Sony Pictures - The Producers

Damn, this actually looks damn good. And who knew Uma would be able to pull this off. She does not look rough in this one. Granted, there is no clip of her singing, but I like what I see so far.

I can't wait.

Bible Thumpers Beware

Anti-acceptance (or what we THINK is being said)

• Gen 19 is discussed at Sodom and Gomorrah, and will not be quoted in full. (Argument: God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah for their homosexuality)
  
• Lev 18:22: You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (Argument: God condemns sexual relations between men)
  
• Lev 20:13: If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. (Argument: God condemns sexual relations between man)
  
• Mat 15:19-20: For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile. (Argument: Sexual relations outside wedlock are condemned – since homosexuals are not married their actions are sinful)
  
• Rom 1:26-27: For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error. (Argument: Homosexual acts are unnatural)
  
• 1 Cor 6:9-10: Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers — none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. (Argument: Homosexuals are condemned to Hell)

Pro-acceptance (or, the REALity of what is said above)

• Lev 18:22: You shall not sleep the sleep of a woman with a man; it is “Toebeh” (The sin of Idol Worship). (Argument: Badly translated, the odd phrase refers to some orgiastic practice in pagan Temples, not homosexuality)
  
• Lev 20:13: If a man lies with a male and sleeps the sleep of a woman, both of them have committed an abomination (Toebeh); they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. (Argument: Once again badly translated, “Toebeh” always refers to offering sacrifice in pagan Temples, not a sexual sin, which would be “Zimmah”)
  
• Prov 19:16-19: These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. (Argument: homosexuality is notably missing)
  
• 1 Sam 18:1-4: When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. (Argument: Example of Love between two men)
  
• Ezch 16:49-50 Now this was the sin of Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. (Argument: Sodom was condemned for inhospitality, not homosexuality)
  
• Matt: 10:14-15 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (Argument: Another reference indicating Sodom and Gomorrah were condemned for inhospitality)
  
• Matt: 7:1 Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
  
• Matt: 8:5-13 – the Story of the Centurion (Argument: Many see this as an example of bad translating. The term translated from the Greek as “servant” is “Pais”. Textural analysis shows that this word was often used to denote a man’s gay lover. The text even goes so far as to use the term “Slave or Servant” (Gr. Doulos) in the same passage making the distinction even more clear) (this would have been a perfect time for Christ to condemn homosexuality, but rather he aids the Centurion thus allowing him to continue his homosexual relationship)
  
• Rom 1:26-27: For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error. (Argument: This passage refers to rejecting or acting against ones true nature. It refers mainly to practices committed in pagan temples where normally straight people would have orgies with others, often of the same sex)
  
• 1 Cor 6:9-10: Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers — none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. (Argument: Bad Translation, what it says are: Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, (rapists), thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers – none of these qualifies as homosexuals)
  
• 1 Peter: 4:8: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (Argument: If there is Love then how can it be condemned)

Just Keep Giving Me Reasons

I have sworn to myself, that come hell or high water, I am taking my savings, cashing in on my alternative social security funds and getting the hell out of Florida in August. I have two or three people as options for roommates, I am going to try and cash in on some favors and long time friends, and I am going to get away from all this infantile madness and purile bullshit that has become my everyday existence.

Despite how tired I am already from work and rehearsals, those are not the reasons. I am tired of being surrounded with false fascimiles who call themselves my friends. I am tired of friends who lie to me. Friends who have ulterior motives. Friends whom I have known since I was 16 and who have proven themselves time and time again to be shitty ass friends who always screw me over. Friends who think they are looking out for my best interest and who try to "keep me safe" from one thing or another, and then end up being the very same dangers they preached against. I tire of groveling neophytes and amateur plebes who don't have the balls to say to my face what they have no problem writing down in an e-mail.

Who the FUCK needs enemies with friends like mine?

This, of course, does not apply to everyone, but sadly to the majority of my friends who I have known for a very long time. Some people still see me as 16 year old, some people think I am an idiot and can't put two and two together, and some people are just shady shady shady. Don't bullshit the bullshitter - I know when I am being played.

Urgh...I am disgusted with these people, some of whom I am embarassed to say I once admired and looked up to.

