I'm Just Wild About Harry

I have been a faithful fan of David E. Kelley's shows for years.  I didn't love them all, but I always respected what he tried to do.  None more evident than in the sadly cancelled Harry's Law starring Kathy Bates and a host of interesting and unique actors.  I have watched every episode.  Some were good, great, and absurd.  That is always the tightrope Kelley walks.  There are many who will pin the left wing liberal on him, but I think he's much more complex than that.  

Last night's episode blew my mind. As a matter of fact as I watched the episode, I thought he was full of s**t.  He wasn't.  I am still shaking my head in disbelief.  In brief, a young man is in a terrible car accident with his last family member, his brother.  Concurrently, there is a massive train crash so blood needed for his brother may arrive too late if at all.  The brother wants to donate his blood. He will do anything to save his brother.  When the brother mentions to the doctor that he had been recently tested for STD's and HIV as a yearly check, the doctor asked if he slept with men.  When the young man said yes, the doctor said he couldn't donate!!! A court order ensued and I was stymied by the revelation.  I thought for sure that David E. Kelley was making it all up for dramatic purpose, but he wasn't!

Since 1983, the height of the AIDS frenzy, any male who had sex with another male can't give blood.  Really???  Really??? How the hell is that possible???  Though I may be able to understand it during the first year or two of the epidemic, it is still on the books. Thirty years later it is not only insulting but appalling.  Government did what government does best, fear and terror. Before there was understanding about HIV/AIDS, maybe you could make a case, but today?  2012?  

When I was having surgery in 1991, they were very cautious about people donating blood for me.  They didn't want blood earmarked for me from people other than myself and my husband, just in case.  They screen blood thoroughly, so what sense does the law make?  Do you know that the fastest growing group of people infected with HIV/AIDS are men and women in the black community.  Should we not take blood donations from black people?  Are you kidding me?  It is so incredibly archaic and has no current reasoning.  They screen all blood donations.  They can't trust what people say.  As Dr. House says, "everybody lies." How can this law still be on the books?  Can you tell that it has really gotten my goat.  

In the episode, David E. Kelley wrote an incredibly impassioned speech by the gay brother to the judge.  It was perfect and, lo and behold, a 100% correct.  If you have the chance to hear it, it's worth the time.  He speaks about how marginalized gay people are in this country in every way ( in schools, in the home, in the military until recently, in marriage, in sickness, etc.).  So now that Obama and Biden have come forward in support of marriage equality, can we get this gay blood ban off the books.  Why didn't I know about this until I watched a television show?  Where is the outrage?  

In case you don't believe me: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/with-better-hiv-tests-should-fda-end-its-ban-on-gay-men-donating-blood/2012/04/16/gIQAT2a6LT_story.html

Sidebars:  The Real New Jersey Housewives never disappoint, though always a head shaker.  Tonight Dancing With the Stars into the new season of The Bachelorette on ABC.  Lest we forget America's Got Talent premieres tonight on NBC with Howard Stern taking over for Piers Morgan.  What a night this is going to be.  Anyone hear about the $2Billion loss at JP Morgan?  Three people were fired.  A senior executive, Ina Drew, one of the most powerful on Wall Street, is the first to fall.  Last year she made over $15m. They say she is resigning....how big will her severance package be? Looks as if Congress really got a hold of the banking system.  Good job!  

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Sedentary Revolutionary

Okay, people, it's time.  We need to figure out how to inspire the young and get them to rally around the President again.  It's imperative that we back Obama and elect any or all Democratic Congressman and Senators. Until the Republicans return to sanity, we can't let them take over the asylum.  With the loss of Republican Senator Luger to another obstructionist Tea Party candidate, it more important than ever.  I am so sick of the extremists.  S-I-C-K!  How the hell did we get here and how do we get out?  Well, as far as I can tell, it's the young generation of voters. They have to stand up and be counted. Each and every one of them.  They need to get voters to the polling booths. They have to give their time. Escort the elderly and disenfranchised. They have to fight against marginalizing the voters with photo ID's. They have to donate a few bucks to every candidate that will be running against the crazies.  

Why shouldn't the youth rise up?  The Senate wouldn't even vote to help keep down the rate of interest on student loans.  Couldn't even get it to a vote!  Really?  The legislative bodies all over this country are getting far too involved in women's wombs, marriage equality, tearing down civil liberties all across the board.  I will repeatedly say, I don't get it.  I don't understand the thought process to obstruct change and advancement.  I don't.  The inabaility to compromise and be reasonable evades me completely.  

