Obama Drama

In light of President Elect Obama winning the national election, there are still some out there who are desperately trying to overturn his nomination by questioning his status as a "natural born U.S. citizen." To those people I say "get a life." To question his commitment and desire to succeed as the President of the United States is outrageous. In light of troubled U.S. times he has assembled key cabinet members faster than any other President in recent history. He also has served this country aptly as a U.S. Senator, and has shown he is ready to get "down and dirty" once his time comes.
The lawsuits have advanced to the Supreme Court, where most likely the case will not be taken on. However, there are several key lawsuits across the country that have brought the issue to a head. Among those filing lawsuits is Alan Keyes, who lost to Obama in the 2004 Illinois Senate race. Keyes' suit seeks to halt certification of votes in California. Another suit by a Kentucky man seeks to have a federal judge review Obama's original birth certificate, which Hawaiian officials say is locked in a state vault.
Other suits have been filed by Andy Martin, whose case was dismissed in Hawaii, and by an Ohio man whose case also was dismissed. Five more suits, all later dismissed, were filed in Hawaii.
The most famous case questioning Obama's citizenship was filed in Pennsylvania in August on behalf of Philip J. Berg and sought to enjoin the Democratic National Committee from nominating Obama. The U.S. Supreme Court denied an application for an injunction and hasn't scheduled a conference on other aspects of the case. Earlier, a federal judge rejected it for "lack of standing"—ruling that Berg had no legal right to sue.
The Obama campaign maintains that he was born in Hawaii, has an authentic birth certificate, and is a "natural-born" U.S. citizen. and Hawaiian officials have agreed.
I find it hard to believe that this President could do any worse than his predecessor. Leave the man alone and let him do his job, and judge him after he takes on a financial crisis, international affairs, increasing terrorist threats, a failing health care system, a horrible public education system and the highest unemployment rate in history. We, the public expect a smooth transition between presidents and Obama seeks nothing else. In filling his cabinet roles he has done some of the most intrusive and extensive background checks in history. His friends and foes alike have been subject to very personal tests in order to avoid any hiccups. It just doesn't seem that Mister Obama has the time to defend his right to the Presidency, nor should he feel inclined to do so.
His name is Barack Hussein Obama, he was born in Honolulu to a Kenyan man and an American woman from Wichita, Kansas. He is not a terrorist, he is not muslim, he is however the first African American president of the United States of America. It is called change; embrace it, tolerate it. You never know what the results will be until they are given a fair shot.

