Please....spare me

Did anyone else catch this story on CNN online today? Exodus International, a 'pray the gay away' scam outfit has decided they'll sit out this year's 'Day of Truth,' a counter protest to the annual 'Day of Silence,' a day that brings attention to the threats against LGBT students.

Exodus has decided that the 'Day of Truth' is too divisive and counter-productive. Sounds reasonable enough, until it really sinks in that this is a group that claims to be able to change homosexuality with the power of prayer.

This is a shameless group of charlatans, nothing more. They, along with the National Organization for Marriage, Focus on the Family and other right-wing religious fringe groups are, in my mind, largely responsible for fostering the idea that gay is bad. Kids aren't born bullies -- they learn that behavior from their parents. Parents who buy this bag of bullshit.

Spare me.

Better Late Than Never

Everybody's Fine finally arrived in theaters here (it was released around Christmastime last year -- hence the post title) and you know what? I liked it. I think it made about $5.00 at the box office, maybe a bit more. I think the critics hated it, too, but who cares.

Yeah, it's a little manipulative, but I liked it's quiet, somber tone. A nice antidote for the typical bombast of the summer movie season.

Here's the trailer if you're so inclined: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kh7H92iE2V0

The best thing about the movie is Robert DeNiro's understated take on a father who seems hopelessly out of touch with his grown children. I'd hate to be a casting director responsible for hiring actors to play his kids, almost solely based on how hard it would be to find people who actually look like they could be his kids. Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale look absolutely nothing like him, but that's just me. Their acting is fine enough. It's DeNiro's movie, though.

If you've seen it and you know me, you'll probably guess the little touches that brought me to tears. Here's a hint on one of them: a lit candle being placed beside some family pictures.

It's slow-paced, but quietly moving. Definitely worth renting.

I'm baaaaack!

Gettin' my blog on...again. For those who know me, keeping my piehole shut has never been my strong suit. Sometimes, this has kicked my ass, other times, served me well. I recall that on more than one occasion, what would have been a fairly respectable report card was marred only by a check mark under 'avoids unnecessary talking.' Ah...story of my life! Apparently Sagittarians suffer from chronic foot-in-mouth disease.

Anyhoodle...I'm giving this blogging thing another go, keeping expectations low. I've got so many things that I like talking about, from politics to LGBT stuff to movies to books to life in Central America and so on. Facebook's great and all, but I'm not feelin' it lately.

As before, I welcome and all comments. For now, I won't monitor comments before they're posted, but if things get dicey, I guess I'll have to do that. Hope it doesn't come to that. Then again, if I don't mix things up to the point that I get a few obnoxious comments, maybe I won't have done my job!

I'll get around to cozying up the place, personalizing it, etc. In the meantime - see you around!