A Blast from the Past

Here's my headshot. I'm a bit scruffier now, but I thought I'd relive the Gen X look:

Wanna See A Video?

Hi there! Here's a link to a video of the 'Boarding Trip:

http://media.putfile.com/Boarding-Trip-06

I'm sorry that the video is so small. I'll work on making the next one bigger.
GO STEELERS!

Look at Me!

Well,
you'll have to agree that I'm jumping much more
gracefully and skillfully, this year.
I'm doing a lot of things better.
This is just one of the most fun!

An Ace on the Boards

Here's a pic of Ruaridh's first time on a board on snow! He really had a nice time in Winter Park. Who wouldn't? It's an amazing vacation spot. Who could believe that it's as affordable as it is?

Snowboarding Rocks!

There's Ruaridh and I prepped for snowboarding. I have to highly recommend Winter Park. I've skied or boarded there in 3 separate years in 2 separate decades, and each was an amazing time! I'll try to get some more pics up this week, as well as the story of the trip. Ruaridh's sent me a wonderful video. If I can post videos on here, you'll get it soon.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

The Steelers truly ROCKED in an eminently watchable football game today. Bring on Denver...in Denver....when I'll be in...at least Colorado. I'm now searching for a ticket for the AFC Championship game. Does anyone have a connection?

An Oldie, but a Goodie

Here's a view of me overlooking Edinburgh. I'm on an extinct volcano called "Arthur's Seat."

ירושלים

Here's a photo of The Western Wall, or The Kotel, in Jerusalem. My photos from Isreal and Greece really didn't come out, thanks to multiple trips through the X-ray machines.

Redact Mountain:Entering the Biblical Debate with a Response to Robert A. J. Gagnon

