Go Mama Gone

I was biking home last night passed Go Mama Go, a -- jeesh, how to describe it -- trendy Asian home decorative boutique store -- and noticed there were stacks of flowers in front, and a picture of the owner, Noi Chudnoff (pictured, right) on the big storefront window.

Oh no, I thought.

Chudnoff, born in Thailand, a grandmother, opened her store and became a fixture in the gay community here, supporting so many gay-related community causes. Her presence was inescapable at almost every gay community event. When walking into her store -- as I did just a few weeks ago -- you would bask in her benevolence.

She did indeed die this week, after a freak fall caused a brain hemorrhage. She was one of those people who, although you didn't know her personally, somehow affected your life. Our community will miss her spirit.

Spock's "Vulcan" Mother???

Fascinating:

Star Trek" is beaming up Winona
Ryder.
Paramount Pictures and director JJ Abrams have set Ryder to play
the Vulcan mother of a young Spock (Zachary Quinto).\

Wait a minute. I may be a little stale on my Trekkieness but wasn't Spock's mom human? Wasn't that like the whole point?

Remembering the Wallace Shooting

They're letting the guy who shot presidential candidate George Wallace back in 1972 go.

I remember when this happened. I was eight. It was the second big public event I remember. The first was the landing on the moon. Coincidentlly I watched news of both events while at my grandparent's house.

The moon landing fascinated me.

The Wallace shooting gave me nightmares for a long time.

For Only $5...

Okay, I know what I'd order.

This photo from the cover of Under Gear. Yes, I've posted pics of him before, he has several times manfully graced the cover of IM or Under Gear. And featured prominently in their pages.

You can see my previous post with links to other "Phil" (that's what I call him) photos here, as well as the story of how my grandmother introduced me to male porn. I know I shouldn't post scantily clad menses on my blog, but my Grandma made me do it.

Children Will Listen (and open the wrong drawers)

My son, waking me up back in August using his best "scary face" in our remodeled bedroom. One of the things we did was expose the brick walls, as you can see.

The other was to get new furniture, including matching rustic nightstands, one of which can be seen in upper left.

With our remodel, later the morning that this picture was taken, the LTR and I were discussing how to best use all the new storage space we had.

LTR: What do we put in the nightstands?

Me: Our "toys" (if you know what I mean and I think you do)

Our son: What's in here (pointing to the nightstand drawer and opening it).

Me (looking at LTR): Then again...

So right now in my nightstand (I don't know what the LTR has in his) I have misc. bike items. The other stuff I was referring to is safely hidden away where three-year-olds can't find it (I hope).

The Gumshoe Walks Again

Zac emerges from his romance cocoon to blog about his romance. Well, it's a good post and there's truthiness and good humor in it. Welcome back to the 'sphere, Zaco!

Lake Titicaca

Legend has it the first Inca chief and his wife rose from the waters of Lake Titicaca, the world's largest high-altitude lake (about 15,000 feet above sea level, if I remember right).

The lake is also famous for (other than the cheap giggle it entices when you say it out loud) the floating islands built by the Uros Indians. They're made of reeds and support homes, churches, schools and on one island, a 7th Day Adventist Church.

We ventured out to the islands in the Bay of Puno, an archipelago of 45 tiny man-made reed islands.

Here's your favorite blogger posing with one island's mascot. Each little island contains several families. The men mostly fish, the women sell crap to tourists. Some homes boast solar panels for TVs and radios.






Meanwhile, back in Puno on the banks of Lake Titicaca, we took in the nightlife of the somewhat seedy downtown (at least compared to Cusco) and ran into this fellow in the middle -- Michael,

a shoe salesman from Colorado. Michael was somewhat like Waldo, he kept popping up. We first met him standing in line waiting for the bus to take us up to Machu Picchu, saw him again at Machu Picchu, again back in Cusco, on the train to Puno, and the LTR and I were sitting in this bar in Puno and in walks, Michael.




The other attraction in Puno, and docked off our hotel, is the Yavari, a British steamship built in the 1860s and carried in pieces by mule over six years from a port in Chile to Lake Titicaca.

It's been restored and will someday be returning to service as a charter boat.


You can learn more from the Yavari foundation.

Of course, after our tour as we were walking off the boat, who is walking up the dock but:

Michael

Oprah Wept

USA Today um, today, carried the story about Oprah weeping when she heard the news about abuse at her school on page one.