Reuters Photog Appears to Capture Bush at U.N. With 'Bathroom Break' Note

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?

AGAIN!?!?!?

Pictures | Reuters.com

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!??!??!?!!?

So much to post about, not enough time.

School and the show have subsumed my life.

But I do want to say that I despise ineffectual leaders who don't bother keeping you updated, make decisions without your knowledge, and make sure everyone else but you is in the light.

And no, I am not talking about George Bush.

But really....should I have expected any better?

Urgh, I am disgusted and proven right, yet again.

Sloan Semester - Free online college courses for students affected by Hurricane Katrina

I have been racking my brain trying to find a way to help with the Katrina Efforts. I did not want to just send money and I was trying to find a way to volunteer time, but man, my time is in such short supply. It was beginning to tick me off.

THANKFULLY, I got an e-mail from my online ed. provost and she has sent out an e-mail about the Sloan Semester (info above). In a nutshell:

An initiative is unfolding for the more than 175,000 college students from Louisiana and Mississippi whose Fall semesters have been put on hold due to the hurricane and subsequent flooding. Planning and information is still in the works, but SPC’s eCampus is planning on being involved.

The purpose of the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) is to help learning organizations continually improve the quality, scale, and breadth of their online programs according to their own distinctive missions, so that education will become a part of everyday life, accessible and affordable for anyone, anywhere, at any time, in a wide variety of disciplines.

Funded by the Sloan Foundation and in partnership with the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), Sloan-C is offering students displaced by Hurricane Katrina an opportunity to continue their education at no tuition cost.

This is how I am giving back. We were also offered the choice to either be paid or contribute time. I decided to be paid, HOWEVER, I want that so I can turn around and send the money out. It would make no sense for the college to keep it and the students would not see it. So I would rather collect the money I would make and do something with it. I am not sure if I want to spend it on the students or send it to an org. Suggestions would REALLY be appreciated. I wish I could just take the students out and blow all the money on them, but I doubt they will be local.

No More Procrastination

I have been mulling about not really wanting to take the time to type an entry but wanting to. I got sick again and am in this weird purgatory not well-not ill place. Eh...

I guess my new schedule is more exhausting than I thought. Teaching 11 classes is proving to be quite a challenge. My comp classes are fine, those are already in my system - I just tweak things here and there. The students seem nice enough and eager enough. My upper level courses will pose quite a challenge as they are mostly filled with non-writing majors who have already expressed that the class is not their cup of tea. Way to make my life easier - but I do like those challenges. The tap class is my easiest because it is a no-brainer to me. I am going to kill myself teaching this time around. I just know it. But that means more money to bank away. I gotta move. I mean I REALLY gotta move.

Finally got a gmail addy as I am tired of the 30-40 on-average doses of spam mail I get through the service I have been using since 1994. It has finally gotten to the point of being aggravating.

A Chorus Line is going well. Two weeks into it and we have learned and set the opening and the closing. Some great people in the cast, some great dancers, I get to work with some of my favorite people and friends, and aside from one bitchy dancer who needs to be put out of his misery, I am enjoying it. I am NOT, however, enjoying how it is wrecking my self-esteem. I have always had more to prove to people as a "dancer" and as a dance teacher and choreographer. I don't look it, I am not trained, so I have to fudge stuff and work three times as much to make people see me as such. I guess my work is good; I am not a good judge of it. I just feel like I make a fool of myself when I choreograph serious dance pieces. I like the challenge, but I always know when my musical theatre work sucks or not. I have more faith in that because it is a world I was brought up in. Dance is still relatively new and foreign to me. Five years versus 15 years is a big difference.

So in this show I feel like the odd man out. I am working my ass off, but the last few rehearsals have been tough. I lost my fire and drive and am not sure if it is because I was exhausted or because I just feel like I don't beling in there. Everytime the choreographer makes corrections and talks about how certain people need to look better, I just know he is talking about me. In fact, I asked him and he indeed was referring to me. Talk about a let down. Dance is one of those things where I feel the need to prove myself and impress people. I usually don't give a shit, but this is something else. Don't get me wrong, he is not brow-beating or telling me I suck...that is my own projection. But I thought my upper carriage looked good...and it doesn't (my port de bras as it were). I am sure it will get better and I am trying to stay positive, but knowing the show, the people working it, who will be seeing it, and what my character is supposed to be, I am feeling more pressure than ever to do well. I mean La Cage was a challenge, but I knew I had the basics to tap into and work from and do a good job. This...I dunno.