Phyllis A. Bird writes in "The Bible in Christian Ethical Deliberation concerning Homosexuality: Old Testament Contributions," that "debate is a constituent feature of the biblical canon, reflecting its origins in the conversation of a community over time...That conversation spans a millennium in its recorded memory, but it does not end with the last canonical writing, it continues today.” Bird's views in the work were inspiring to Robert A.J. Gagnon, so much so, that he addressed them in his 2001 book The Bible and Homosexual Practice and again in a 2005 article "The Old Testament and Homosexuality: A Critical Review of the Case Made by Phyllis Bird." Gagnon concludes that "it would appear to be very difficult to discount in contemporary religious debate the OT's strong negative witness regarding homosexual behavior." Gagnon presents some interesting discussions but fails to take into account some possible effects of political, social, and cultural events of the time. I feel that I must enter into the debate of Bird's biblical cannon with a response to Gagnon's review of Bird's work. I contend that, with particular respect to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, that The Torah‘s, or to Bird and Gagnon, The Old Testament‘s, negative witness regarding homosexual behavior is far easier to discount than Gagnon believes.
Despite a cultural bias against homosexuality, I propose that the original Levitical and Deuteronomic references were a response to cult practices and an effort to maintain social and sexual order. When these acts did not go away with the dismantling of cult practices, the social disapprobation combined with fear of a resurgence of the cult to engender a redaction of the first Levitical prohibition to stifle the activity.
It is a popular belief that Leviticus 18:22, , is tied to Deuteronomy 23:18. Deuteronomy 23:18 forbids bringing a male or female cult prostitute into the Temple. Leviticus 18:22 states that “and a male, you shall not bed the lyings of a woman, it is abhorrent.“ The “abhorrent” is, in Hebrew, תועבה. In both of these verses, the word תועבה is used to describe the proscribed practices. According to Bird, תועבה does not signify an evil act, but rather “serves to characterize practices as incompatible with Yahwistic practice.” The description is “common in late Deuteronomic. texts....where it carries connotations of foreign/pagan cultic practice.” Gagnon does not refute the presence of male Temple prostitutes, but he insists that the prohibition of them has much to do with their homosexual acts.
“When the biblical authors rejected homosexual cult prostitutes- and surely not just because they were connected to Asherah, as the epithet “dogs” indicates-they were in effect rejecting the whole phenomenon of homosexual practice.” Gagnon fails to take into account the drive toward monotheism and removal of Asherah as a separate identity from יהוה. It is more probable that the biblical authors primarily supported the removal of קדים because of their connection to Asherah and that the "whole phenomenon of homosexual practice" picked up a heavier negative connotation from the outlawing of the קדים. Coupled with the cultural idea of emasculation of the passive participant and it’s incipient threats to the societal role of masculinity, it is easy to see how bias against the activity could grow out of proportion to it’s occurrence.
If the culture rejected "whole phenomenon of homosexual practice," why wasn’t it outlawed before. Bird observes that, from verse 22’s position in chapter 18 of Leviticus, “it appears that male homoerotic activity was not viewed as threatening to male interests in the family...in contrast to bestiality, which is treated in both of the older law codes.” Gagnon responds with the possibility that "Deuteronomic law crystallized in a period when the only type of homosexual intercourse practiced in Israel was in the context of cult prostitution and even then only rarely." Gagnon overlooks the simpler explanation that private homosexual activity, due to it’s rarity and private nature, did not concern D. With the cultural bias against homosexual activity, an understood “Don’t ask, don’t tell” arrangement would have been sufficient to minimize homosexual displays, when combined with the social prejudice. In this argument Gagnon again ignores D’s primary concern of eliminating threats to יהוה.
The “dogs” epithet was transcultural and international. Gagnon places too much emphasis on it’s negative connotation. Such terms may last long after the original connotation of the word has changed. Additionally, the term could have arisen from the actual sexual positions of the קדים, the modern “doggie-style” rather than as a comment on status. Either way, Gagnon makes the colossal leap of assuming that the rejection of the קדים could not have come solely due to their Asherah connection. Surely a culture shifting toward monotheism and surrounded by polytheistic cultures would feel more threatened by acolytes of a competing idea of God than by the sexual activities performed by a minority of the population.
“Yahwism rooted out, as a matter of principle, those elements in her religious ideas which had become infected with...the fertility-ritual“ and “the sexual rites that were it’s issue.” Scholars reason that much of these portions of the Bible were “to set out...the idea that the rites practiced...must disappear along with ...other forms of religion, and that the only sanctuary should be the Temple at Jerusalem.” This reconciles easily with some biblical scholars’ consideration of the Priestly Code as an alternative to the JE epic designed to promote centralization of the cult in Jerusalem and Aaronid supremacy. Gagnon also takes exception to Bird’s characterizing תועבה as “applied only or even primarily to antiquated notions of ritual purity.” תועבה is, in his words, ”generally applied to forms of behavior whose abhorrent quality is readily transparent to contemporary believers.” I view this comment as an appeal for the dubious “natural reaction of disgust” that religious fundamentalists describe as engendered by the idea of male homosexuality and I find it beneath one of Gagnon’s scholarship. In all of the sexual prohibitions in Leviticus 18, which are described, as a group, as תועבה in verse 26, only in the verse mentioning sex between males is the word תועבה repeated. Surely Gagnon does not imply that contemporary believers find sacrificing their child to Molech (verse 21) as less abhorrent than anal sex.
Bird view is that "the two lists of sexual prohibitions within the Holiness Code (Lev. 18 and 20) point to changing views of sexual relations in response to social, political, and religious conditions." One possible reason for the new law: Patrilineal inheritance of the land. “If their system of land tenure fails..., the ‘sons of Israel’ will find themselves to be landless.” While Leviticus 18 was written, the focus was surely to prevent threats to יהוה and the Temple. Afterwards, the perceived threat to population of the land could have created the perceived need for redaction. This is supported by Milgrom, to whom "the basis for the ban....is the need for procreation."