Page one.

Page one...really? I'm not saying the truly great O's tears weren't real or justified...but is it really that important I know about it?

King Tut Revealed

You can see his (real mummified) face here.

It's a history-making moment. Not just for the reveal, but an official's use of the words "godlen boy" three times in a single sentence:

"The golden boy has magic and mystery, and therefore every person all over
the world will see what Egypt is doing to preserve the golden boy, and all of
them I am sure will come to see the golden boy," said Egypt's antiquities chief,
Zahi Hawass.

Lost in Time

The first week after "fall back" always seems out of kilter. It's like jet lag without the jet. I find getting up in the mornings a little easier, but all of a sudden I'm biking to work in full sunlight instead of twilight. The entire trip in I'm thinking I'm way late -- until I start passing the same people I see everyday commuting in the other direction. Even then, they look strange in full light, like they don't belong. Kind of like Ron Paul at a Republican debate.

And then all week you can't trust a clock...which one's have been set back, and which ones are an hour ahead?

At least when you travel across time zones you're in a new environment, not just a new time. having the clock move while you don't is a jarring experience.

It's the one week of the year when "hey buddy, do you have the time?" isn't just a bad pick up line.

Obama: That Durn Hillary; She's Campaigning Like She Wants to Win

Under the headline "Obama Criticizes Clinton's Drive to Win," the genteel Senator from Illinois:

described Clinton as a skilled politician running a textbook campaign but said the textbook itself is badly flawed and skewed against ordinary Americans. "It's a textbook that's all about winning elections but says nothing about how to bring the country together to solve problems," he said.

Umm, Senator...you have to win if you're going to really solve problems. You could use a little drive to win yourself.

Hillary and the Gender Card

I'm late on the dance to this one, but Hillary needs to back off laying the gender card and claiming to be a victim during the 537th Democratic debate last week.

Signs she's doing that according to this report.

Mrs. Clinton was swiftly criticized on the Internet and by some female columnists for wanting to have it both ways, projecting herself as a strong leader but then complaining of mistreatment by men

Look, if Clinton is going to claim she needs help for being picked on by he six male candidates for president, what message is she sending about her ability to stand up to these six guys:

Bin Laden
Chavez
Il-sung
Putin
al Sistani
Ahmadinejad

I for one don't doubt she could -- but her willingness to rely on her gender as a tactic to fend off legitimate lines of questioning says all I need to know to remind me why I don't trust her.

120

That's the number of miles I commuted on bike this week...11 miles each way, 22 miles a day, five days.

This Blue Heron greeted me most mornings. He's fishing in the shallows of the Potomac north of Old Town Alexandria.

I'm getting used to pedaling home in the dark...I have a good light, but many oncoming cyclist's lights are blinding. So you momentarily lose your night vision...which caused me to almost plow into a pedestrian wearing no lights or reflective gear last night when an oncoming bike passed me.

I love my commute, though...it is a beautiful way to start and end the day. And, assuming I don't torpedo a pedestrian, a healthy way to boot.

Friday Fashionista – Down with Abercrombie and Bowling Shoes

I have found myself perplexed about why so many gay men are sporting Abercrombie these days. It may be okay for the under 25 crowd, but there comes a point in a man’s life where he needs to put aside boyish clothing. To be completely honest, I don’t find much there in the way of fashion. It does not take that much imagination to look like a frat boy in ripped up jeans and a shirt with a number on it.

Here is my plea to you men – give up the Abercrombie and save it for the 15 to 25 year olds. It’s time to dress like a man – that does not mean boring. By no means am I advocating you run to the nearest Haband to purchase a pair of forever-fit elastic waistband pants. No, no, no. I AM advocating dressing age-appropriately. There was an article in Details a few months ago with some sage advice for the 20 something’s, the 30’s guys and men in their 40’s and 50’s (sorry guys but the Details online archive kind of sucks – I will look through my old issues at home). Each age group was given several examples and options that were flattering to the stage of life as well as lifestyle typical of each group. Let’s face it men, along with getting older, there is the added benefit (hopefully) of more disposable income to dress better than we did previously. It’s a good thing to be able to afford nicer things than we could when we were in our twenties or thirties.