Addictive Spending

In light of troubled economic times, we can all use a bit of discretion in how and why we spend our money. So, in the spirit of contributing to the greater good I have compiled a list of ways to effectively save your hard earned cash. Also, I am hoping it will entice me to take my own advice in terms of slashing spending.
First off, with the holidays drawing near you will encounter requests to join your friends and family who are in town at the local pub of choice. Obviously, the prices are jacked up when going out, courtesy of that favorite establishment of yours. So, I suggest pre-drinking at home and then going out. Mix your favorite cocktail and invite your friends to join you at your place prior to going out. That way once you are ready to go out you will already be a bit liquored up, thus saving on the number of drinks purchased. Plus, you will be ready to dance once you get there, again saving on the unnecessary process of drinking in order to socialize....that is a suggestion for all of you socially awkward folks who feel self-conscious about dancing in front of strangers. If you chose to pre drink and you do not have reliable public transportation, I highly suggest a designated driver....after all you are not saving any money by getting into a car accident or getting a DUI....both are mighty expensive.
Along the same lines of going out and drinking. I highly recommend developing a flirtatious personality. You see, by being flirty you are increasing your chances of having someone else pay for your next drink. If you are more of the quiet, withdrawn type simply put on the most slutty outfit imaginable as this will immediately draw attention. Ladies, simply slut it up and head out to your local ladies night....this is a sure fire way to score free drinks from the legions of hopeful bachelors. This method will also work for gay men. But, I preface this by suggesting you bring along a friend who will look out for your best interest. Without your buddy, you might end up waking up next to some troll, having to gnaw your arm off in order to get out of bed unnoticed.
My next tip is one that most everyone has heard of....it is called the "Latte Factor." I know that in our addiction based society, that coffee is essential in getting through the day, but do you realize just how much you are spending at your local Starbucks? Currently, a tall, or 12-ounce, cup of Starbucks coffee costs $1.40 to $1.65. Twelve-ounce lattes cost $2.40 to $3.10, depending on the market, and a tall mocha costs $2.70 to $3.40. Over the course of a week, that number will certainly add up...multiply that by 4 weeks a month and 12 months a year and you will be astonished at how much you could save. Now, I know everyone needs a Tall, non-fat, mocha, no whip in their diet....but do you honestly need it once or twice a day? Sticking with the addiction theme, this one is for all you smokers out there. Cigarettes strangely enough cost money, and a lot of it. I was recently in Chicago where the average pack costs nearly ten dollars. Obviously, the cost differs by market, nonetheless, it is an added expense that can easily be curtailed with a little will power and restraint. Honestly, didn't you just have a smoke break?? Is another one really necessary? Plus, they have linked all kinds of health problems that require a doctor's visit and we all know that the in the U.S. health care is simply not that affordable....Do you really want to take the risk ? If you have to smoke, cut back on the chain smoking and pick up another hobby, one that is more healthy for you....Or, buy those little candy cigarettes, blow the sugar smoke out of them and then chew the gum. They are much cheaper than real cigarettes and you can still relieve stress while having wonderfully fresh breathe.
Moving on, the next tip is for those of you who love to eat fast food. I know it is a daily ritual to visit the golden arches of McDonalds, or the pigtailed, freckle faced Wendy, or the bobble head with a top hat, Jack in the Box. I have no problem with your infatuation for fatty foods, however, for the sake of health and wealth I suggest restraint from "Supersizing." First of all, do you really need those extra fries and that giant sized soda that won't even fit in your car cup holder. Secondly, the average upsize costs anywhere between .39 and .43 cents....that adds up over the course of a week, month and year. Hey, every little penny does count afterall.
If you follow the suggestions above, I promise you will save money, feel better, and look better.
Honestly, all of my suggestions go hand in hand and effect a lot of other unnecessary spending. For example, if you refrain from smoking, you may not have to make the extra trip to the dry cleaners that week...also less starbucks reduces the risk of coffee spills on that nice white dress shirt or blouse of yours. If you refrain from eating fast food every day, it will save your waist line, thus you do not have to buy different sizes of clothes every couple of months. I encourage everyone to put forth their best effort to be cost conscious in these troubled times....after all we have a responsibility to uphold. Feel free to add your favorite suggestions to mine, just like you, I could learn a thing or two about economic restraint. Now, it is off to Starbucks....er...maybe I will just brew my coffee at home today.

Skanksgiving Rocks!

On the eve of Thanksgiving, commonly referred to as Skanksgiving, we belly up to the nearest pub or bar and pay our thanks to Anheuser Busch and friends. It is almost always one of the busiest bar nights in the calendar year, as friends and families reunite. This year was no exception, as my friends and I "rocked out" at Cruisin' Route 66 to three local St. Louis Bands and one out of towner.
The first band to take the stage was Sun Motel, a four man outfit from St. Louis. Sun Motel is the most recent side project for singer/songwriter Javier Mendoza, and they have a smooth, sweet sound about them, with a very tight rhythym section. My favorite song in their fourty-five minute set was Your Revolution. Take a listen so that you can decide for yourself. http://www.myspace.com/SunMotel
The second band to take the stage was L.A. based Palmerston. Easily the heaviest band of the night, front-man "French" brought energy and passion to the stage. They also played a fourty-five minute set, featuring the song Addicted, which you may have heard on St. Louis radio station, The Pointe. (105.7 fm) Palmerston originated in Toronto prior to taking on the American music scene and is currently touring through the midwest.

http://www.myspace.com/palmerston
The third band of the night, Logos, is on the verge of something big. This is a must watch band if you are into the St. Louis rock scene at all. They are a three piece band, all of whom are not even of legal age to drink....but they wail on their instruments. Their sound is clearly derived from 60's and 70's progressive rock and their set featured covers of Cream as well as Rush. Surprisingly, the young three piece band offered a very rich, mature and full sound. Logos recently opened for Blue Oyster Cult and is being promoted through St. Louis radio station KSHE 95.

http://www.myspace.com/logosrock
The final band of the night was The Takedown, a local four piece band who have been playing together for almost a decade. As always, The Takedown brought plenty of energy to the stage. Their set was uptempo, even when playing a sped up version of the song "Waiting". They also featured two new songs, one titled "Holy Roller," in addition to a collection of songs from their album "The City is Screaming." The 45 minute set also featured Takedown classic "Finding Imo's", which is a tribute to their St. Louis roots. The next Takedown show is in December at Cicero's, I encourage you to come check them out as it is always a good time.

http://www.myspace.com/thetakedownrocks
All in all, it was a wonderful night of Rock and a great way to spend Skanksgiving. Indeed, The City Was Screaming for Sun Motel, Palmerston, Logos, and The Takedown. Last night, we gave thanks to the gods of rock and today we will give thanks for family and tradition. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Don't eat too much!