So people, how do we do it?  How do we reach out to the young people and get them fired up and help them realize that it is truly their future on the line.  I am not just speaking economic future. The social issues that keep getting thrown into battle need to be defended.  How do we get people at all campuses across the country to rally and do something?  I know one person in college.  Maybe I can start a fire under his butt and he can, in turn, light up others.  It's not that I am feeling gloomy about this, but I am feeling the urgency.  The religious right is ruling the Republican party right now.  Their mantra was stop Obama. Our mantra must be stop them.  They can't continue to rule politics in the country.  If they do, they must give up tax exemption and stop calling themselves preachers and relabel themselves what they are, lobbyists.  After President Obama's declaration in support of marriage equality, the Right raised $3million dollars in 90 minutes!!!!!  Do you hear that? 90 minutes!!!!!!!!

So people that read this, how do we do it?  How do we reach the young? How do we impart how important they are to the future of this country?  Thoughts people?  Come on, join me. We must figure this out.  There is no room for religion in public policy. We don't all believe in the same thing.  Do not let the RNC and the extremists steal our country!  Funny, they say the same thing about us, but we aren't trying to take away civil liberties. We are trying to do right by the majority.  Ideas, people!  

SIDEBARS:  Howard Stern on the Today Show.  Funny, that there are already calls for boycotting America's Got Talent from some parent watchdog group. Really?  How about watching him first before you judge him?  I am not a fan of his radio personality, but I do believe that that is a persona. He is a smart man and he knows that he is on at 8pm on NBC. He is not going to be the same Howard Stern that is on Sirrius radio.  So pre-judgers, can you wait?  Can you watch the show and then determine if Mr. Stern is offensive?  American Idol is so annoying.  I hope that they cancel the show before no one watches. When oh when are the fall schedules announced? Okay, everyone, enjoy Thursday.  

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In the Same Breath

Can you believe it?  In the same breath, North Carolina banned same sex marriage and President Obama finally came out for marriage equality!!!!  When I thought about writing today, I was so incredibly disgusted at the voters in North Carolina.  Then I heard that the President stated that people who are willing to go into battle and die for their country, should definitely have equal rights.  That seems so simple and clear, so why is there trepidation that the RNC is going to come out swinging?  Why are the pundits worried about the preachers from the pulpit spewing fire and brimstone? 

 If the IRS had a set of balls on them, they would have and should have been penalizing tax exempt religious organizations for being political.  They aren't supposed to be and this is a perfect time to start making noise.  If the IRS started collecting from all the institutions that aren't supposed to share their political points of view or endorse a candidate, it would make up a lot of money that we are cheated out of.  It's disgraceful and shouldn't have been allowed ever, but now, it's time to re-insert the laws and regulations on tax exempt organizations.

My mind has been swirling today.  Angry, disgusted, proud, irritated. Did you know that the DNC's convention is in North Carolina this summer?  Time to pick up their tent and go elsewhere.  Why in the world should the DNC and all the people that flock to the convention be rewarding a bigoted State?  All that income to a State that voted to ban gay marriage????  Really??  How is that possible?  I don't want to hear that it's too late to change venues.  There has to be a way, if they really wanted to do so.  Was it North Carolina's plan to have this amendment on the ballot to embarrass the DNC?  

I am grateful to hear the President's response to the weeks events.  Do I wish that he would have gotten ahead of the issue instead of seemingly being nudged into it?  Yes, but he did evolve into supporting marriage equality and that is huge!  I don't think that I will ever forget hearing his words today. Now, young people everywhere that are of voting age, must vote this November.  I will stay on this until we squash out the bigots!!

SIDEBARS:  Tho Voice crowned their new winner.  It was a fantastic two night finale.  Of course, not without controversy.  That Christina Aguilera.  If you watch, no need to go on.  Congratulations to the winner, Jermaine Paul.  Well deserved and a truly beautiful crowning.  Fashion Stars are down to 3 designers. Dancing With the Stars down to 4 couples. I have know idea what's up on American Idol.  Maybe 4 left?  No idea. I guess that speaks volumes. Tonight, Law and Order: SVU seems timely from the commercials.  I was wondering a while back where Chris Meloni disappeared to and I think it's True Blood, so I still won't be seeing him. Had a couple of days with one of my dearest and longest friends in the Hamptons, what a ball.  Saw The Avengers and was quite surprised at how much fun it was and had a couple of hearty laughs.  

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Where Have All the Voices Gone?