While there were Temple Prostitutes, homosexual intercourse, by it's rare nature and the societal pressures for its participants to, in addition, marry and maintain a family posed little threat to the family structure. Only later, after קדים were outlawed, did H redactors include the death penalty and both participants. It is probable that the newly unemployed קדים, as well as their clients, may have continued the activity outside of the cultic boundaries. Without קדים, the continued occurrence of homosexual activity could have confounded the H writers. It is believable that they, being heterosexual could not conceive of a man choosing to have male-to-male sex for any reason other than the cultic purposes. If the law as written was serving it's purpose of preventing cultic prostitution, but the continuing homosexual activity masked this, it would have encouraged the writers to redact the prohibition to include both participants as well as to include a greater penalty. Bird supports the idea that Chapter 20 is from a later redaction of Chapter 18, writing “The two lists of sexual prohibitions within the Holiness Code point to changing views of sexual relations in response to social, political, and religious conditions.” Gagnon himself allows for the possibility of Chapter 20 as a separate creation: "Some distance may be placed between the two chapters, assigning the latter perhaps to a period when the social nucleus in ancient Israel shifted from the family to the community and then to the state."
Gagnon makes an issue regarding the low status of the קדים and the Near East's propensity to allow men of different status to engage in coerced sex. His response to the question "Why not permit...high-status men to coerce sex with low-status men...?" completely ignores the threat to masculinity. The implied threat is not to the status of the individual, at least not the greatest perceived threat, but rather to the status of all males. If a male is allowed to be dominated sexually, then males can be dominated. It removes the quality of being inviolable from "maleness." In a culture so concerned with masculine dominance, this threat held enormous magnitude. Even today the threat remains. The same cultures where machismo is elevated have the lowest incidences of open homosexuality. The current "Down-Low" phenomenon exemplifies the continued existence of this trend.
The world’s first out Orthodox Gay Rabbi, Stephen Greenberg sees this threat to masculinity as the impetus to the bibles regulations of homosexual behavior. He compares the laws in Leviticus to Deuteronomy 22:5, where men and women are prohibited to wear clothing associated with the opposite sex. “It seems more likely that the two prohibitions, cross-dressing and male homosexual relations, are both abominated because they both threaten gender-role identity.” Male-to-male sex threatens up-ending of the social sexual order. “If the great male-female divide is at stake, if the acting-acted upon dichotomy is debunked, then everyone is affected. Male sexual intercourse then becomes not only a grave personal sin, but also a collective threat.”
Other scholars agree that the Levitical laws are used to maintain the position of males and females within the social structure. Gagnon argues that “it is evident that gender differentiation, not status differentiation, took precedence.” According to Gagnon, "it puts another male, at least insofar as the act of sexual intercourse is concerned, in the category of female rather than male. It is nothing short of a rebellion against the way in which God made humans to function..." His comment on the way that God made humans to function immediately brings to mind the modern existence of those males unable to achieve an erection in a heterosexual context. They obviously were not "made to function," by God, in this way. Gagnon admits the danger of male-to-male to the sexual order, but he misses the fact that, in Israelite society, Gender differentiation is status differentiation. Few argue the difference in religious and social status of ancient Israelite man and women.
According to Greenberg, “intercourse...confirms the hierarchy and reifies the difference between men and women...If being the recipient in intercourse makes a woman into a woman, then it makes a man into a woman.” I take this argument a step further. If the casting down in the social order can be done to one man, it leaves the door open for all men to be degraded. Homophobia stems from this idea. In modern parlance, individuals refer to Homophobia as individuals afraid to be propositioned sexually by homosexuals. The actual fear of homophobes is in being perceived, themselves, as homosexual. This represents a far greater threat. If a male is homosexual, then he holds the status of a woman, much lower than the male status to which he is entitled. “The ‘normal’ male in our social formation...is engaged in a constant project of demonstration to himself that he is not queer....This is quite different...from socialization in a society where it is assumed that men do desire other men but it is forbidden to do anything (or some things) about that desire.”
Greenberg insists on new translations of the sexual words from the prohibitions. The Hebrew words for “the lyings of a woman,“ משכבי אשה, are not found elsewhere in the bible. There is an instance of משכבי זחר, but not the corresponding משכבי אש. In his new translation, “the lyings of a woman” takes on an intention for humiliation. Why then was this not clear in the original text? He ascribes this to the lack, at the time, of the writers’ ability to perceive women being penetrated as demeaning. According to him, “there is simply no way to speak about the sexual penetration of women in intercourse as potentially humiliating and demeaning in cultures where women are beneath men in the hierarchy and where, by their station in society and in the creation itself, they are made to be mounted and penetrated.”
Some use the creation stories, women’s creation, and their function as mothers to justify anti-homosexual bias and interpretations. I contend that, were the problem with "homosexuality," even if unknown as a concept, then lesbian sex would have been addressed. The lack of reference to female-female sex not only serves as evidence that preventing homosexual, in it's modern sense, mingling was not a dominant priority, but also that, in many ways, those acts of women which didn't directly affect men fell below the radar of inclusion in the canon. Gagnon himself must admit that the condemnation is not applied to lesbian intercourse. "It could be taken for granted that Israelite women would go on to marry men, regardless of what experimentation took place with other women before marriage. Female -to-female eroticism would thus constitute no danger to Israelite family structure. With the modern understanding that Homosexuality is not “catching,“ as well as the less prominent emphasis on procreation, this seems to support the inclusion of prohibitions against male-to-male sex for reasons unimportant in the modern world.
While modern religious authorities disavow, with varying force, the sociological factors of biblical authorship, the existence of said factors can be applied to why and in what form the laws were included in the Torah. A living document must be interpreted through a current lens. Therefore, modern understandings of homosexual nature, combined with an understanding of the culture in which the Torah was given lead the way for a more welcoming interpretation of the Torah’s treatment of consensual, non-idolic homosexuality. It only waits for modern religious authorities to take on the task.