Savage in St. Louis

Last night, Dan Savage was on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis for an open forum Q and A with students, faculty and guests of the university. For those of you not familiar with him, Savage is the writer of the syndicated sex column "Savage Love," and also the author of several books including "The Kid". He began with a discussion about the need for tolerance and understanding of gay issues in the United States. Over the course of about fifteen minutes he lectured on how behind the times the U.S. really is in terms of gay rights. He even used an oreo cookie as a metaphor, calling the United States the "bigot fucking cream" sandwiched between two far more liberal countries. He also railed against the conservative right and the need for increased tolerance. The thing about Dan Savage is that he is very frank with his opinions. He states exactly how he feels and thinks in terms of the issues that are before us. Another major speaking point was "tolerance" and that it meant not necessarily loving one another or even liking but merely accepting that everyone is different but allowing them the same happiness and freedom that everyone else enjoys. To quote Dan Savage, "too often the gays are looking for everyone to like them for who they are....like me, like me, love me, fucking like me.....but that is not tolerance....tolerance is accepting the fact that we are here and we exist and acknowledging that and then moving on. He also suggested that as a gay man, when asked whether or not it is a choice rather than a lifestyle to do the following...."First, ask the person in front of you to go down on you...." You see, if it were a choice than you as a straight man could choose to put my dick in your mouth. Secondly, he suggested asking that "if in fact it was a choice, would you want me to marry your daughter?" The answer was an obvious, Fuck No....because they know it is not a choice, they merely use that as an excuse to keep us down.
In terms of Proposition 8 being passed in California, he seemed confident in the fact that it would be overturned based on the simple fact of statistics. Over the last decade the public opinion has changed by 18% and in the state of California in order to pass a law or to repeal one you simply need 50% + 1 of the vote. Proposition 8 passed by a very slim margin and with increased grass root efforts and legislation on the ballot in 2010, when the country is not focused on electing a new president, the people of California will realize the need for change.
In addition to his statements about gay rights, he fielded questions concerning various love issues, essentially it was a live Savage Love column. This was the more entertaining part of the session as he fielded questions concerning "how to properly loosen a hole, what constitutes gay sex, the concept of fetishes, the idea of monogamy, whether or not it is true that you can split a penis in half and insert something inside of it......(yikes that would hurt)." He also spoke directly to the issues surrounding the African American community and their prejudice against homosexuals as well as the prejudism within the gay community towards blacks. Over the course of two hours, Dan Savage provided hope as well as humor for the gay, straight, and transgendered communities.
Following Dan's performance, I grabbed a bite to eat with my friend Jamison and we discussed the notion of Dan Savage actually believing everything that he spoke about and whether or not he truly took a hardline on the issues. We came to the conclusion that perhaps as one of our few gay celebrities who speaks directly to the people across the country he may have some sense of obligation. Because as Dan said, "We are not going to sit by idle anymore....we are going to have a fuck them attitude. The time of sitting by and taking the punishment is no more." In fact, hundreds of gays protested a Cinemark Theater in Evanston , Illinois just a few days ago. This was in response to Cinemark CEO, Alan Stock's donation of nearly ten thousand dollars to help the passage of proposition 8 in California.
In terms of what you can do to join this effort to pass laws granting the rights we deserve, there are a few options in the wake of the prop 8 rallies across the country. PROJECT POSTCARD is being run through the website http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/?t=anon . By going to this site you can acquire the address for President Elect O'Bama and send him a post card reminding him that he made certain promises to the LGBT community prior to being elected. While most politicians make a lot of promises, most fail to uphold their word. But we as citizens of this country have the right to demand a fair shot at equality. It is no longer a fight we cannot win, because as Dan reminded us, "The most bigoted people in this country are old people and people in the great state of Alabama, and most of the gays have left Alabama, plus the old fucks are dying....." So you see, there is hope.

