Weekend Update: September 25, 2011

My biggest flaw is laziness, as you can see from the fact that I'm posting about last weekend just in time for this weekend to start. Awful :(

No party crashing occurred. Maybe some other time.

Another shit-show at work Sunday morning (which is something I should expect I guess).

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler gets sacked...again

I got out of work in time to see some epic game endings to the one o'clock football games. This season just seems so backwards from last season. Atlanta sucking ass, New England losing to Buffalo (glad I'm not a betting man there), Detroit actually doing well at 3-0. Luckily one of the few constants is that Green Bay is doing well.

The highlight of the weekend was definitely watching the Packers beat the Bears. I was watching in a bar a block away from work...I was the loudest person there. It wasn't a pretty game (too many penalties), but we could always count on Jay Cutler (Chicago's quarterback) to turn the ball over or get sacked. Rodgers threw his first interception of the season. Regardless, a 27-17 victory for the Pack, and on enemy territory (outstanding performances by JerMichael Finley and Greg Jennings). I saw a guy today wearing a Chicago Bears hoodie and it made me wish I had worn that Green Bay Packers shirt that I saw sooooo close to wearing because we ended up exchanging looks ever so briefly. had I been wearing that shirt, I'm sure his look would have turned into a scowl and mine into a smirk. 

We play the Denver Broncos this coming Sunday. I'll be expecting some shit talk from a Broncos fan I know.

Photo Funnies: Compare/Contrast

I can't say I'm a big fan of either.

A Mother's Plea: Dealing With Bullies

Last night, I received a tweet from a mother asking what she should do about her gay son being bullied in school. While I did respond to her via Twitter, this is obviously an issue that cannot be adequately addressed 140 characters at a time. Though this is addressed to her specifically, this goes for anyone - parent, family member, friend, whatever - who is, or knows someone who is, in a similar situation.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should probably say that there is only so much that I can say from personal experience. I lucked out. Between not being out in school and (I guess) not being "stereotypical" enough to ping on most people's gaydar, I did not have to deal with anti-gay bullying. That said...

The over-arching theme of how to deal with this is keeping your son from falling into a hopeless despair. He must know that he is loved. He must know that his life has value and is not hopeless. You have to do whatever it takes to keep him from falling into emotional despair. Most, if not all, of the young people who have committed suicide because of anti-gay bullying did so because they thought there was no hope of escape from the abuse. This must be prevented. Surround him with loving family and friends who care about him regardless of his sexual orientation. If therapy or a support group needs to be found, those are other options to be considered.

You have to get the school involved (which has apparently happened). While, unfortunately, schools tend to have a bad track record on this issue, not telling them what is going on won't help. This means talking to ALL of his teachers, the principal and other administrators, even the school district superintendent if you have to. If they don't listen, do NOT hesitate to threaten legal action. Schools are supposed to be safe havens for learning, not gauntlets. There are legal groups who would be willing to help you and your son (some may do it pro bono).

Virginia Tech, my alma mater

Let him know that there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Though there is discrimination everywhere, once he gets out of the bubble that is high school, it's a whole different ball game. Going to college, particularly one that is gay-friendly, will open up a whole new world. University is a great place where he can find open-minded people as well as other LGBT people his age (hopefully a good boyfriend too). They can be part of his support system.

Neil Patrick Harris & husband David Burtka

It is also important for him, and you, to know the mind of a bully. Bullies, generally, are cowards. They find it easier to put other people down to build themselves up. Most of them have their own personal problems. Sometimes, people resort specifically to anti-gay bullying because they are struggling with their own sexuality. It is a story I have heard many times. It even happens in adulthood (look at all of the gay sex scandals that constantly rock anti-gay politicians). Be aware of the pathology of bullies and it will go a long way to dealing with them head-on. Many bullies pick a target they think is weak and won't/can't fight back and they pounce. This is why it is also important that you help your son to be strong enough to stand up for himself.

There is probably a lot that I left out so if anyone reading this has something they want to add, leave a comment. I wish you and your son the best of luck through this ordeal. I pray that he sees it through to the other side because when he does, he will be the stronger for it. Remember, swords are forged in flame.