Happy New One

The holiday season is over. Whew! I need a break. It's time to focus on the upcoming semester and my classes. Work should be fairly calm for awhile. I'm sorry that I've been away for so long, but it needed to be done. I've been working pretty diligently on a paper. I'll try to post it. Maybe you'll enjoy reading it.
I hope to have some new photos for you soon. I'll be heading to NY and CO soon. Ruaridh's coming over from Scotland and we're meeting Matt Ball and Silent Bob for some fun in the snow.
For Football, Bama won and the Steelers are in the playoffs! Life is good.

I'm currently worried and praying for Ariel Sharon. Please share your positive wishes.

May the current year be your best ever!

Question of the moment? My blog's meant to be provocative. I'm provocative. Too much so? I'm not referring to myself, but rather the blog.

Really?

Just a small comment on your votes for the WoT character that most resembles me...."Really? You think so?" Interesting....

Rent Review Delayed

I'm working on my final paper for my Bible:Text and Context class. It's a lot of work, but you know me, the English Major Geek. I'm having a ball. I chose as my subject, Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, and if you don't know what those two verses are, you should go and look them up. Right now.
The review will come after I've watched the film again. That may be when the DVD comes out. For now(SPOILER ALERT!!!) : The changes from the Broadway version were mostly known to me. A friend at work bought the Hollywood album a few weeks ago and I had listened to it. If I had loved it, I'd have bought a copy, but the album alone, I found very disappointing. It's quite a bit "cleaned up" from the stage version, and that sanitization removed a lot of the vocal emotion. For instance, when I saw the film, I didn't expect to like Joanne at all, because, while she sings prettily, vocally, there's nothing of "margins and discipline" in "Take Me or Leave Me." I was pleasantly suprised to find that, with the full performance, it worked. That being said, my biggest hatred (and this is more than a dislike, mostly because I find it amateurish) is for the editing. Primarily the editing of the story. While I LOVE Anna Deveare Smith, the "Take Me or Leave Me" scene could easily have been cut to panning out on the engagement announcement, going quickly in the flirting, followed by the song....The part of the parents wasn't necessesary. That problem runs all of the way through the film, and all of the unnecessary parts removed could have added up to 2, 3, or even 4 songs that were cut. ("X-mas bells" easily comes to mind....It may not be a major plot point, but thematically, it sums the show wonderfully.) Even if you didn't want to include more songs, quite often, the best parts of the songs were cut out. In "You'll See," one of the things that made the song special, and not just another POV song occurs when the lyrics are twisted and used by other characters. "You see boys.....Let it be, boys....I like boys....Boys like me.....We'll see...." There were weird bits after a lot of the songs too. Some were long fadeouts.
The most glaring omission was created by taking Joann and Maureen out of the title song.....What? The silences where "Maureen, I'm not a Theatre Person" and those lines following should have been were huge. Those breaks now seem amazingly odd and distracting. If the films about the year in the lives of these characters, can't they all be in the title song?
Some common complaints, I disagree with. I like Roger's hair....It's almost the cut I have now. LOL. The CGI breath did suck, but I got past it. I knew they'd cut "Contact," and until 3/4 through the film, I seriously disagreed with "Disneyfying" the film, but I realized, this has to play in every Red state, and to kids young enough to absorb the ideas of diversity. By toning down the film, it gets a wider audience. The filmed version of the death in the hospital was great. Too many youngsters today don't know what HIV can do to you. It's scary, but it's real. The tweaking of the timeline worked, but if it has to reverse to fix "You'll See," etc., then I say switch it back. The mini-riot, during the title song was great! The Tango was nice, too. I LOVED seeing Tom and Angel skipping in the park. I would love to be able to shame Denzel Washington (who gave Will Smith the advice "A black man doesn't kiss a man on film," when he was doing "Six Degrees of Separation) by saying, "Look, this is what a black ACTOR does. You may have an oscar, but you ain't shit. I haven't seen that performance. I really have no desire to. My antipathy for Denzel is cold...I don't want the man dead or anything, but I definately don't want to put $ in his pockets. "La Vie Boheme" was great, but the sound was a bit off. For instance, I couldn't even hear the "To Dance..." before "what a way to make a living...."More in the final review....

In honor of my new ability to type in Hebrew, I'll sign off with my Hebrew name:

אבגדר ישראל

Which Wheel of Time Character is most like Bobby G?
	Rand
	Perrin
	Elayne
	Mat
	Moiraine
	Thom
	Egwene
	Min
	Logain
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Personality Types

As a break from catching up for my classes, I took two personality tests today. One was at a site called The Spark. It's a great test identifying which archetype your personality is. You can register your score, (don't forget to allow your friends to see your scores) and we can see if we're compatible.


The second test identifies which Wheel of Time personality you're closest to. I have to say that my result was predictable and right on. Click on "Wheel of Time" above and take the test for yourself. I'll run a quiz and find who you guys think that I am.

Climbing Out of the Hole!

I'm slowly getting caught up. The confluence of The Holidays with my brother's wedding and a shortage of help at work have combined to really rock my world! I shudder to type this, but I should be caught up in my classes by next week. Tomorrow, there's a HUGE party for Simchat Torah at Tremont Street Shul. Everyone help us celebrate! Check out the website at www.tremontstreetshul.org

Steph-an-me

Pierce Girls

Wedding Finery

Newlyweds

Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Pierce

The Perfect Couple

My Girls

Get Thee to Israel!

School's In!!

The semester has started and I'm taking some very exciting classes. Firstly, there's an Ulpan with Gili. She's truly a marvel. She's teaching a heavy courseload, and she still manages to look as if she's dressed for a Paris runway every day. It's really difficult to not feel compelled to get decked out in finery every day of that class. Next is Bible:Text and Context, with Mark Leuchter. He seems very knowledgable and the course seems to flow directly from my English degree. Finally, there's Models of Teaching and Reflective Practice in Jewish Education with Susie Rodenstein. She's a marvel in education and happens to have centerred her specialties on Hebrew and Israel. Sound like anyone we know?
So, this lead-up is to explain part of the reason that the pics from my trip aren't up. The other part of the explanation comes in the form of a warning: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT X-RAYS ONLY HARM 1000 SPEED AND ABOVE FILM. I have one complete roll of film (luckily, it's the most important one) which came out nicely. One of the others is shifted in tint and darkness, and the others are ruined. Funny, that one is fine. I'm guessing that it's the 200 speed film. Anyway, I'll get the decent pics up this week, after I finish my homework.
My work schedule is dreary this week:3 night shifts, including one buyout and one band night(ugh!), but, on the bright side, I have 2 bar shifts (Yay!). So, my routine will be a bit off. In addition, I'm joining the Y tomorrow. I'll be starting up Yoga again on Wednesday. That should add to my energy level and what I can accomplish daily. Expect the pics by the weekend. In the meantime, there's a nice BlueStarPR poster above.