Coffee Beans, Fasionista's and the Reptile Boy

After a long layoff from working and endless submissions of my resume into the void also known as cyber space, I was finally heading to work. David Baldwin had recommended me for a weekend stint with a Business Expo company called BXI working as a travel director for the NBC Travel Expo in Chicago. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect and was unfamiliar with the event, but was glad to be working again. I booked my travel through Megabus, a midwestern bus carrier that services towns throughout middle America for moderately priced fares and was set to travel on Thursday evening and Sunday night. I have had my share of experiences with Megabus but still find that it is one of the more efficient modes of travel when shuttling back and forth to Chicago from St. Louis. I was a bit weary though, because my previous trip left St. Louis at 4:30 pm and a half hour into the trip we were informed that we had to turn around in order to pick up two girls who had gotten off the bus in St. Louis and missed getting back on in time. I found it incredible that 100 paying customers had to pay for the mistake of two silly girls who could not follow directions, or simply watch for the mass of people boarding for Chicago. Nonetheless, after an extra hour of travel we arrived safely in Chicago. I swore that this trip would be different though and settled in for the five and a half hour trek up Highway 55.
I put my bags down next to a woman, took my seat, and turned on my ipod. As I heard Beyonce begin to sing about "all the single ladies" and "putting a ring on her finger," I also noticed three girls boarding the bus. They seemed to be your typical college aged females, clearly traveling to Chicago for a weekend of fashion and fun. I was sorely mistaken on this however and realized it three minutes into the trip when the girl behind me began sharing stories of her "ex, who was involved with her best friend now, but that was alright because she was a whore anyways." Whore was probably the least offensive word she would use the rest of the trip. I honestly believe that i heard more curse words come out of this girls mouth than I have heard in my 27 years of existence. She said things that I did not even know were to be used in that manner and all that my co-passenger and I could do was exchange glances of incredulity. After enduring five hours of this I prayed that they would not be on my return trip. The three girls had been forced to sit in different sections of the front of the bus but felt it was necessary to shout over others in order to talk about everything from ex's to their plans for getting hammered and hooking up in various Chicago establishments. It turns out they were fashion students attending a conference and partying it up for the weekend. As we pulled into the Union Station terminal in Chicago I heard one of them say repeatedly "how glad they were to be getting off of the bus," I realized that this was perhaps the first thing that she had said in five hours that I agreed with. I could not have been happier to be getting away from the obnoxious nineteen year old girls.
After gathering my luggage and a short walk to the bus stop, I grabbed the 151 bus which would take me directly to Davids apartment, where I was staying for the weekend. An hour later I arrived at David's. This was set to be a quick trip for me, get in, work, get out, because I had to return to St. Louis by Monday morning in order to take care of my dog and my mothers three cats. Friday morning, David and I awoke and made our way down to Navy Pier where the expo was to take place. We were scheduled to be in at 8 and arrived just on time. David had worked the event the year before, so he knew what to expect and had informed me ahead of time that it would be a fairly easy event to work. Most of Friday was spent registering the travel companies who were coming in to set up their booths for the weekend and it went by fairly quickly. At some point in the day I was introduced to the man who ran the Greece booth, little did I know that he would prognosticate my future by the end of the weekend. Following a twelve hour day of setup, David and I grabbed a burger from Crew, in Andersonville and then retired for the night, knowing we had a 4:30 am wake up call the next morning.
We arose before dawn, got dressed and headed out into the crisp Chicago morning. We arrived at the Pier after a very brisk morning walk from the bus stop and began our day with hot Starbucks, and egg sandwiches. Not a bad way to start an early morning. After concluding our team meeting, I was informed that I would be working the info desk and conference rooms and David would secure the stage for the weekend, escorting various groups of hula dancers, singers, impersonators and the likes. His job sounded a bit more entertaining than mine, as I knew I would be dealing with the general public. Now, if you have not had the good fortune of working a FREE expo, let me tell you....it brings out the strangest, most interesting people you will ever meet. Especially at a time when the economy is suffering the way that it is in the States. Everyone was there looking for a free trip and all the handouts that come with an expo. The first day was fairly uneventful, although I did get to meet the Reptile Guy, a 19 year boy from Miami who had come up with a collection of reptiles, which he showed around the country....I know at this point it is truly beginning to sound a bit more like a carnival than anything else. The reptiles guys' prized possession was a 10 foot alligator named Lassie that lived in wooden box. But he also had snakes (venomous) and an assortment of smaller crocs and gators. Not surprisingly, he was the main attraction for the weekend.
Overall, I would say that the weekend went by uneventfully and I even was able to muster up the courage to pet one of the smaller crocs. He was surprisingly leathery and rough. Following our last night of work, the company offered to take us to dinner to celebrate. I knew I had a bus to catch that night, but I was hungry and had time so I decided to tag along. We decided upon a Lebanese restaurant and had our fill of Baklava, pita, lamb, beef, siwarma, kous kous, and many other items. I literally felt as if I could not eat another thing. However, we had agreed to meet up with our Greece tour manager at The Greek Isles, in Greektown for what we thought would be drinks. As it turned out, the Greek are very hospitable and we were essentially force fed the flaming cheese and feta olive dips and greek desserts that we "had to try". It was surely a nice warmup to Thanksgiving. With all the great food and wine and good company i thought that the evening had been a success....but that was when I learned that it was not over. In the honor of Greek tradition, we were informed that we needed to order coffee, drink it till it was almost complete and then wait. Little did we know, that we were in the presence of a coffee bean reader who could tell us what to expect in the coming days. I drank my coffee, then followed the next set of instructions. I was told to swirl my cup then to place the saucer over the top and to turn it upside down. This way all the remaining liquid would drain and the beans could dry in order to be read. I was unable to ascertain exactly what it was that he would be reading or determining, but my interest had been peaked. I was to be the second in line...and these were public offerings so i heard when the prognosticator told my coworker that he was "afraid of death." That's it, that was all he had to say to him...."You are afraid of death." So I assumed my beans might say the same thing...or something similar. However, my fortune was much different than that and much more optimistic. I cannot reveal what it was that he said because I am still waiting to see if it will indeed come true.

