Bobservations

Shortly before I went out to Oregon, Carlos wanted to speak to an acquaintance of ours in Miami, George. George had done work on our home there, but was also a psychic, too; tile-setter and psychic? Okur.

Anyway, Carlos wanted to talk to George about his father, and so he called. Near the end of their chat, George told Carlos to tell me that I needed surgery on my hernia and not to let it go.

Um, George? I don’t have a hernia. Of course, that didn’t stop the thought from entering my mind at every turn while I was away, but then … when I returned home …

Carlos has a hernia. His was diagnosed by his doctor, and we’re setting a time for his surgery.

I’m not saying George was right, but it looks like he was one off.

Ten years ago Philip Todd Wilson was a Kentucky school principal who fought to ban books that included “homosexual content”.

This week Wilson was arrested and charged on 30 counts related to possession and distribution of child pornography.

Why does it always seem that the most hate-filled homophobes are either closeted gay men or pedophiles or into kiddie porn?

A Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama is capturing national attention for a sign in front of the church; one side reads:

“A black vote for Trump is mental illness.”

The other side says:

“A white vote for Trump is pure racism.”

Pastor Michael Jordan put the sign up hoping it would encourage people to choose a name other than _____ on their ballots their next year.

Playing to his base—and we all know who that is—this week _____ released a new campaign video over Twitter.

It wasn’t terribly newsworthy until the new _____ Pence logo appeared, featuring a lion illustration that appears to have been taken from a Dutch Twitter account suspended for promoting White Supremacy.

You.Don’t.Say. The use of the same logo was first reported by former Snopes Managing Editor Brooke Binkowski, who revealed the similarity in a series of tweets, and then followed up with a link to an archived version of a now-deleted Tweet by VDARE, an anti-immigration group criticized for promoting White Supremacy.

The lion logo is the exact same.

It suggests two things … either someone in the _____campaign decided to use this hate group’s logo as their own because the president is a racist xenophobe, or someone in the _____ campaign is an idiot.

Well, now it looks like some states are pushing to criminalize the sharing of intimate photos to get revenge on former sex partners.

Down in Texas, because, of course, a new law bans so-called cyber flashing and cracks down on people who send unsolicited nude images on dating apps and elsewhere in cyberspace.

The law forbids what is often characterized as technology-enabled sexual harassment and makes electronic transmission of sexually explicit material a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 if the person who received it hasn’t given consent.

So, no more dick pics … sorry Cheney, Sargent, Van Patten, Nixon.

St. Edward Catholic School in Nashville has pulled the Harry Potter book series from the school’s shelves because, according to Reverend Dan Reehil, he spells in the books are real.

Yes, that’s what he said. And isn’t it ironic that the Reverend pulls books off the shelves because he thinks the spells are real, but he works for a church that allows, abets, and supports pedophilia and child rape?

Uh huh.

This week, in response to the nationwide epidemic of mass shootings, Walmart announced a major change in gun policy and a ban on sales of some types of ammunition.

Walmart will discontinue all sales of short-barrel rifle ammunition that can be used with military style weapons, discontinue sales of handgun ammunition and stop all handgun sales in Alaska, following two “horrific” shootings at Walmart stores this summer. In addition, they are also asking customers at Walmart and Sam’s Club to no longer openly carry firearms in stores, in states where “open carry” is allowed, unless authorized law enforcement officers are present.

Good on them, and I hope they hold steady because the NRA is already, ahem, gunning for them

Andrew Biernat, hot model, hot actor, from Washington. He’s so dreamy, and can really pull off that old Hollywood glamor.

He can also pull off his clothes.

Just sayin’.

Seriously ... How Many Perverts Are There In The GOP?

Yesterday I posted about the sixty-something year old Republican judge in Alabama who sent nude pictures of himself, along with sexually suggestive messages, to a woman who was not his wife of forty years — see post HERE. And I wondered then about Republicans and conservatives and religious zealots being all kinds of perverted and, well, this morning I’m still wondering …

The Republican mayor of Stockton, California, Anthony Silva, was arrested last week at his Stockton youth camp at Silver Lake on multiple charges including secretly recording a male teenager playing a game of strip poker at the summer camp.

Mayor Silva is charged with eavesdropping or recording confidential communications, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, providing alcohol to a minor and cruelty to a child by endangering his health.

The incidents leading to the Silva’s arrest occurred between August 5th and 9th, 2015 which begs the question … WHAT TOOK SO LONG? It took a year to gather the evidence? What? WHAT???

