WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 001 - Civil Rights - The Inaugural Issue

As I mentioned yesterday, this is a new daily series on my blog in which I will post an achievement by President Barack Obama over the last 3 years.  I may post one, two or even more depending on how close we get to the election this November.  Considering there are hundreds of achievements our President has accomplished over the course of his first term, I may need to post more than one.  And I'm only covering 3 years so you can just imagine!

In today's first issue I'd like to start off with what the President has achieved in reference to Civil Rights, which includes funding and the President's targeted actions.  I have listed three WTFs for my first issue down below, and I as mentioned in yesterday's blog, I don't want to spread lies, so if you feel I wrote something false, please help me by letting me know.  If you want to debate me, that will be fine too, but I won't go back and forth for hours trying to explain something that isn't true. I will provide references to each WTF at the end of each achievement.

WTF-1   

Funds to help our Children and Youth who have disabilities - $12.2 billion in new funding went towards the "Individuals with Disabilities Act" using the "American Recovery and Investment Act" to help pay for it.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriates significant new funding for programs under Parts B and C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Part B of the IDEA provides funds to state educational agencies and local educational agencies to help them ensure that children with disabilities, including children aged three through five, have access to a free appropriate public education to meet each child's unique needs and prepare him or her for further education, employment, and independent living. Part C of the IDEA provides funds to each state lead agency designated by the Governor to implement statewide systems of coordinated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary inter-agency programs and make early intervention services available to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. [References at the U.S. Department of Education website here.]

WTF-2  

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - Ledbetter, a former supervisor at a Goodyear tire plant in Alabama, sued the company after discovering several months before her 1998 retirement that, for years, she was paid less than her male counterparts. A jury awarded Ledbetter more than $3 million. But the Supreme Court overturned that judgment in March 2007, ruling 5-4 that a 180-day statute of limitation for her to file a lawsuit had started from the first instance of discrimination, meaning that her suit about more than a decade of discrimination was untimely.

The Democratic Congress took up Ledbetter's cause, drafting legislation that would set the clock running when the discriminatory action was discovered. But in April 2008, the Senate was unable to overcome a threat of filibuster. Then-candidate Obama even left the campaign trail to vote for the act; he later launched a mostly accurate attack against McCain for opposing the measure. Ledbetter appeared at the Democratic convention to praise Obama for supporting the measure, noting, "My case is over. I will never receive the pay I deserve. But there will be a far richer reward if we secure fair pay."

Obama included a vow to reverse the effects of the Ledbetter decision in a major campaign document, his "Blueprint for Change."

Fast forward to Jan. 29, 2009. President Obama signed the Ledbetter Act, saying, "Ultimately, equal pay isn't just an economic issue for millions of Americans and their families. It's a question of who we are and whether we're truly living up to our fundamental ideals." Promise Kept. [Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3]

WTF-3  

Presidential Memorandum extending benefits to same sex partners of federal employees - For far too long, many of our Government's hard-working, dedicated LGBT employees have been denied equal access to the basic rights and benefits their colleagues enjoy. This kind of systemic inequality undermines the health, well-being, and security not just of our Federal workforce, but also of their families and communities. That is why, last June, I directed the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies), in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to conduct a thorough review of the benefits they provide and to identify any that could be extended to LGBT employees and their partners and families. Although legislative action is necessary to provide full equality to LGBT Federal employees, the agencies have identified a number of benefits that can be extended under existing law. OPM, in consultation with the Department of Justice, has provided me with a report recommending that all of the identified benefits be extended. [Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3]

Please make sure to read Issue No. 002 tomorrow as I continue with WTF-4
Everyday on BLADE 7184

Cool Wedding in Portlandia

Spike and Iris don't really believe in marriage, the whole idea of it is kind of suffocating, but they need a wedding planner nonetheless.  A cool wedding. LOL.

As I mentioned on Friday, I really need to start watching this show.  If anything, I may start watching the episodes online. OMG, these actors are great!  Portlandia is seen on IFC (Independent Film Channel), so check your local listings and watch it!  I definitely will.

I Quote That - Friends

OMG Hilarious! - Happened

Harry Potter's iPhone

What? You didn't know that Harry Potter had an iPhone?  C'mon, really?

