

Of course, this year, there will most likely be less in the way of shopping hordes, thanks to the collapse of the trickle-down economy, and that only means that every dollar you spend will have more power to bring about a better world. This season, each holiday gift that you purchase, will have an impact. Amidst all of the news of frozen credit and layoffs and golden parachutes, is the opportunity to help build our communities, bring about more peace, and protect the world around us, just by putting a little thought and a little heart into where we place our dollar power.

So, for the like minded, here are a few ideas...

ENVIRONMENT

World Wildlife Fund

Greenpeace

Abundant Earth

Care2: Shop and Help the Planet

Defenders of Wildlife

The Sierra Club

The Nature Conservancy

E-House Eco-Friendly Gifts

The Jane Goodall Institute Store

Zappos Eco-Friendly and Vegetarian Shoes

Equita Essentials for Ethical Living

GAY COMMUNITY AND CULTURE

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

The Human Rights Campaign Fund - Designer Tees

Soulforce

The United Church of Christ

Gay and Lesbian Community Center of South Florida

SAVE Dade

Persad Center

The Ali Forney Center

Immigration Equality

Outspoken Clothing

Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Margaret Cho Shop

Kathy Griffin

Ellen Shop

Ani DiFranco

Ari Gold

Outwrite Books

TLA Video

Logo Television Shop

ANTI-DRUG WAR

The November Coalition

The Center For Cognitive Liberty and Ethics

The Drug Policy Alliance

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies

NORML Holiday Gifts

PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN VALUES

ACLU

The NAACP

Betty Bowers Gifts

UTNE Magazine

Syracuse Cultural Workers Gifts

American Humanist Association

Unity on the Bay

Darwin Fish Stocking Stuffers

National Public Radio Shop

The Quakers

Amnesty International Gift Shop

People for the American Way

Mother Jones

HIV/AIDS/Cancer

AMFAR

Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force

AIDS Memorial Quilt

Artists for a New South Africa

Pets are Loving Support Atlanta

Susan G. Komen Promise Shop

ANIMALS

The Humane Society

PETA Shopping Mall

Adopt a Manatee

National Audubon Society

The Orangutan Foundation

ART

Kenneth Treacy

Eric Chismar Photography

The Matress Factory

The Warhol Museum

Clyde Butcher Photography

Carnegie Museum of Art

Salvador Dali Museum

HOLIDAY CARDS AND ECO-DECORATING

Betty Bowers

Eco-Decorating

Tools for Change Holiday Cards

Recycled Cards That Grow

Have a Peaceful, Stress-Free and Meaningful Holiday!

We Will Keep Falling In Love

I know I've been a bit on the "militant homosexual" tip lately, but majorities of Americans - my neighbors and co-workers and family members - in state after state, continue to go out of their way to deny legal recognition of our marriages and to vote against treating me as an equal member of this society, all while taking my tax money to pay for services for their families....it's just maddening. Sister Unity Divine of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence speaks so well for so many of us that are just too damned angry to speak.

We will keep falling in love, and we will wear two-foot long eyelashes if we want to, and there's not a fucking thing that Focus on the Family or any other the other "Christian" hate groups can do about it.

* Video sampled from Emerald City Guy at My 2 Cents.

The Power Of Love

Miami Beach was all sunshine and love today, as we joined in the nationwide call to Join the Impact. It felt so good to get out, and let the country know that we will not go down quietly. I am so excited by the number of young people and straight people that showed up and the passion that is in their hearts. We really are going to win this thing in the long run. Oh, and one person showed up to protest the protest, and as you can see in the photo, he is totally insane.

Now, we have to keep the momentum going. If you live in the Miami area, SAVE DADE will host a "town hall" to discuss where we, as a community, go from here. For details, click here.

If you have photos, or a post about the event in your city, please leave a comment with a link. I'd love to see and hear about it!

No More

This is a new day for everyone. The dark, dark days of the Bush Regime are coming to an end. For the first time in a long time, truth and hope won out over ignorance and fear. I can't stop welling up with tears of joy, knowing that no matter how difficult this time is, there is now a future to look forward to.

And, then I heard the newly elected President of the United States include me, as a gay person, in his acceptance speech.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

"It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference .

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America."

If you're not gay, you probably don't have any idea how deeply moving it was, just being acknowledged as a person and citizen of this country by our soon-to-be leader. I have never been so proud of my country, and I still can't express the hope that I have in my heart for where our country can go now.

Then, I watched as the results came in on the four big state votes on gay rights referendums. As expected, in Arizona, an amendment banning legal recognition of gay marriages passed. And in Arkansas, gay people are now banned from adopting children, or even caring for foster children. In California, more than half of the people voted to take away gay peoples' civil right to marry their life partners.

And in my state, Florida, Amendment 2 was passed by 62% of the people that I live next to, work with, and support with business. 62% of the people in Florida believe that I should continue to pay taxes to fund schools for their kids and programs for their families. But, they don't think that my family is worthy of the dignity of legal recognition of any kind.

To all of those people who voted to make me a second-class citizen - fuck you! Fuck you and your twisted "family values." Fuck you and your "sanctity of marriage." Fuck you and your "protecting tradition." Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.

You should know that, thanks to your hateful campaigns, there is an electricity in the air in America's gay communities. We are hopeful, and we are fucking angry. It's hard to figure out where those two emotions together will take us, but something is happening. All across the country, we are coming together with our straight friends and allies to take our equal rights. You pushed us too far this time, and we are standing up and saying no more.

No more beating us and bashing us and raping us. No more making fun of us and causing our young people to commit suicide. No more excluding us and shaming us and ostracizing us. No more killing us and hanging us on fences in Wyoming fields. No more scapegoating us and no more blaming us. No more torturing us or trying to convert us. No more slurring us. No more arresting us. No more ex-communicating us. No more disowning us. No more. No more. No more.

If you want to join us in saying "no fucking more," we will be protesting nationwide this Saturday. Just click here, sign up and show up. And be a part of the beginning of a movement.