-Rob

Tweet of the Day: September 27, 2011

True, and sad...

Brett Favre: What Should I Do?

I wish I had seen this a lot sooner. Spot-on impression.

MyTunes Monday: Summer Song

Last week saw the official end of Summer so I thought this song choice was appropriate. There isn't anything to the video, but it's a beautiful piece of music.

Soldier Comes Out to His Dad

I meant to post this last Tuesday but I guess it slipped through the cracks.

Anyway, since the above video was uploaded to YouTube, it made it's way onto CNN's radar so I'll post that that video as well.

After all those "headless" videos, I gotta say he ended being pretty damn cute.

Weekend Preview: September 24, 2011

Here are some things I'm looking forward to over the next few days.

The first is actually something I'm not really looking forward to and it's the result of being awake right now. I got out of work late (2 hours ago) and I'm still not all that tired. However to keep up with routine, I'm still getting up at 8am. This pretty much means not getting much sleep for the second night in a row (for whatever reason, I woke up in the middle of the night last night and never really got back to sleep). Even though I have the time to sleep in it's something I don't like doing. I have some stuff I want to get done tomorrow before work. This means I'm probably going to be extra cranky at work (which is really saying something).

Virginia Tech football head coach Frank Beamer.

Speaking of which, I should be getting out relatively early tomorrow night. I need to find something to do, maybe crash a party or something. I pretty much owe it to myself because I almost always end up working late on Friday AND Saturday nights. Also, if Virginia Tech wins its game against Marshall (away), everyone will be all the more rowdy. This would make for an interesting night.

Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Greg Jennings

I was originally supposed to be off Sunday but scheduling issues led to me working the long afternoon shift. Huge problem there because I had made plans before the change. Luckily someone switched shifts so I should be out in time to catch Green Bay play at Chicago. This is one of the oldest sports rivalries (and a rather bitter one) in U.S. sports. These two teams met 3 times last season (Green Bay lost the first, but had the last 2 laughs, the latter of which got us into the Super Bowl). Thank God this is a 4pm game. I'm already excited. I'm supposed to meet up with a mate (maybe some others too) to watch the game downtown. There's something really awesome about watching football with friends, drinking, and eating really unhealthy food.

This weekend has some promise, an unusual occurrence. Hopefully it lives up to that. Happy weekend everyone!!!

"You win, or you die."

I have been reading "A Game of Thrones" since the beginning of this month. I'm well over halfway through this book. Holy crap, it's amazing. I like getting books that I'll read over and over again (to me, that's the mark of a good book). I was a little afraid when I bought this that it wouldn't live up to that standard, but it is and then some.

This book is in large part about political games and back-stabbing, shifting alliance and allegiances, family ties, the quest for power, and the cost of power. So far as I have read, it isn't really heavy on the "standard" heavily fantasy stuff like magic and such. Someone who recommended this book to me said if I liked "The Lord of the Rings" then I would like this book. While I do love LotR, I don't see a lot of similarities between the two.

Also, this is no children's tale. There is foul language, sex, murder, and so on. This is definitely fantasy for adults.

I won't give away any spoilers, but where I have read in the past few days, characters are dropping like flies. Also, there was a jaw-dropping revelation about halfway through the book I did not see coming at all. I was amazed...and disgusted. My last status update on FaceBook pretty much sums up my reading to this point:

Characters are dropping like flies, I hate Sansa & Cersei, poor Bran, poor Jon, Tyrion is a tricky little bastard (pun intended), Arya is a girl after my own heart, would someone PLEASE kill Joffrey (pompous ass), and (as I said earlier) EWWW!!!

I think that about covers what I have read so far.

I'm not sure if I have written this elsewhere, but my plan is to have this book finished by month's end. I'm ahead of schedule right now by about a day (after being almost a week behind earlier this month, I've clawed my way back). A couple of girls I went to grade school with have read the book and/or seen the show and we've been talking about it regularly.

I definitely recommend this book (it's the first part of a series by the way).