It's Purely Animal - Issue No. 44 - Hamlet The Hungry Piglet

Omg, Ryan is going to flip when he sees this.  This is one of the things I miss most about growing up on my mom and dad's farm - the animals.  I'm so grateful to my parents for having me experience country life for for 18 years, because otherwise I wouldn't have learned to appreciate both worlds.  I love living in a city and in the suburbs, but while I admire it, it doesn't compare to the beautiful countryside and farmlands.  I can't wait to get my Ryan a little piggy.  He wants one so bad, and after he sees this he's going to want one even more.

Commit A Crime To Live In Luxury

Wouldn't you want to go stay in a place like this?  I mean, look at this place.  It looks more like a prestigious club for the rich than it does a prison.  Yeah, you read that right, a prison.

Considered one of the most luxurious jails in the world, the prison in Leoben, Austria has garnered harsh criticism.  And rightly so, look at all these pictures!  It looks more like a 5 Star hotel, than a place for criminals.

Unfortunately, the place is currently booked with 205 inmates, so you'll have to wait your turn.

Poster of the Week - Issue No. 43 - Loneliness

Continuing alphabetically, I bring you this week's poster, "Loneliness".

Crimes of the Century - No. 8 - The Great Train Robbery

THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, 1963

The 15 thieves who held up the Royal Mail train between Glasgow and London on Aug. 8, 1963 netted 120 bags packed with the equivalent of $7 million and were were treated like folk heroes by the press and public. Although the operation took all of 15 minutes, the caper was not as smooth as people remember it. It wasn't non-violent, for one thing (the driver of the train was conked in the head and never fully recovered from the trauma); nor was it as carefully executed (the thieves left fingerprints everywhere). 

The case has lived on in memory because of the further adventures of one of its minor players, Ronnie Biggs, whose escape from prison and long years of eluding justice were constant fodder for the British tabs. Readers were fascinated that a small-time hood could end up being part of the biggest heist in British history and be the only one to get away with it all. Biggs eventually gave himself up in 2001, returning voluntarily from Brazil to serve the 28 years remaining in his sentence. Despite pleas for leniency, Biggs, now 77, remains incarcerated and in failing health.

***

When this article was written, Biggs was still in prison.  He was released on August 06, 2009 on compassionate grounds according to news reports and Wikipedia. - The Great Train Robbery.

***

As you read through the 25 crimes Time Magazine has selected, you will wonder which of them will remain in the popular, perhaps even the artistic imagination in the years to come? How will they be retold and with what kinds of lessons and cautions in mind?  Visit my blog every Saturday as a new crime will be posted each week.

***

Go back and read the previous 7 crimes here.

OMG Hilarious! - Li'l Stumpz

WTF Has Obama Done? - Inaugural Issue Starts Tomorrow!

Regardless of how you feel about Barack Obama, and I'm speaking to everyone here - Atheist, Christian, Racist, Democrat, Republican, everyone.  If we were to look back at the end of George Bush's presidency and look at where we are today, I would start feeling really confident about where things are going.

I would be just as critical if this president wasn't doing the job I voted for him to do.  Hell, you could even ask my partner Ryan. Two years ago, I was talking shit about this man, because I didn't think he was following through on his promises.  But Ryan and the president proved me wrong.  The Republican party proved me wrong.  When I saw Mitch McConnell stand up on that podium and say their number one goal was to get this president out of office instead of help turn the economy around, I knew something wasn't right.

This President has done more for the LGBT community than any other president in our history.  He inherited an economy in January, 2009 that I didn't think he could ever repair.  And with the help of the stimulus package and other related policies, the economy is getting better each month, unemployment numbers continue to drop, and the country as whole, is on the right track to recovery.  

Mind you, he did most of this without help from certain folks in congress - he did it as best as he could without them.  Imagine if he would have gotten the support he needed. Just imagine where we would be today. But guess what?  Without their help our president was able to make change happen as promised, and a lot of it took place over the past 3 years.  

Starting tomorrow I will be starting a new daily series on my blog titled "WTF Has Obama Done?"  This daily series will feature an accomplishment President Obama has achieved over the course of his presidency.  If you don't believe the accomplishment, links will be provided to show that it's true.

I don't want to spread lies, so if you feel I wrote something false, please help by letting me know.  If you want to debate me, that will be fine too, but I won't go back and forth for hours trying to explain something that's true or not true.  If you can provide me with an honest rebuttal, I will change my post to reflect what you've told me.  I promise.

Quoted - Peter Flores aka Blade 7184 on Love Is The Key

This was my response to a commenter from one of my blogs last week.