Kitty Pryde

See that beautiful brunette in the front of the picture below(no, the woman...)...?That's Evangeline Lilly. Beautiful and talented, I have to say that she is the quintesential actress to portray Kitty Pryde. It's too bad that Kitty's so young in the current run of films, or Miss Lilly could be on the big and the small screen.

OK, as if being addicted to "The 4400" wasn't enough, now I've started watching "Lost," which kicks ass! I'll be watching this for a long time.

Please Help

I'm back to the US, and I'd never dreamed that I'd have to do this for my first post. From the dream and nightmare of my travels, I've returned to the nightmare left by Hurricane Katrina. I've located many of the people that I know from Louisiana and Alabama, but there are a few left unaccounted for. If anyone has heard from Kimberly Hillman, Rebekah Elgin-Council, Cason Duke, or Joel K. Fortner or, if you know their whereabouts, please contact me.
For those of you able to do something, please donate time, blood, money....whatever you can. One place to donate is United Jewish Communities. There website can be reached at http://ujc.org/
G-d bless us all.

The end of Greece : (

As my time in Europe dwindles, my thoughts turn to Boston. How will I react to being back in The States? How will they react to me? I want to go on with my life, graduate, and get a real job, but I hate to end my travels. So much has changed, in me and the world. Like Helen said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all....."

Love's Remains

I dreamt of Sparky last night. I can't remember the details. I can't even remember how to spell as I write this. It was multiple dreams. Every time that I awoke, my body's response was obvious, and there was one name on my lips.
It's been over for two weeks, and the pain has faded from that of a broken bone to one of a faded injury, dull but constant. A memory of an earlier pain.
Everything that I thought that I knew about love was a lie. You can truly love someone and break their heart. You can break your own heart, and that's what I've done.
I want the pain to go away. If that means forgetting the joy, however, I'll gladly keep the pain. To do otherwise would kill the hope that I have that someday things will work out.

It's All Greek to Me

I'm in Athens, until early the morning of the 28th. You can call me from the US by dialing 011-30-210-3244808. Leave a message for Robert Pierce at the desk. I'm having a great time, but I'm also in need of a hug. I'm missing Sparky.
On a lighter note, Athens is probably the mostbeautiful city that I've ever seen. Anyone who wants to visit...I'll play tour guide!

Going Home

I know that they say "Once you've gone, you can't go back home." To some extent, it's true. I'm back in Tel Aviv. Ha Yarkon is still the same. It is wonderful to see the familiar faces. The weather is actually nicer than when I left. It's a different city, however. I'm a different person.
My trip was supposed to open me up to new cultures. I was supposed to learn about Israel and Israelis. That has happened...in spades. What I didn't expect...What has broadsided me...Is how much the trip would cause me to learn about myself. Every trip has it's theme...a general mood and idea. The theme for this trip has to be self-discovery.
I've discovered many things about myself. Some of them have proven nice. Others horrifying. Truly, I'll return a different person than I started out. My priorities have shifted. I'm excited about my life in the future.

A Very Special Shabbat

Tu'B'Av came and went...Lot's of thoughts of Sparky and the direction of my life. It turned out to be a very special day. I had a beautiful Shabbat hosted by The Smeltzers in Effrat. I definately needed a "time out" to process things. My time in Jerusalem has been that as well. Tomorrow, it's back to memories and Tel Aviv.

A Time of Great Change

In Gaza, the world watches great changes in land ownership and control. The struggle is heart-wrenching. In the hearts of two people, another struggle occurs. Old ideas are examined, mistakes are contemplated, and pain is felt. Change can bring about much good....
But must it always hurt so much?

The Spark is Gone

Which is worse, being alone or knowing that you've caused pain in a loved one? What if the two are bound up together? Where does the motivation come to get up and try again? What if you don't want to try again? How many second chances do we get?
T'shuva involves remorse and making amends. It's not for forgiveness but simply because it's right and necessary...But what I wouldn't do to recover that Spark.

Musings

When is a soul iredeemably corrupted? How far down the path of self-interest can one go before return is not possible? What's the power of shame? Can actions redeem you, or do you spend the remainder of your life trying to repair any damage that you've done?
Why do we hurt the ones we love? How do you keep an image of love alive if you'll never again see the one that you love? Do our actions and emotions have power beyond the immediate? Can truth be sensed? Does one lie in a relationship invalidate all truths from that relationship?

The Land of Milk and Honey...and Mitz!

Israel is everything that you've heard of and more. The details will follow when I return, but for now, imagine the freshest, largest, lushest fruits that you've ever seen. Now imagine 50 shops juicing them for you around the city. Those of you who know me know that juice is my favorite thing in the world. My latest favorite: Mitz tapozim v'gezer v'rimon b'yahad! Can anyone translate that into English?

Sparky!

Hey Sparky,

Thinking about you. I got your Phoenix poem. Thanks! But I can't reply to comments on the blog. Email me. phoenixrave@sc.rr.com

Ani B'Yisrael...

Yes, that's right, I'm in Israel! Finally! It's truly amazing, but I had an interesting trip here, let me tell you. I've checked into the hostel and met some wonderful people. Adjusting to Hebrew required more work coming from Scots than it does from English, but I've begun teaching my new friend Frank, from South Africa, how to speak Hebrew....so that he can flirt with the hostel attendant!
More as the visit progresses...