Don't Ask Don't Tell is Officially Dead

Former Air Force Lt Col Victor Fehrenbach

Weekend Update: September 19, 2011

I'll keep this brief because I don't even want to think about everything that happened:

-Overworked. My feet were killing me at least half the time.

-Ate way too much (stress eating, it happens).

-The one thing I was looking forward to, going out with some mates who were in town, ended up not happening because I had to work too late Saturday.

-I don't know if it's allergies, weather, or what, but my sinuses are uber-clogged. I had to break down and reach for the Afrin nasal spray last night.

-It has been cloudy here for the past week. Seriously, VERY little to no Sun, and the clouds won't really break until this weekend...maybe.

-I was visited by the "Ghost of Make-Out Sessions Past" which was bitter sweet...as always (emphasis on bitter).

I don't want this to be an utter bitch-fest so I'll end on a high note. Football pretty much saved my weekend. The Green Bay Packers won in what ended up being a squeaker against the Carolina Panthers (so much for the awesome Cam Newton, 3 picks) so we're 2-0. Virginia Tech beat Arkansas State so we're 3-0.

On a completely unrelated note, we are just hours away from the official end of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Definitely a great thing for this country. It's pretty hypocritical for this nation to be called the land of the free when many of the very people who defend the country were restricted from being honest about who they are. I won't get to into that here since I did on my other blog (that post is scheduled to be posted after midnight tonight).

Hopefully this week will be better than the weekend was.

MyTunes Monday - Kiss You Off

Tweet of the Day September 17, 2011

100 Greatest "Shut Ups" in Films

"Titanic" actually made it twice. That actually a surprise.

Summer Fails

Today was the day I have dreaded for a few weeks now.  Today brought the first chill of Autumn and even though Autumn's beginning is not officially for another week, the high days of Summer are gone. It has been cool all day and clouds have been heavy with the threat of rain. I knew it was coming inevitably. I have also noticed the shortening of days (the change in day length is something I tend to have an acute awareness of). This is not the half of the year where I fair well. Cold is not my strong suit. Winter is always something of a struggle both physically and emotionally. Finding ways to keep my spirits up is definitely a must. It's a good thing I have a great book to read right now.

Tomorrow will not see 60 degrees here, and it will only get worse.

To quote the book I'm reading, "Winter is coming!" Time to brace for the storm.

MyTunes Monday: Invisible Light (NSFW)

Besides this not being safe for work, Scissor Sisters videos are pretty trippy. Just a warning. ENJOY!!!

Making this song even better: Ian McKellan's voice makes a guest appearance.

Also, you don't see him in this video, but the lead singer (Jake Shears) is a total hottie.

Photo Funnies: Furry Ninja

This may be the last thing you see before you die:

Who's the Fairest of Them All?

Obviously, today being what it is, my first post today was quite the downer. So let's have some fun. In my wanderings through the internet this morning, I came across this article from the Wall Street Journal which was posted in September 8, the day the football season started talking about the relative attractiveness of NFL teams. It was actually pretty interesting, especially given the lack of actual photos (I decided to add a few).

The NFL's Best Looking Team
By: Reed Albergotti

Obligatory Green Bay pic - QB Aaron Rodgers

Trying to predict the outcome of the NFL season has always been one of the great fool's errands in sports. This year, however, it's just plain foolish. 

A summer labor squabble, which led to a vast reshuffling of personnel and a truncated off season, has knocked the whole league off its axis. Rookies who just got their playbooks are about to be ordered onto the field to execute plays.

So rather than trying to predict the season's outcome, why not focus on another sort of ranking? Since the NFL's opening game between Green Bay and New Orleans Thursday coincides perfectly with the start of Fashion Week here in New York, we've decided to explore a vaguely related question: Which NFL team is the handsomest?

At the Journal's request, researchers at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania analyzed the facial structure of a sampling of 320 NFL starters (five offensive and five defensive players from each team). They also threw in two of the most photographed personalities on any team, the owner and the head coach. 