This Katrina business is depressing. Even more depressing is the government's slow reaction to everything. Kanye West is right: George Bush hates black people. Don't tell me this is not about race....it is too convenient. NO has flipped from a 70% white majority to a black one over the last ten years. Yeah, I am sure it is a difficult situation and environment to navigate through, but we did not seem to have any problem mobilizing and sending troops across the globe in less than 48 hours...we wait 5 days to help our own people as they are stranded, hungry, desperate, and dying. What a pathetic excuse for a leader and a body of leaders. People wanted him for another four years...well...ya get what ya want.

I am going to go wallow in my own self-pity now. I can't sleep, I am exhausted, and I have a craving for ice cream in the worst way.

Oh yeah...and I feel like a SUPER fat ass.

Michael Moore open letter to President Bush 11:31AM / 02.09.2005


Friday, September 2nd, 2005

Dear Mr. Bush:

Any idea where all our helicopters are? It's Day 5 of Hurricane Katrina and thousands remain stranded in New Orleans and need to be airlifted. Where on earth could you have misplaced all our military choppers? Do you need help finding them? I once lost my car in a Sears parking lot. Man, was that a drag.

Also, any idea where all our national guard soldiers are? We could really use them right now for the type of thing they signed up to do like helping with national disasters. How come they weren't there to begin with?

Last Thursday I was in south Florida and sat outside while the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed over my head. It was only a Category 1 then but it was pretty nasty. Eleven people died and, as of today, there were still homes without power. That night the weatherman said this storm was on its way to New Orleans. That was Thursday! Did anybody tell you? I know you didn't want to interrupt your vacation and I know how you don't like to get bad news. Plus, you had fundraisers to go to and mothers of dead soldiers to ignore and smear. You sure showed her!

I especially like how, the day after the hurricane, instead of flying to Louisiana, you flew to San Diego to party with your business peeps. Don't let people criticize you for this -- after all, the hurricane was over and what the heck could you do, put your finger in the dike?


And don't listen to those who, in the coming days, will reveal how you specifically reduced the Army Corps of Engineers' budget for New Orleans this summer for the third year in a row. You just tell them that even if you hadn't cut the money to fix those levees, there weren't going to be any Army engineers to fix them anyway because you had a much more important construction job for them -- BUILDING DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ!


On Day 3, when you finally left your vacation home, I have to say I was moved by how you had your Air Force One pilot descend from the clouds as you flew over New Orleans so you could catch a quick look of the disaster. Hey, I know you couldn't stop and grab a bullhorn and stand on some rubble and act like a commander in chief. Been there done that.


There will be those who will try to politicize this tragedy and try to use it against you. Just have your people keep pointing that out. Respond to nothing. Even those pesky scientists who predicted this would happen because the water in the Gulf of Mexico is getting hotter and hotter making a storm like this inevitable. Ignore them and all their global warming Chicken Littles. There is nothing unusual about a hurricane that was so wide it would be like having one F-4 tornado that stretched from New York to Cleveland.

No, Mr. Bush, you just stay the course. It's not your fault that 30 percent of New Orleans lives in poverty or that tens of thousands had no transportation to get out of town. C'mon, they're black! I mean, it's not like this happened to Kennebunkport. Can you imagine leaving white people on their roofs for five days? Don't make me laugh! Race has nothing -- NOTHING -- to do with this!


You hang in there, Mr. Bush. Just try to find a few of our Army helicopters and send them there. Pretend the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are near Tikrit.


Yours,


Michael Moore


MMFlint@aol.com



P.S. That annoying mother, Cindy Sheehan, is no longer at your ranch. She and dozens of other relatives of the Iraqi War dead are now driving across the country, stopping in many cities along the way. Maybe you can catch up with them before they get to DC on September 21st.