Tis Nae Bother...

Almost a week in Scotland, and the holiday is already different from my plans. I'm not complaining. It's been a right class trip. I knew I'd be having a bit of lager, but this is ridiculus! LOL. Pubbing and the festival make Edinburgh a brilliant destination in August, but the prices have definately been artificially increased to take advantage of this. When you're still pissed from the evening before, and going out means spending more money, what do you do but lie in and recover. Then, you're feeling well enough to go out, but all that's open are festival shows and pubs. The cycle starts over...

A preview

Everyone's been asking what my hair looks like curly.....It looks like this, except about 4 months growth shorter. My goatee is gone to. Once of you said it made me look like a "mexican terrorist!" It'll be back, though!

Kat and I-Enjoying Brighton Beach

Hat Games

Some pics before I leave

Well, here they are....the pics which I've had developed from my last 4 rolls of film. Above is Maggie and I. Ain't she gorgeous! Above that are some members of Temple Emanu-el in Myrtle Beach. The next two posts are some of my family. I'm hoping that this keeps you satisfied until the pics from the Europe/Israel trip are done.

Coyote Beautiful

Tammy & Elijah

Striking a pose!

My brother's new tatoo.

"Bobby G Ignores Will of the People"

The title refers to the poll below, in which not a single one of you has requested more about politics. It could be that you're more than a bit disgusted by my ranting after the Country ratified the 2000 election of "The Imbecile." It could also be that you're tired of hearing about politics. The former, I can understand. If it's the latter:
Get your head out of the sand!
Even if you, like Heather and Jack, (I still find it difficult to refer to them as friends when I recall that they did this) voted for The Imbecile, you still need to be aware that you're money and influence are being used to install a government in Iraq that is cozying up to terrorist sponsoring Iran. Yes, that's right, the blogger Billmon at Whiskey Bar called it:

"How would the folks back home feel if they knew their sons and daughters were getting limbs blown off so that Iraqi politicians could jaunt off to Tehran and say warm and fuzzy things about the crazy old man who gave us the Iranian hostage crisis? And what kind of surrealist cover story would the GOP propaganda machine come up with to convince the Fox News audience that fighting and dying to keep Khomeini lovers in power is really a good thing?"

How many of you knew that Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, on Sunday, laid a wreath on the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini and hailed what he called "a new chapter in brotherly ties" between Iran and Iraq? Did you hear that coverred in the mainstream media? Is it not important? I know that you all have lives, but is working the extral hour to buy dinner out really worth letting the world and this country move closer to serious dangerous action? I need to quote my favorite president here, President Andrew Shepherd:

America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, cause it's gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.

That seems even more important, now that your idiot congress is working to pass an amendment criminalizing flag-burning. As if that's important enough to ignore all of the myriad other bills which they could be considerring. You can make a difference. Read and act! Complacency and ignorance got Bush elected. They did it again 4 years later. They may overturn Roe vs. Wade. (That's a risk that a very liberal friend of mine looks forward to. He says that it's the most sure-fire way for "Soccer Moms" to realize the idiocy of their voting for a war monger like Bush to "make the world safer for their kids." ) Get out there and act. I plan on keeping the politics as part of this blog. If that offends, I really don't need you as a friend. If you're not part of the solution, you're a part of the problem. I don't have time for you in my life.

Shrinking

Where am I leaving?
I do not walk.
I do not fly.
I'm part of no herd of passers-by,
Destined for cubicles of office space.
How sad,
To be headed nowhere,
But to be certainly leaving.

Facing the Wrong Windows

Tonight, I watched "Facing Windows," and saw more than I'd anticipated. for quite a while, I've been facing windows (to get the metaphor, you might have to watch the film...It's worth it!). For much of that time, I'd forgotten who I am. I think that I'm beginning to remember who I am. It truly makes a difference in how I see life, and which window I see through. My trip should prove to be an awakening, in more ways than one. I intend to do a lot of writing. Maybe Tel Aviv will be my Paris, and I'll awaken the sleeping artist within.

Free polls from Pollhost.com

What should I focus on in the blog?

More Politics Photos My Life, in general "Whatever the focus, just work on your writing, dude. You need it!" Film and Lit. Reviews--Pop Culture

Stop Me If You've Heard This One...

A woman, in a hot air balloon, realized she was lost. She lowered her
altitude, and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me. Can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago. But, I don't
know where I am."

The man consulted his portable GPS, and replied, "You're in a hot air
balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet
above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes North latitude,
and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes West longitude.

She rolled her eyes, and said, "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is
technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your
information. And, I am still lost. Frankly, you have not been much
help to me."

The man smiled, and responded, "You must be a Republican."

"I am!", replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"

"Well...", said the man, "You do not know where you are, or where you
are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity
of hot air. You made a promise, that you have no idea how to keep.
And, you expect me to solve your problem. You are in exactly the same
position you were in before we met. But somehow, now it's all my
fault...

You Guys Are Always Looking for the Racy Pics!

The question has been posed "If we buy you some of the clothing choices for your birthday, will you post pics on the blog?"
Of course! But that's good for any of the gifts. Personally, I think a pic of me dancing in the Aussiebum swimsuit on the DDR pad would be a fantastic pic, don't you? LOL.