To measure each subject's attractiveness, the researchers analyzed their photograph with a computer program that measures facial symmetry, or how closely the two halves of a person's face match up. Research suggests this is a reliable measure of how attractive a person is perceived to be. It also suggests that looks are a fair predictor of a person's career success. A 1994 study found that more-attractive "symmetrical" people are paid about 5% more than the average person while more homely "asymmetrical" people earn up to 10% less.

To be clear, we're not saying there's any proven connection between winning football teams and good looks. If anything, it may be an inverse relationship: Teams with particularly attractive players might be guilty of favoring people who are more presentable than talented. Jennifer VanGilder, a professor of business economics at Ursinus who oversaw the research, said the lure of hiring pretty faces is unconscious. "People are drawn to more symmetrical objects."

So who wins the NFL's beauty pageant?

The most attractive sample of players, with an average facial symmetry rating of 99.47, was one of the worst teams in the league: the Buffalo Bills. Their record last season was a woeful 4-12. The least attractive team was the Kansas City Chiefs, a group that won its division last season and made it to the playoffs. 

LaDanian Tomlinson - New York Jets Running Back

The striking thing about the research, though, isn't the difference in attractiveness between teams. It's the fact that the vast majority of NFL players rank 10% higher in facial symmetry than the average Joe. They also seem to be better looking than other athletes. VanGilder also measured the NBA's All-Star team and found it was less attractive than our sample of NFL players. 

Another surprising finding: NFL quarterbacks aren't the most attractive players. According to this sample, the most attractive position in the NFL is the kicker. The symmetry score for kickers beat the score for quarterbacks by .16%. 

The least attractive position of the ones we studied was wide receiver. But with a score of 97.04, these men were still vastly more attractive than average people (who score in the high 80s), VanGilder said.

Even NFL owners and head coaches are extremely good-looking. In fact, as a group, they are more attractive than our sampling of defensive ends and linebackers, safeties, cornerbacks, running backs and wide receivers. Facial symmetry does not change with age, which is why 59-year-old Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey is more attractive than many players. "My wife will be shocked," said Mr. Gailey, through a team spokesman. 

All this may be good news for the NFL, which has embraced outlets like social media, which give players more of a public profile, and has seen its players make star turns on shows like HBO's "Hard Knocks" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." The league has also been reaching out to female fans for years. 

A sampling of some of the greatest NFL teams in history shows that the NFL is becoming more attractive. The famously undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins, the 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1985 Chicago Bears and 1989 San Francisco 49ers would all rank near the bottom compared to current NFL teams. If the 1992 Dallas Cowboys played today, they would only rank No. 24. 

Mark Sanchez - New York Jets Quarter Back

Facial symmetry is by no means a perfect gauge of attractiveness. Mark Sanchez, quarterback for the New York Jets, isn't the most symmetrical player in the NFL, but he seems to get the most magazine spreads. 

And in case you're wondering: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (98.52) is about .5% less attractive than his wife, the Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen (98.99%).

Apparently, according to this article, my taste in football players tends to run counter to what is "attractive." I think I'm okay with that.

Cross Current: Into the Storm

During my first semester of university, there were two days a week where I only had one class which did not start until 2pm. On one of these days, I decided to sleep in a little. When I got up that day, I went down the hall of my dorm to take a shower. As I walked down the hall, I noticed that everyone's doors were open and every television was on. I didn't exactly notice what was on because I tend to walk fast, but I noticed on one of the T.V's rising smoke coming from a building. For whatever reason, I thought it was some channel showing footage of the aftermath of the 1993 bombing in the World Trade Center. I didn't really get why anyone would be showing that, so I didn't think to much of. After the shower, I got back to my room and turned on my television and turned to a news channel. This was nothing special, it was pretty much my morning ritual (and still is). It was not until this point that I actually started to get some grasp of what was going on. Like pretty much everyone in this country and many around the world, I was glued to the television the rest of the day. My roommate was from Maryland and his dad worked in or near Washington D.C. and was frantically trying to get a hold of him.

I know a lot of people remember everything that happened that day; where they went, who they talked to, what they ate, everything. Someone I work with told me he remembered what he was wearing, and that he had not worn it since then. I on the other hand don't remember much. It is an enormous haze. It was too big for me to wrap my mind around until much later.