On another topic, someone asked few weeks ago about the “bowling style” shoes that were very popular a few years ago. I gave a brief answer, but I wanted to elaborate a little more. These shoes had their moment about 3 or 4 years ago – perhaps longer. If you are wearing these things, get rid of them. If you find yourself at DSW looking over these shoes, step away. If you really feel the need to have something hot and now, get yourself some of the 70’s retro takes on athletic shoes such as the Puma that have become so popular. Or you can always go with a classic such as the Converse – they never go out of style. And whether you are 18 or 48, they look good.

As always, keep the questions coming – your humble Friday Fashionista lives to serve.

The Kid and Halloween

From a conversation with my three year old, over the phone:

Me: What are dressing up as for Halloween?

The Kid: Bud Light

Me: Bud Light?????

The Kid: Bud Light.

Me: (thinking) Have your mothers lost their minds?

LTR: (overhearing) Buzz Lightyear?

Me: Buzz Lightyear?

The Kid: To infinity and beyond...

Struck Dumb Over Dumbledore

Well, this is no surprise...the Christian Coaltion is urging parents to "ban their children" from reading Harry Potter or watching Potter films after the revelation that Dumbledore is gay.

Ummm, good luck with that.

Heavens, what if they figure out that some of the people mentioned in the Bible were gay?

No Fashionista?

The FF didn't post last week.

Which probably explains why I went out and bought myself some pleated-cuffed trousers to go with my new flip-flops.

What Matters: The Obama Controversy

What matters more -- that Sen. Barack Obama supports the most gay-positive policies (other than marriage) or that he shares the stage with an anti-gay black preacher?

That President Bill Clinton said all the right things about gays ("he says our name!" a gay democrat friend of mine swooned back in the mid-90s) but gave assent to two of the most anti-gay policies to come out of that decade (DOMA and DADT)?

Or in other words, political correctness vs. correct policies?

I go with policy...

Where Osama will Find his Nuke

On the plane to Chicago, I read Newsweek's breathless analysis of the situation in Pakistan. Here's what you need to know:

Today no other country on earth is arguably more dangerous than Pakistan. It has everything Osama bin Laden could ask for: political instability, a trusted network of radical Islamists, an abundance of angry young anti-Western recruits, secluded training areas, access to state-of-the-art electronic technology, regular air service to the West and security services that don't always do what they're supposed to do. (Unlike in Iraq or Afghanistan, there also aren't thousands of American troops hunting down would-be terrorists.) Then there's the country's large and growing nuclear program. "If you were to look around the world for where Al Qaeda is going to find its bomb, it's right in their backyard," says Bruce Riedel, the former senior director for South Asia on the National Security Council.

And yet we're spending all this time and energy saber-rattling on Iran. In the same issue of Newsweek, Fareed Zakaria gets real about Iran:

Iran has an economy the size of Finland's and an annual defense budget of around $4.8 billion. It has not invaded a country since the late 18th century. The United States has a GDP that is 68 times larger and defense expenditures that are 110 times greater. Israel and every Arab country (except Syria and Iraq) are quietly or actively allied against Iran. And yet we are to believe that Tehran is about to overturn the international system and replace it with an Islamo-fascist order? What planet are we on?

The one where George W. Bush managed to get elected president.

I understand the need for caution in dealing with the tepid-against-the-war-on-terror regime in Pakistan, and know that if it fails it will be replaced by an outright enemy. What worried me is that the White House and Pentagon are consumed by Iran and thereby missing the real threat.

It's not like it hasn't happened before.

Two Topics

Every business trip there are times -- like before a meeting or after a meeting at dinner or the bar -- when conversation turns to sports.

My interest in pro sports can fit on the period at the end of this sentence.

(Unless were' talking about shirtless baseballers).

Such was the case on my biz trip the last two days. How much easier life would be if I could pull off post ball game banter about defense and offense and so and so is a good hitter but is shit in the infield.

I was on a conference call once, years ago, waiting for it to start and there was the usual banter between those of us who were on time. "Did you catch the Tournament last night?" someone said. I thought, "yeah, and can you believe that triple toe-loop salchow combination by Brian Boitano" when someone else saved me from humiliation by talking about the NBA.

Then there's that other topic -- sex. I can talk about this one. But I have yet to be in a business setting with mostly straight guys where I could chime in with the same specificity about this or that coworker or the various body parts of the wait staff that caught my eye.

So when it comes to business, I just talk about business.

Which makes those pre and post business meetings sheer drudgery for me.