A Day in the Life

THE PURSUIT OF .......A JOB. An endless task in this downtrodden American Job Market. The Auto Industry is struggling, the Financial Industry had a free fall and unemployment is at it's highest rate in history. Yet I trudge onward in the pursuit of finding a job with security and stability. I recently went on an interview at a restaurant where my friend works. He thought there would be some openings for someone like myself; outgoing, friendly, customer service oriented. Yet, when I went on the interview the general manager informed me that there was a freeze on hiring at this time. Then, he had the audacity to ask if I had waited tables before....as if it was rocket science or something. I found it incredible that someone with a college degree could not obtain employment in the service industry, and needed to justify his qualifications to take orders and carry food trays. Now, I know it is only one job interview, but it is quickly becoming a trend. I have sent out resumes left and right for all types of positions in hopes that someone will bite. I have interviewed and networked and still here I sit, unemployed. So I find myself at a cross roads, somewhat stuck in neutral. Do I go back to school? Do I take a job just to take a job? The latter seems to be a scenario which would be pride swallowing.
In the American Job Market it seems that everything is so specialized. The perfect candidate matches every requirement listed on the job posting and unless you fit each and every requirement, you are unlikely to be called in for an interview. What I want to know is, "What ever happened to growing into a job?" It seems to me that at one point in time, employers were willing to allow someone the potential for growth and career advancement. But in this day and time, the job market is so competitive that everything has become so specialized. Employers tell you that they want experience, but this person begs to know how you obtain experience, unless you take on the tasks of the job head on ? I have heard numerous times, "We are looking for practical, professional experience....and what you did in college does not necessarily count towards that because it is not professional." I certainly do not envy the task ahead for President elect Barrack O'Bama. He is faced with more issues than most presidents have in an entire term. But, we have given the keys to him and now he has to put them into the ignition and shift it into first gear. It is time to get moving forward...and hopefully some of that passion he has instilled in others will translate directly to finding a job that is right for me.

One World, One Dream

This was the slogan of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which I had the pleasure of working. It truly was a global celebration, in which China announced it's presence to the world. From the spectacle that was the opening ceremony all the way thru to the closing ceremonies, where the torch was passed on to London, everything was planned and executed to perfection. From my perspective however, it was not about the individual events or the sheer pandemonium of the Olympics, but more about the culture and the people of Beijing. A bustling city of nearly 20 million registered and unregistered residence swelled with the arrival of international travelers desperately trying to get a glimpse of what may become the greatest Olympic Games in history. It was my pleasure to be a part of this experience and I would like to share a video with you created by one of our local hostesses. The video hopefully captures some of what I went through in my time in Beijing.