 

I believe it was the weekend a few days later that I was with some people and there was a guy there who was of Middle Eastern descent. I remember him saying something to the extent of he and people like him here in the States were in for a rough time. I felt incredibly bad for him knowing, like I had looked into a crystal ball, that he was unfortunately correct. An immense amount of Islamophobia has arisen since that day.

It is strange to think that this is what people went through 60 years before when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Knowing that the world you had known had changed. For better or for worse, it was gone for good. The past ten years in retrospect have seemed very dark. Thousand of lives lost that one day followed by more bloodshed. Fear at the mere mention of unattended luggage or suspicious boxes at an airport. Security measures that border, and sometimes cross into, loss of civil liberties. These things practically never existed in my childhood. Now these things are the new "normal."

That day changed everything, and most of it has not been for the better.

The Men of the Gridiron

Today marks the beginning of football season. Even though I genuinely love watching football for the hard hits, masterful plays, and the on-field drama, let's face facts. Some of these guys are absolutely hot. The league is awash with some beautiful specimens. So, in honour of of the season starting today, I thought I would show you some my personal favourite gentlemen of the NFL.

In addition to playing wide receiver in Minnesota, Eric Decker also played baseball before joining the Denver Broncos. He also won the "King of the Hardwood" competition in 2011.

There has been some drama surrounding Reggie Bush. A career that started great (including a Super Bowl win with the New Orleans Saints in the 2009-2010 season) gave way to lesser production (though I think there was an injury in there) over the last two years. He is currently playing with the Miami Dolphins. I can forgive him for all of that. Him having dated a Kardashian (Kim) however, that will take time.

A former teammate of Bush is franchise quarterback Drew Brees. Adding to the hotness factor is the fact that he has done an anti-bullying PSA (not specifically anti-gay bullying for the record).

Honestly, I don't know much about Wes Welker. I know he plays for the New England Patriots, I know he is a wide receiver, and I know those eyes are gorgeous (I have stated before that eyes are my weakness).

Adrian Peterson, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, has a beautiful smile to go with the rest of that body (I decided to go conservative with his picture but Google him). It's enough to allow me to forgive him for playing for one of my team's division rivals. 

And last but DEFINITELY not least...

Clay "Clay-Maker" Matthews III. Of course this list would not have been complete without a member of my favourite NFL, the Green Bay Packers. I could gush and gush about this guy: not just the looks, but also how great he has been at the outside linebacker position and what he has brought to the team, including helping them get to and win this past Super Bowl. I'm in need of a new Green Bay jersey and #52 is definitely one of my possible picks.

Speaking of the Green Bay Packers, they will be playing tonight at Lambeau Field in tonight's season opening game against the New Orleans Saints (i.e. the previous two Super Bowl champs are gonna rumble). I have made my plans and will be wearing the green and gold of the Packers. I haven't been this excited for anything since the last Super Bowl. Defending the title starts tonight.

GO PACK GO!!!

Weekend Update: Sunday Funday!!! Part Two

The rest of the night (though it was only 6 or 7 by this time) is a bit blurry.

So we got back to Awful Arthurs a few minutes later and met up with some people who were there already. Not much happened while we were there, a couple of pool games and more drinking. We eventually headed to another bar called Sharkey's (this is a lot of bars for a Sunday).

There a lot of people there that I had not seen in quite some time. People that I had partied with or worked with in years past. Some of them had moved away and were in town for the weekend (the season-opening football game was this weekend). I ended up getting a picture with us (which I unfortunately can't find now or I would post it here) and tried to send it to a guy I know in Wilmington, N.C that we all know. I did manage to send him a text message saying we were hanging out and it was his kind of gathering (he is very much a social creature, always up for lots of people and lots of drinks).

Seriously, they could be twins.