Well, actually Silva was arrested for being a pervert after a year-long FBI investigation that resulted from Silva’s cell phone being seized by Homeland Security at San Francisco International Airport as he got off a flight from China.

Yeah, it appears they were looking at the mayor for something else and found his stash of kiddie porn. And one of the clips on Silva’s phone contained audio of several people — including a 16-year-old boy — during a strip poker game in Mayor Silva’s bedroom; the audio revealed that the participants in the poker game did not want to be recorded; there was no video on the clip.

According to the Amador County district attorney, witnesses have come forward to say that Silva supplied alcohol to a number of underage counselors at the camp as well.

“He absolutely maintains his innocence, and he’s looking forward to his day in court and he absolutely believes he will be vindicated.” — Silva’s attorney Allen Sawyer

But, and ain’t there always a but, this isn’t the first time Silva has been accused of secretly filming teens. When he was a high school water polo coach in 2004, Silva was accused of secretly taping teens in the bathroom of his apartment; charges were never filed in that case.

In addition Mayor Silva is also facing legal trouble after a gun stolen from his rental home in 2015 was used in two crimes, including the murder of a 13-year-old boy. A gun-toting Republican pervert who serves alcohol to teenage boys while playing strip poker with them; yeah, he’s a winner, isn’t he?

And speaking of Republican perverts — which is kind of redundant — Richard "Scott" Silverthorne, the mayor of Fairfax, Virginia, has been arrested after he ALLEGEDLY gave methamphetamine to an undercover detective in exchange for a sexual encounter.

Police in late July received a tip that Silverthorne may have been trading meth for sex on a website used to arrange casual sexual encounters between men.

Oh wait, the Republican is a closeted, meth trading homosexual? It seems so, because after an undercover detective created a profile on the website, Silverthorne contacted him almost immediately and told the detective he could provide meth "in exchange for sexual encounters." He even promised to bring other men along with the drugs.

When  Silverthorne showed up at the Chain Bridge Road hotel — ironic, since he’ll probably end up on a chain gang — along with the meth, he was arrested and charged with felony distribution of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Authorities said they don't know how long Silverthorne was on the website—which they did identify—but they did say that Silverthorne had once been a substitute teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools before being “let go.”

Lovely … now, I am not saying that if you're a Republican, that automatically means you send nude pictures to women you don’t know, and I’m not saying that if you’re Republican you automatically get young boys drunk and record them playing strip poker in your bedroom at a youth camp, and I’m not saying that if you are a Republican that automatically means you trade drugs for sex with ransom men on the internet.

I’m just saying …

The Gaily Grind

NBC Washington

Random Musings

Christmas was a mellow affair at Casa Bob y Carlos.

We both had a very long weekend off--from Saturday though to today when we both returned to work--and it was such a lazy affair.

We watched movies--Let The Run One In, a film about vampires in Sweden, was a particular favorite, as was a re-viewing of Magic Mike and Channing Tatum's spectacular ass. We read; Carlos something about science or the universe or some-such and me, Out of Oz, the last of Gregory Maguire's Oz books that started with Wicked.

We drank; red wine, wassail, tea and a concoction I call a Mediterranean Sidecar, made with Tuaca, Lemoncello, pummeled oranges and lemons and a dash of Simple Syrup; it tasted like Christmas.

And we ate: Maple Bacon Wrapped Pork tenderloin with Roasted baby Gold Potatoes, and Sauteed Broccoli and Mushrooms, and a delicioso homemade Key Lime Pie, on Homemade Graham Cracker crust with Homemade Whipped Cream--Pie recipe courtesy of Anne Marie from My Brain To My Mouth--all cooked and created by yours truly.

Since we ate in the dining room, Tuxedo decided to join us and took his place at the back of my chair. Consuelo, who might like to be an outside cat, stayed under the tree pretending she was that outside cat, while Ozzo sat at the periphery of the dining room waiting for permission to enter.

MaxGoldberg couldn't be roused from a nap.

It was a lovely, quiet, peaceful, sweet holiday.

How was yours?

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler has announced that same-sex couples can begin to marry in the state on January 1. What a great way to start the New Year!

Gansler wrote in a 19-page opinion that clerks can begin to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples as early as December 6, as long as the licenses don’t take effect until the same-sex marriage law goes into effect at the start of the New Year.

While a 1999 law states a marriage license is not valid until 6AM on the second calendar day after a clerk issues it, Gansler concluded this requirement does not “expressly prohibit licenses becoming effective after that time.”

“Although there is a legal reason why same-sex couples cannot be licensed to marry before midnight on Jan. 1, 2013…, there is no such legal reason why they should not be licensed to marry at any time after the moment the law takes effect.”