Monday Will Be The Biggest Drag Ever!!!

Woo hoo!!! The time is near and it's going to be full of drama, shade, laughter and a little hair pulling!  LOL.  It's Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 4!!!  

Logo has released the full length trailer and it's exactly as I expected it would be - ONE HUGE HOT MESS!  LMAO.  This is going to be the biggest drag night ever!!!  And I wouldn't doubt it if RuPaul brings Shangela back later in the season just to piss everyone off.

In other breaking news!!! Mike Ruiz and Elvira will be the first guest judges - you can't get any better than that!  Well...  actually, this season is chock-full of awesome judges, and we can't wait to see them all!  So without further ado, here's the trailer to another great season of RuPaul!

Nobody Is Immune To Breast Cancer...

For those who don't know, I work in Breast Cancer Research.  I have for the past 9-1/2 years.  The disease hits real close to home - I've had an aunt die from Breast Cancer, and it was not an easy thing to go through for my family.  

I had another die from from Gynecological Cancer, and uncle from Lung Cancer.  This disease is despicable, ruthless, and unforgiving and can hit anyone, at any time.  So you can just imagine how I felt when I saw these posters, I absolutely fell in love with them.  And being that countless of superhero movies are released each and every year, I thought I'd share it to remind people that it doesn't matter who you are - you can be the President, Secretary of State, a pastor, a teacher, a school bus driver, a dad, a mother, a sister, a brother, the list goes on.  Nobody is immune to Breast Cancer - Nobody.

One State - Two Party Difference

I honestly wish this wasn't the case, but this is pretty much the way it is around the country.  When the country is divided this is what you get.  Only difference is, one party is a little more respectful.  These two women represent Arizona...

...I rest my case.

The Pasta Fork

Now why didn't I think of this before?  Lord knows every time I think of an invention or patenting something, someone else takes my idea. Case and point, I love sour pickles, but I also love the juice.  So I came up with an idea to create "Pickle Sickles" by pouring juice into kool-aid type frozen containers (you know, like mom used to make when she would make us popsicles over the summer?). Then, whenever I'm in the mood for something sour, I pull out a Pickle Sickle and enjoy.

But you will never guess... Ryan and I went to Wal-Mart while we were visiting my family in Corpus Christi over the summer and I about died when I came across a package of "Bob's Pickle Pops".  Really?!?!  Pickle Pops!!!  They weren't even that great.  I bought two bags, because I needed proof that someone stole my idea.  I showed my friends and they all laughed, because I always ate my invention in front of them while we were watching our shows.

I currently have another invention in my head, but I'm not telling anyone until I'm done with it.  Lord knows, this too will be popping up somewhere.  But hey, until then buy a pasta fork. LOL.

Fat Chance

A Neighborhood To Remember

You may remember me blogging about Mr. Rogers a week ago on his amazing speech to the Senate back in 1969.  Well, five years before he died he received an honorary Lifetime Achievement Award where he spoke from his heart as he always did.  

Mr. Rogers' unforgettable acceptance speech had everyone tearing by the end of the night.  And it's probably because he not only touched the audience members' lives in some way, but their children as well.  He definitely made a difference in mine and Ryan's lives, and nothing pleases me more than to blog about him.

Acceptance speech and video down below.

"So many people have helped me to come here to this night. Some of you are here, some are far away and some are even in Heaven. All of us have special ones who loved us into being. Would you just take, along with me, 10 seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are, those who cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life. 10 seconds, I'll watch the time. Whomever you've been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they have made. You know they're kind of people television does well to offer our world. Special thanks to my family, my friends, and my co-workers in Public Broadcasting and Family Communications, and to this Academy for encouraging me, allowing me, all these years to be your neighbor. May God be with you. Thank you very much."

Post Secret Fridays - Issue 092

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.

Don't Forget Your Grocery Bag

Portlandia is considered one of the funniest shows on television and why Ryan and I are not watching it is beyond me.  But as far as I can tell, it's funny because a lot of what happens on the show, happens in real life. 

I've posted a couple blogs with these two actors before, but I never really thought about watching the show until now. Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein play various characters on the show who's video clips obviously made me blog about them twice...

Battlestar Galactica Ruins Lives!
Laugh of the Day: Whose Dog Is This?

Oh, btw, the next time you go to the grocery store, don't forget your bag.  Ryan and I always do, but luckily for us they still have plastic. LOL.