For Me? You Shouldn't Have!

Well, Harry's and my birthday is coming up, and some of you have hinted about getting me presents. I know that I rarely even hint at what I want, but here's a list so that you don't have to ask! I've tried to include something in every price range, but remember...the more you spend, the more that I'll know that you love me!!! LOL.
Just click "HERE," or this entry's title to get to the list. If you wind up at the Froogle page, just do a search for a friend's list. For my email, use bobbywith@gmail.com my travelling email address.

Alignment

Well, I'm a gamer, and I usually play characters who are True Neutral. It works...But what is my alignment in life? My results are below. Check your's out and get back to me!

I scored as Chaotic Good. A Chaotic Good person is someone who has little intrinsic respect for laws or authority, seeing them as insufficient to sustain what's right. These people work according to their own moral compass which, while good, is not necessarily always aligned with that of society. Despite their chaotic tendancies, these people are good at heart. Chaotic Good 80% Lawful Good 75% True Neutral 65% Neutral Good 65% Lawful Evil 45% Neutral Evil 35% Lawful Neutral 15% Chaotic Neutral 15% Chaotic Evil 15% What is your Alignment? created with QuizFarm.com

Help!!!

I need some help from someone out there. I need it now. You see, I'm addicted. That's right. No, I haven't started smoking again...it's much worse. You see, I could go to the gas station today and buy a pack of smokes. No, I'm addicted to a television series, "The 4400" to be specific.
The help that I ask for isn't weaning me off. I've already gone cold-turkey. The second season premiered June 5. Unfortunately, I couldn't tune in, as I was walking in the AIDS Walk to save lives. I don't know if it's being a completest or having to have the chance to solve mysteries on my own, but I can't watch episodes out of order. So, I ask all of you out there...
Does anyone have copies of the second season's episodes of "The 4400?"

Where We Came From

This weekend, I had the opportunity to watch an episode of "Tales of the City" with a friend. For those of you who don't know, "Tales of the City" is a mini-series based on a series of books by Armisted Maupin, ostensibly showcasing what life was like in San Francisco in the Heydays of the 70s. The teleplay is filled with A-list actors and received rave reviews when it aired, although many Red-state PBS stations didn't show it because of the gay subject matter.
My friend didn't "get" the show. He couldn't articulate why, but from the things that he was saying, I believe that it's a combination of two things. Firstly, there's the current rejection of Gay Identity. In today's climate, the younger "hip" generation of Abercrombie & Fitch clones have little respect or tolerance for camp or anything that smacks of Gay Identity. Secondly, he was just unaware of the culture of the 70s.
Now I was nowhere near San Francisco in the 70s, but I do know the disco culture. It was in the movies while I was growing up. The gay culture that I read about early in my life was that culture. Today's queers may try to run from it, mistakenly believing A&F more "manly" than terrycloth and corduroy , but that culture got us to where we are today. Hell, as everything is recycled, it should be coming back to us.

Hebrew: Keeping Me Busy, and I Love It!

It's true. I'm way behind on entries to the blog. I will strive to do better, but only a truly amazing topic could monopolize my time like this. No, it's not working at the Hard Rock Cafe Boston. It seems as if I'm there all of the time, but that's just to pay the bills. What's been filling my head for the past two weeks is studying Hebrew. I have to say that this is probably my favorite subject that I've ever studied (and you know that I LOVE learning!). The language truly has music, which actually sings to me! Some things in the class come to me easily from their introduction. Others elude me continually until one day, Boom: They seem embedded in my mind beyond conscious control. Studying a language four hours a day is truly the way to learn. I can't wait to get to Israel and see what I can absorb there!

Get thee to the Cinema

In the last two weeks, I've seen more films than in the two months prior. It's been worth it. I have really been inspired by the films that I've seen lately. We're definitely experiencing a resurgence in quality films. For years, I've said that the best writing was in Television. Now, I believe that it's shifted to films.
Firstly, there was the bad, but not unbearably so "Slutty Summer." I would have been severely disappointed to spend the $7.50 (Student Discount) to see it, except that my ex, Neal, had a part in it, as did John, the lead in the play that we were both in two years ago. It's very interesting to see the person that you've slept with most in the world on screen. It made me wonder, for instance, if he'll always be the person that I've slept with most in the world...But that's a subject for another day.
I also saw "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," and I think that Angelina has never been better. Brad, as always, did a nice job. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, although I wish that I hadn't seen it opening weekend. In general, I don't believe in spending money for big budget films early in their runs. They dominate the screens anyway. Why should I spend money to help them maintain their dominance. I'd rather have four films playing on four screens than all four screens being wasted on one film.
The other big-budget film that I saw, "Batman Begins," I'd planned on seeing on opening weekend. Number one, it stars Christian Bale. Number two, it's supposedly faithful to the comic, and number three, it stars Christian Bale. It didn't disappoint. He looked phenomenal, as did the film. It's definately the best translation of the character to film.
Heights, I saw tonight on a date. I expected to like it. I didn't expect to like it that much. Loads of laughs, I cried (But those of you who know me can vouch that I can count the number of films that I haven't cried during on both hands.) It's a New York film, and The City is a character. A minor one, but it's there. Glenn Close gives an understated, moving performance. I'd never seen Elizabeth Banks, but she proved eminently watchable. Finally, after "The 24th Day," where he really impressed me, James Marsden proved here that his best acting is done outside of major blockbusters.
The last film that I mention is my favorite of them all. It's a little Indie that I fell in love with. I suggest that you all run out and see it as soon as it opens in your town, and that you hound your cinemas to get it. The name is "Saving Face." It's a fantastic romantic comedy (Which, to me, is the ultimate in film genres.). Any description beyond that feels limiting. The lead is a lesbian, but it's not a "Lesbian Film." Her family is Asian-American, but again, it's not an "Asian Film." If you really need to learn more, the title of this blog is a link to the films site.