Gansler also wrote that same-sex couples who entered into a civil union in another jurisdiction can legally marry in Maryland, and that the state will recognize a same-sex marriage legally performed elsewhere.

Happy.New.Equality!

I’ve written before about Virginia Delegate Robert Marshall--HERE, HERE and HERE--or, as I like to call him, Pissy Bobby Marshall, but, well, he’s still at it up there, bringing all the asshattery out to plate.

In light of the recent Sandy Hook school, Pissy Bobby has proposed a bill requiring teachers or other school staff to carry concealed weapons in schools. Of course, Pissy Bobby warns that those employees would have to be certified in gun safety and competence, you know, so nothing awful happens.

Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, a Republican with a cooler head, is not in favor of arming teachers and, through a spokesman, said: “There are probably many things we could do to make our schools safer, including having more trained law enforcement personnel in our schools as resource officers, but [I do] not believe that we should require other school personnel to be armed.”

And Senator Donald McEachin, a Democrat, released a statement saying: “I am appalled. There are more guns in America than people, and yet we have one of the highest rates of gun violence in the world. The Governor should know better than to suggest that arming citizens will solve anything. Maybe the Governor should focus on solutions that could actually have an impact, like banning the high-capacity magazines used to inflict horrific violence upon countless American cities, from Aurora to Newton.”

Other Republicans, naturally, aren’t as clear-thinking as Bolling. Senator Richard Black said, “I would be very supportive of the idea that properly trained teachers could carry concealed firearms. There's no way you’d have 20 innocent children gunned down if you had teachers who could help to defend themselves.”

Yeah, guns in schools, what could possibly go wrong?

I imagine if Pissy Bobby Marshall has his way the name of the state would be changed from Virginia to VirgiNRA.

Isn’t this always the way? Idaho Senator, and Republican, Michael Crapo, was arrested last week in Alexandria, Virginia, and charged with driving under the influence. Jody Donaldson, an Alexandria police spokesman, said Crapo was arrested by an officer at 12:45AM after Crapo's vehicle ran a red light: "Crapo was identified as the driver and arrested after failing several field sobriety tests. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Alexandria Adult Detention Center where he was released on a $1,000 unsecured bond."

Crapo released a statement saying: "I am deeply sorry for the actions that resulted in this circumstance. I made a mistake for which I apologize to my family, my Idaho constituents and any others who have put their trust in me. I accept total responsibility and will deal with whatever penalty comes my way in this matter. I will also undertake measures to ensure that this circumstance is never repeated."

Along with being a fairly anti-LGBT senator, Crapo, who has represented Idaho in the Senate since 1999, is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which prohibits the use of alcohol among its members.

Oops.

Seriously.

Hugh Jackman and his Huge Ackman could only find a five-foot tree in all of Manhattan?
I would have expected my Aussie-Showtune-Singing-Husband-In-My-Head to have a massive tree. You know ..... ?
This one looks, and I'm'a goin' there, Tres Miserable.
Hugh, however, still looks divine.

Politicians drinking and driving. Mormon politicians drinking and driving. What’s next?

Well, William Kokesch, a 65-year-old deacon of St. Edmund of Canterbury Parish in Beaconsfield in Canada, was arrested last week after police carried out two search warrants—one at his home in Pointe Claire and the other at the church—and he was charged with the production and distribution of child pornography. Police seized more than 2,000 computer files from Kokesch’s personal computer, as well as messages left on internet chat-room sites on the Internet.

 Oh yeah, and Kokesch used to comment on church sex abuse scandals, possibly to cover up his own predilection for kiddie porn.

The Archdiocese of Montreal responded swiftly after Kokesch’s arraignment, immediately removing him from all ministry and pastoral activity and releasing a statement: “Having just learned of the charges against Mr. Kokesch, the diocese is profoundly upset. Child pornography is an affront to human dignity, and our first concern rests with those who are its victims.”

Again, it seems that those who do the most protesting against sex abuse have the most to hide themselves.

You would have thought after being soundly defeated in his reelection bid last November, Congressman Todd Akin—who suggested women can resist becoming pregnant after a “legitimate rape”—would have gone back to Missouri quietly. Not so much. Akin has proposed a new defense bill that contains a provision that allows anti-gay harassment. 

Yes. It does. Akin, and other House Republicans, are pushing for inclusion of a “conscience protection” clause in the final version of Pentagon budget legislation that could enable, and it would allow, discrimination against gay service members.

