Must Watch: Mr. Rogers Amazing Speech to the Senate

Most of you know who Mr. Rogers is.  He is the famous television host of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood that aired on PBS for 33 years. He wrote all the scripts, did all the puppets, and wrote all the music for his show.  

I remember my mother plotting me down in front of the television to watch this show, along with Sesame Street.  And you know what? I'm glad she did!  I hardly spoke any English at the age of 6 and 7, and I attribute these shows to helping me become a Spelling Bee contestant and winner as I went from grade to grade.  I had 12th grade spelling by the time I was in 5th or 6th.

Rogers, educated as a minister, was displeased with the way television was addressing children, and he made every effort to change this over his career, and he did.  During the Nixon Administration, the president wanted to cut funding to the Public Broadcasting Service, and Mr. Rogers was having none of it.

He went directly to the Senate offices in 1969 and spoke for 6 minutes of what was supposed to be a 20 minute speech, and got $20 million dollars for it.  One of the senators, Sen. John Pastore, a Democrat from Rhode Island (the same man who had led a crusade against the impropriety of commercial broadcast network TV content - wasn't exactly inclined to approve the funding.) went so far as to say,  "I'm supposed to a pretty tough guy, and this is the first time I've had goosebumps for the last 2 days."

The story only gets so much better, but you have to see the video to see, hear and feel what I'm talking about.  It's pretty darn emotional -- pretty darn amazing.  I love you, Mr. Rogers.  You have made a difference in my life, and I thank God for you.

Quoted - Andrew Sullivan on his Newsweek Cover Story "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?"

"Under Obama, support for marriage equality and marijuana legalization has crested to record levels. Under Obama, a crucial state, New York, made marriage equality for gays an irreversible fact of American life. Gays now openly serve in the military, and the Defense of Marriage Act is dying in the courts, undefended by the Obama Justice Department. Vast government money has been poured into non-carbon energy investments, via the stimulus. Fuel-emission standards have been drastically increased. Torture was ended. Two moderately liberal women replaced men on the Supreme Court. Oh, yes, and the liberal holy grail that eluded Johnson and Carter and Clinton, nearly universal health care, has been set into law. Politifact recently noted that of 508 specific promises, a third had been fulfilled and only two have not had some action taken on them. To have done all this while simultaneously battling an economic hurricane makes Obama about as honest a follow-through artist as anyone can expect from a politician." 

- Andrew Sullivan on his Newsweek Cover Story "Why Are Obama's Critics So Dumb?"

Documentaries To Watch: Second Class Citizens

A documentary which began as a fruition is on a promising track to become a reality.  

Filmmaker Ryan James Yezak is currently working on a documentary sure to win the hearts of millions around the world, but most importantly, let it be known that it is okay to be gay.

Hoping to garner $50,000 in order to make his film "Second Class Citizens", Yezak raised $47,000 dollars in less than 24 hours, and has so far been pledged $140,000. If you wish to donate and be a part of this great movement, please go here and make a pledge.

A countless number of people have shared the following video which will bring you to tears once you get to the end.  Ellen DeGeneres chimes in,  "Larry was not a second class citizen. I am not a second class citizen. It is okay if you're gay."

"I want to make a documentary that encompasses all areas in which we are discriminated against. The general population is not aware that discrimination against the gay community goes beyond marriage & bullying. There is far too much hate directed towards our community and I want to capture that hate on camera. In addition, I want to explore where this hate comes from, why it continues to exist, and what we must do to get rid of it. A better solution is needed because the solution we have right now isn't working fast enough.

I am not a second class citizen. You are not a second class citizen. Right now, the laws in place (and lack thereof) say that we are. Let's change that." - Ryan James Yezak

Click "after the jump" for more information on this project and Ryan Yezak.

Disney Prince of the Week 002

Last Friday, Prince Eric from the Little Mermaid was featured as my inaugural Prince of the Week.  

In today's issue, and for the next 18 weeks I'll be posting a Disney Prince of the Week.  Can you guess which movie and name of the character who played this week's Prince?

Quoted - Ezra Miller on Exploring His Sexuality

“I’ve had many, you know, ‘happy ending sleepovers’ in my early youth. My period of exploration – I think that’s essential. Anyone who hasn’t had a gay moment is probably trying to avoid some confrontation with a reality in their life.”  

– We Need to Talk About Kevin‘s Ezra Miller on exploring his sexuality.

President Obama Sings Al Green's "Let's Stay Together"

It's a short clip, but it sure makes me smile.  I wholeheartedly believe this man has done more for this country than any other President ever has over the past 20 - 30 years.  And I also couldn't have stated it any better than the guy who posted this video on YouTube:

"Sorry about the blocked comments everyone, but I honestly don't have the time to deal with all the racist bile from YouTube's Ron Paul mob and the Tea/Firebagger bigots

This is the original 'President Obama sings Al Green' video on YouTube, but please, copy at your leisure - my pleasure!"

OMG Hilarious! - Push, Push

Hey Baby Girl

Okay, I don't know about you, but this kid needs help.  And serious help.  I'm scared for the girl he's talking to, Briona.  Hell, I got scared just watching him profess his love for her. LOL.

Nevermind that the guy looks like a troll, but dear Briona, I suggest you get a restraining order as soon as humanly possible.  Move the hell out of town, before you wind up in trash bags across hwy 59.  Jesus Christ, God Bless You!

Post Secret Fridays - Issue 091

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

 See More Secrets. Follow PostSecret on Twitter.

 Want to see older Post Secret Friday issues? Go here.