Some time while I was with these guys, the people I had gotten there with had taken off. Luckily I could pretty much guess where they went (a bar called Champs), so I went over there. There was this guy there who I had hung out with a time or two and we have mutual friends. When I first saw him this night though, I was a bit taken aback (the alcohol probably didn't help). The night we first met some months ago, several of us were headed out of the bar after last call. I leaned over to a friend of mine and was telling her that I thought this guy was really hot (think Brody Jenner). I thought while saying this that I was out of earshot from him. I wasn't, judging by the look on his face when I turned my head. So much for discretion I suppose. 

Anyway back to the present. He was downstairs helping someone (who may or may not have been his girlfriend) with some homework on a laptop. Much of the time at Champs that I remember was probably spent down there talking with them about...stuff. I won't say that I blacked out, that's too strong a phrase. I definitely browned out though. I remember trying to go up the steps and not doing so very gracefully. I had to get a bandage for my left middle toe and my nail on my right big toe was fairly shredded. At some point, I decided it was time to go home and I made the 1.5 mile trek.

I had planned on getting a lot of stuff done on Monday. Almost none of it actually got done except for laundry and a small grocery trip. I spent the day in Hangover City. Despite sleeping in until almost noon, I had to take what ended up being a 2-hour nap from 3-5, which of course ruined my sleep schedule because I didn't get to sleep that night until after 3am. Then I had to get up at 8 this morning to get ready for work and start doing the stuff that was supposed to get done yesterday.

Totally worth it though. Sunday was a good day.

Weekend Update: Sunday Funday!!! Part One

He looked kind of like this.

Work pretty much sucked this weekend. I was there for what seemed like really long hours (after 11pm on Friday and Saturday), and was there really early on Sunday which ended up being a shit-show. The highlight of that day (work-wise) was that this guy came in who used to live across the car park from me (I'm not sure he still does). This guy was super cute. ----------------------------->

I could stare at him all day long...except for the whole being really creepy thing. 

I was out of work by 2pm. I was about to head home when one of the girls I work with who had left earlier that day called me to meet her and her boyfriend (who used to work with us) at Awful Arthurs. It was pretty much just across the street so, even despite me REALLY wanting to take a shower, I went there. I drank that first Long Island Iced Tea like a champ and got another one which I drank much more slowly (I had no intention of ending up blackout drunk). I was there with them for about an hour and a half before I headed home for a little bit before coming back downtown. I just really needed to take a shower and change clothes. 

So about an hour later, I met back with them and someone else at a place called Cabo. The girl we were with was pretty wasted by this time. Apparently in my absence, they were crossing the street or something and she was yelling at some guy who ended up getting out of the car and they had to scurry away. I never really got the whole story but she ran away thinking the guy was a cop...because that is what her boyfriend had made her believe. During the course of another conversation while we were at Cabo, the other guy who was with us mentioned that a lot of his friends were gay guys and he was wondering why that was. I almost gave him an honest answer (which would be that he is pretty hot) but luckily I wasn't anywhere near drunk enough to be that candid. A better answer would have been "You have so many gay friends because you're a lucky sonofabitch." Eventually the girl had to be taken home because she was very drunk, so the other guy and myself headed back to Awful Arthurs

MyTunes Monday: Parisienne Walkways

 The first time I heard this song was actually from watching figure skating.

Off the Radar

I was at work Friday night and there was also a new guy working. This was only the second time that we were both in the building at the same time (I don't even remember his name off hand). Anyway, in the course of a conversation, he was told by the manager on duty that I'm gay. Apparently, he was surprised.

This isn't the first time that this has happened. Many people that I have known over the years - friends, co-workers, whatever - find out that I'm not on their team and are surprised. The thing is that their surprise surprises me. I guess I'm just so used to being gay and the idea of being gay at this point that I feel like I just give it off enough that people know without me saying so. There is also the fact that I make a lot of comments or jokes that most straight guys may be inclined not to say so as not to seem gay. Then again, I guess those around me are not always wondering who is gay and who is not. And why would they?

Not my most well-formed of posts but I was at work for over 8 hours today and I'll be back in less than 7.5 hours. My brain isn't functioning. Good night all.

IT'S GAME DAY!!!

LET'S GO HOKIES!!!