Under the language, the military would have to “accommodate the conscience and sincerely held moral principles and religious beliefs of the members of the Armed Forces concerning the appropriate and inappropriate expression of human sexuality” and may not use these beliefs as the basis of any adverse personnel action or discrimination. It would also prohibit the military from taking action against military chaplains who decline to serve a particular service member based on religious beliefs.

Well, it sounds fair, I guess. It kinda says that if you don’t like The Gays because of your religion, well, then that’s your right; which is true. And I, for one, don’t believe that a military chaplain should be forced to consecrate a same-sex wedding if it goes against his or her personal religious beliefs.

But, many say the language is so vague that it implies that service members could actively harass LGBT service members for their perceived or actual sexual orientation without fear of reprisal. And it seems to say that chaplains would have free rein to discriminate against service members on any basis—including religion, gender, sexual orientation, race or any other characteristic—simply by saying serving them is contrary to their beliefs.

How is discrimination even being thought of as acceptable? How is it that any member of the GOP is listening to Todd Akin?

His fifteen minutes are up.

It looks like Portland will likely be the site of Maine's first same-sex wedding.

The city recently announced that it will open its municipal offices from 12:01 to 3:01 a.m. on Saturday, December 29 – the day the state law allowing same-sex marriage takes effect – to issue marriage licenses and perform weddings.

The announcement came a day after Augusta said it would open its offices for the same purpose on the same day, though during more traditional morning hours.

Maine voters approved a citizens’ initiative in November to allow same-sex couples to get marriage licenses. The law, which needed confirmation by the Secretary of State's Office and the governor, was expected to take effect in early 2013, but the state announced this week that the law would take effect on December 29.

And, while most municipal offices in Maine don't have Saturday hours, the announcement that Portland offices would be open on a Saturday, may spur other towns across the state to follow suit. South Portland, however, says they will not open its offices until December 31^st, during normal business hours.

Heck, anyway you slice it, Maine will be hosting same-sex weddings on New Year’s Eve and well into 2013.

SPOILER ALERT!

If you're a Downton Abby whore, as I am, and you don't wish to know, read no further.....

It has been confirmed that Dan Stevens, the dreamy-eyed Matthew Crawley, will be leaving the show at the end of this season--which has just finished airing in England.

Stevens told the Telegraph that leaving the show was “a very difficult decision” though he'd made his decision before season three began filming.

I’m crushed, but....whatever will Lady Mary do now?

Perez Hilton Goes Too Far......AGAIN!

I don't like Perez Hilton. Yeah, I know, Join the club. Now, that doesn't mean I don't like the gossip. Hello? Check back here every Saturday if you don't believe me.

But I hate the mean-spirited quality of Perez Hilton. The name-calling, the outing, the crude images he and his staff of Misfit Toys paint on pictures. I loathed it when he called Will.I.Am. a 'faggot,' just as hated it when Michael Jackson had died, and, since we didn't know it yet, Perez Hilton posted that Jackson was faking an illness to get out of those England concerts and still keep the money.

Then suddenly word came that Jackson had died and Perez' childish rant was erased.

He's an asshat who thinks he can do no wrong and is, in some ways, untouchable.

Think again.

While Perez Hilton may be tasteless and crude, and nothing more than a tired old fat queen with no life, he crossed a line recently that could, and should, land his large gay ass in jail.

He tweeted to his 2 million followers a link to an ALLEGED photo up the skirt of a panty-less Miley Cyrus, saying: "If you are easily offended, do NOT click here [link] Oh, Miley! Warning: truly not for the easily offended!"

The photo in question is now gone, but the image is ALLEGEDLY of Cyrus climbing out of a car wearing a dress and no underwear. Not much new, really, Britney's done it; Paris and Lindsay, too. But, and this is the tricky part, those women, ignorant as they may be, were adults at the time of the vah-jay-jay shot.

Miley is seventeen. Still a minor, which makes the distribution of the photo child pornography.

from Salon.com:
Jeffrey Douglas, a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who specializes in child
pornography cases, told Salon that Hilton's liability is "extraordinary and
intense" and that it was "suicidal for him to do this." He added:
"We're not talking about a misdemeanor. You don't have to know what the
definition of the law is; all you have to do is knowingly distribute the
photograph" -- which Hilton, or someone with access to his Twitter account,
most certainly did. It doesn't matter much whether Hilton took the photo,
owns the photo or published the photo -- as long as he knowingly distributed
the link.

Perez has ALLEGEDLY said that the picture was photo-shopped, and Miley was in fact wearing underwear. But, under the law, distributuing such a picture of a minor is still a crime and just as punishable.

I hope they throw the book at Perez.