Hellooooooo....

Some random thoughts and news to confirm that I am, in fact, still alive:

My News
1.  Tonight I continued my mission of filling in the gaps in my film knowledge by seeing "The Graduate" for the very first time outdoors in Dolores Park.  Stuber, Chris and I huddled up with our blanket and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...it was very cool to see Dustin Hoffman as a young man again...I love that guy!

2.  I saw (and met) the Scissor Sisters a couple weeks ago at the Warfield in San Francisco.   

I have to admit, it was an amazing time for me.  My buddy Eddie got us in to meet the band with a small group before the show.  I had met BabyDaddy before, but not the others....let me just say, as much as I mock others who act like groupies....in my own way I was no better.  As always, I was too embarrassed to ask them to sign anything, but of course chatted them up as if to somehow make myself memorable.  In reality, BabyDaddy is a very nice guy whom I am likely to see in a number of social settings (we have mutual friends, and he has a good memory!), so I didn't feel too guilty.  The show was amazing...I had a great time.  Of course it helped that I bought the new album on iTunes the day before so I could recognize the new songs....I don't enjoy concerts enough to want to go see anyone I haven't heard enough to sing along (quietly, of course!).  All in all, it was the most fun I have had a concert since...well, since ever (although I think I WAS pretty psyched after Springsteen's Born in the USA concert...who can remember that far back?  not me!)

Random thoughts

1.   Why I love the San Francisco Chronicle:   The day after North Korea tested its nuclear bomb, the biggest, boldest front page headline in several weeks read "DIARY OF A SEX SLAVE", with a huge picture of a forlorn Asian girl from the Tenderloin.  It was a refreshing reminder of our provincialism, and love of a good sex story....in some ways San Francisco is the city that time forgot...it never really changes all that much!

2.   On the other hand...that the Mark Foley congressional page sex scandal continues to dominate the news is baffling to me.  As much as I like to see a right wing hypocrite crash and burn, I can't for the life of me see why this is anything but a personal tragedy, and pathetic display by one creepy man.  From all appearances, it is Republicans who are beating themselves and each other up for either not knowing or not stopping him.  It's almost as unseemly as Foley's actions themselves, how much they want to blame someone else and/or defend themselves for HIS actions!  It's as if the mere thought of being the part of the same political party with a pervert like Foley will somehow taint them all.  Come to think of it, they ARE the party of "guilt by association", so maybe this is poetic justice.  For Democrats, there is no need to do or say anything, just let the Republicans publicly flog themselves...its kinda fun to watch!

3.  Oh France, France, France....just when I think you cannot be MORE ridiculous, your thoughtful National Assembly passes a new law making it a crime to deny the Turks committed genocide against Armenians in 1915.  Notwithstanding the hazy definition of "genocide" and the competing views of historians as to whether it was a true "genocide" or just a particularly bloody conflict along ethnic/religious lines, exactly what about a conflict between Turks and Armenians occurring over 90 years ago is worthy of a law limiting free speech in 21st century France?  Can you say "stirring the pot?" What good can this possibly serve?

4.  On the other hand, California seems almost certain to elect ARNOLD to a second term as governor, and by a comfortable margin. 
I officially have no right to call anyone else crazy!