Soho moment.

...'Cause Everything is Rent!

Well, I'm sold! That's right. November 11 is going on my list of requested days off. I'll be in New York, in line, with my pre-purchased ticket (and you know how tough it'll be for me to pay that $1.50 service charge for pre-buying...I AM Jewish!) for Rent. Hell, there might even be a midnight show.
What sold me? Well, I knew that I'd be there opening day, c'mon. It's the musical equivalent of my life. LOL. Of course, for something in which I'm emotionally invested, I have been preparing myself for disappointment. Well, the trailer is out. You can watch it yourself. For those of you who know the show, it can truly bring up many emotions. Click on the title of this entry and watch it yourself.

I LOVE THIS BLOG!

There's a lot of new technology that I plan to be including in this blog. The poll below is the beginning. Eventually, I'll let you all vote on which features stay. Feel free to comment on anything and everything.
On a different note....Tippy a.k.a. Woodrow Wilson Cannon III has officially won "Bobby G's Blog's" first contest. He'll receive his prize after I return from Israel and pay those bills, leaving me (hopefully) with enough money to buy it for him.

What's the greatest thing in the world?
	Whiskers on kittens
	Baby Snuggles
	Amazing Sex
	Love
	A day spent on the sofa with the remote
	A rewarding career
	Being Right
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Trading Spaces is filming in Boston! I still say that Changing Rooms is better.

All Work and No Play...

As you may have noticed by the growing number of days between posts, I've been a bit busy...While it hasn't all been work, I've been in overtime every week for quite some time. While that's great for earning vacation hours, it doesn't do wonders for my social life. I do need to work to get ahead on bills....I am taking almost the entire month of August off to go to Europe and Israel. Another way that they've managed to keep me at the HRC has been training me as a bartender. Yes, that's right, I finally made it!!! I love it! Now, I'll never get scheduled behind the bar. LOL.
So, while I do spend a lot of time at the Rock, it's gotten a lot better in some ways. The girls below...including Britney (Shout out to ya girl!) are some of what it's all about.

Some wild gals, having a wild time with me at the HRC Boston!  

World Pride

It looks like World Pride may be delayed. If it is, then I'll miss it. Of course, I'm not going to Israel solely for World Pride. Of course, I never do anything important for only one reason, but World Pride wasn't even the primary reason for my trip. That said, I would like to be a part of it, if it happens. Who knows, I may be able to find a surrogate mother for my children. Speaking of which....
Those of you who are female, or who know a female with a big heart and courage, please email me. I'm looking for a surrogate mother. I basically need a womb for 9 months! Yes, I want to be a gay father. I've always been a gay mother....

The "Altar Boyz" are CRUNK

As I mentioned last time, I saw "Altar Boyz" in NY, and I can't recommend it enough. Those of you who know me probably can't believe that I'm recommending a musical. You'll dig it. Click on the title to this entry or the words "Altar Boyz" here and above, and you can read a review from NYTheatre.com. You can buy tickets at Theatre Mania.com.
Life continues to be interesting. I'm working on learning Hebrew and preparing to go to Israel. Anyone with any suggestions should email them, or leave comments here at the blog.
The great girls that I waited on this past weekend have become blog commenters. Shouts out to Liz and Marlee!!!

Coming Out of Egypt...

I've made it through....Passover has passed over. The work week where I was scheduled 8 shifts is over. I do feel like I've come out of Egypt. The tricky thing is...I'm still in the desert. I haven't made it to The Promised Land yet. I have to present my final project in class, learn my new menu items, train enough staff members to get a day off, make enough money to pay for school and my vacation, and figure out what's going on in my love life. And I thought last week was tough!
Check the photos below for the WAY COOL girls who came in Saturday night. Until next time, I HIGHLY recommend "Altar Boyz," in NY. It's not only funny, it has a great message. I'll get a link up fo it. In the meantime, rent "The Troop," an Israeli film from 1979. It's truly a classic.

Here's a pic that Liz and the girls took of me... 

That's Liz and her girls from Utica, NY. They were as sweet as could be. I can't wait until they come back! 

That's me and a friend at Gay Pride in NY last year. Keep your fingers crossed that the sticker was a prediction, and not a wish! 

Maria, with a quirky smile! Gotta love her! 

My old shul in NY...It's The Actors' Shul, in Midtown. Look it up, if you're interested.  

My girl Rita, looking VERY blonde! 

My sis and the Madeline, looking cute!