Brokeback Twilight

So what if I'm a little late with this. It's still funny as hell.  Not sure how many of you ever saw Brokeback Mountain, starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, but for those who haven't, it was about two cowboys who secretly loved each other and remained in the closet throughout the whole movie.  I know.  Ironically enough, the straights liked it more than the gays. LOL.

But what if a wolf named Jacob and a vampire named Edward were carrying on a secret relationship?  What would Bella do?  LMAO!  Check out the video, it should make you chuckle.

Celebrity Pallbearers

I thought this infographic was pretty darn cool.  For those who have no idea what a pallbearer is, the definition is underneath the title.  

It took me a few seconds, but I was able to find out which celebrities carried Natalie Wood's casket.  Some celebrities only had one fellow celebrity carry their casket, but in the case of Natalie, she had Fred Astaire, Laurence Olivier, David Niven, Frank Sinatra and Gregory Peck, all of which have died since then.  It's pretty fascinating - click on the pic to see the full chart, or go to mysendoff.com.

Laugh of the Day: Blind Man Pees On People

Oh my, I wouldn't know what to think if this happened to me.  First, the guy is blind so cut the guy some slack.  Second, the people being pee'd on should have been more courteous.  LMAO.  Too funny for words.

Thank you Darwin for sharing this.

OMG Hilarious! - Peeve

U.S. History We Choose To Ignore

It's amazing how we go through high school, taking college course after college course, writing research papers and taking final exams; Yet, we will never learn all there ever is to learn about our country, our politicians, and who they truly were.  Some leave it out, some refuse to teach it, some just simply ignore it.  I came across this blog this morning and had to share it.

"My morning run took me past the oldest tree in Central Park. This London Plane tree is over 150 years old and was planted sometime shortly before the Reservoir in Central Park was constructed in 1862. To give a little historical perspective, at about the time this tree was planted America was fighting the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln began the process to free African slaves by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, but would also move to brutally eradicate Native Americans by ordering the largest mass hanging in United States history of 38 Santee Sioux and gave a presidential promise to kill or remove every single Native American from the state of Minnesota."

Still think of President Lincoln as God's gift to mankind?  **cough** Not so much.

Movies to Watch: Casa De Mi Padre

The biggest international motion picture of all time comes to America March 16th.

Border Patrol: "Do you speak American?"
Will Ferrell:     "Huh?"
Border Patrol:  "Do - you - speak - American?"
Will Ferrell:      "No Senor, No hablo Americano"

OMG, this will definitely have to be the funniest Will Ferrell movie ever made.  Jesus Christ, I can't keep from laughing.  His Mexican accent is near perfect. LMAO.  

"Casa De Mi Padre" also stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, and Genesis Rodriguez.

The Storyline:

Armando Alvarez (Will Ferrell) has lived and worked on his father's ranch in Mexico his entire life. As the ranch encounters financial difficulties, Armando's younger brother Raul (Diego Luna), shows up with his new fiancé, Sonia (Genesis Rodriguez). It seems that Raul's success as an international businessman means the ranch's troubles are over as he pledges to settle all debts his father has incurred. But when Armando falls for Sonia, and Raul's business dealings turn out to be less than legit, all hell breaks loose as they find themselves in a war with Mexico's most feared drug lord, the mighty Onza (Gael Garcia Bernal). Written by Production  

Kiss of the Week - Issue No. 009

Frequency of Lying

Okay, I want to see how often you lie...

Isn't This The Truth? Sad Reality

For real. LMAO.

It's Purely Animal - Issue No. 43 - Best Commercial Ever!!!

Yes, everyone is saying it's the best commercial ever, so I had to post it.  Even Ryan sent me the video last night so that when I got to work I'd find it in my inbox. LOL. Thanks my love!  

Remember last year's Volkswagen commercial with little Darth?  Well, this time around it's a group of loving "man's best friends"  

Check it out.  It's supposedly a teaser until the big reveal on Super Bowl Sunday.

It's Okay To Be A Bully, So Long As It's For Religious Reasons

Jacob Rogers

Yep, the good 'ol south - you gotta love'em. It hasn't even been a month since a local gay teen in Tennessee was buried that a new law allowing kids to bully is being proposed by the State Legislature.  I know, you're thinking I'm trying to push some liberal agenda, that no conservative would ever do such a thing.  But guess what, it's true!

As local news channel WSMV is reporting, the proposed law change by state lawmakers would allow students to speak out against homosexuality without punishment if that's what their religious beliefs call for. [source]

So in other words... if my child is walking through the halls, minding their own business, and a religious kid comes up and tells him or her they are going to hell, they're a sinner or sodomite, they will have every right to ridicule them and belittle them?  Yes, this new law will allow that.  You mean to tell me, if they tell my child "you're a fag and are going to burn in eternal fire," and my child might not even be gay - that will be okay? YEP.

It's true and it's sad, but this type of behavior is what led many of us to contemplate suicide when we were younger.  I would often find myself praying myself to sleep asking God to make me normal, asking him why would he made me this way if I was his child.  Depression kicks in, and everything you're taught to believe in this world turns out to be a lie. You start to believe that everyone, and every thing is a lie!

In correspondence with the Tennessee Equality Project, the state's main gay rights group, state Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, claimed gay people commit suicide at a higher rate than others and suggested Jacob's sexuality itself drove him to kill himself. Ragan asked whether the suicide could have had "more to do with his own proclivities and behavior than anything to do with schoolmate bullies ..."

Blaming the victim is necessary to prevent Jacob's death from damaging chances for passage of Tennessee's 2012 state legislative priority—a bill to make it easier for young bigots to mistreat gay schoolkids. This legislation brought by conservative Christians who oppose special protections for gay people actually gives special protections to homophobic bullies. [source]