WTF is going on with people these days?  It's as if when Barack Obama was inaugurated as President, the Pandora's Box was opened.  People have gone absolutely crackers and bats**t.  Really?  The continued assault on women's reproductive rights is so astonishing.  Again, I say, where are the young people?  Why aren't they screaming and marching?  The assault on gay men and women in this country is perplexing.  I don't get it.  Really, I don't.  I can understand struggling with one's own sexuality, but to be freaked out by others?  State after State is preparing or lobbying for legislation to promote discrimination.  State after State is lobbying against women's rights.  Really?  Where are the dissident voices?  I don't understand why people who have been lifelong Republican's are standing quietly by and letting crazy extremists hijack the party of Lincoln.  What's that about?  Everyday there is one more appalling story after another.

What about Mitt Romney's "deal with the devil?" He allowed Richard Grennell resign so that the religious right could be happy and have a win.  Richard Grennell is from all accounts a pitbull who happens to be openly gay.  He is a well respected Republican, political consultant. How is it possible that Mitt Romney let this happen?  Wasn't this a time for him to show his leadership skills?  If you want to be President of the United States, isn't it important to appear to lead independently?  Romney is in the religious rights pocket.  I heard a talking head this week say, Mitt Romney is a businessman who will do anything to close the deal.  That was an "a-ha" moment.  It makes sense that he has pivoted on every issue.  A great businessman doesn't make a great President.  And if this week is any indication of a Mitt Romney Presidency, we are all in trouble.  

I am sick to my stomach about all the social assaults. I am sick with the increasing religiosity of this election.  It is mind boggling that the extremists have just hijacked this country.  Where are the voices of disagreement?  Where are the Reagan Republicans?  If there are any readers that want to enlighten me, I would love to hear.  I can't understand it.  If the Democratic party was taken over by extremists that wanted to take away rights of others, I would stand up and be counted.  I am interested in answers and compromise not unyielding obstructionists.  Why is it okay for crazy people to be running the asylum?  It's not funny. It's terrifying.  We have been down this path of intolerance throughout history.  How did that work out?  Is it the fault of poor education throughout this country?  I don't think that's it because I know very educated people that are either in agreement or standing quietly by.  So what is it?  The terror of a black man in the White House has unleashed the ugliness in so many.  

When the Tea Party began a few years ago, it made such good sense, initially.  People were mad about taxes, Wall Street, and the economy.  Then, somehow it became a subset of the Republican Party. The Birthers took over. The extremists commandeered the movement. The impressive beginning of the Tea Party was turned into a despicable tearing down of the Obama Presidency.  It is painful to watch and hear.  The impotency that I feel for the political climate causes much anguish.  WTF?  Where are all the voices??  There should be voices on both sides of the aisle.  This shouldn't be a Democratic or Republican uprising. This is a human and civil rights issue.  Where are the voices????

Sidebars:  In Plain Sight ended forever on Friday night.  It was okay. I do think that it's hard to end any series to everyone's satisfaction.  Great and interesting cast so hope to see them all elsewhere soon. Amazing Race finished its season.  No real surprises. Without Mark and Bopper, a bit of a letdown.  The Real Housewives of NJ doesn't disappoint.  May need a shower after, but doesn't disappoint. Kudos to VP Joe Biden for his public statement about marriage equality.  That's big news! I am off to the Hamptons.  Be back in a few days.  If there are any dissenting voices, feel free to comment.  

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Seau It Ain't So

Yesterday's tragic news about the death of Junior Seau was sobering, yet again.  It seems that Junior committed suicide and the autopsy should be conclusive. Allegedly, he tried to commit suicide a year or two ago by driving his car off a cliff, but he says he wasn't. He stated he fell asleep at the wheel. With all the "Monday morning quarterbacking" (pun intended), what culpability does the NFL and the NFL Player's Association have? This is the 3rd suicide in the last year of NFL players.  Is it a coincidence?  If you took the population of another career, would the stats be the same?  I think not.  Football players are glorified, coddled, celebrated, idolized, concussed (or to keep the rhythm concussified) and then it's over.  What are they supposed to do in their retirement which could begin as early as 30?  If it is assumed that Junior Seau was lying and he was really trying to kill himself by driving off the road, where was the Player's Association?  Where was Roger Goodell and the NFL?  Shouldn't someone have reached out to him?  Shouldn't they be pro-active and offer support groups, therapy, medical treatment?  

Football on every level has gotten more violent and dangerous.  It's not just the NFL. It's College. It's High School. It's Middle School. It's Peewee. The intensive practices in the oppressive heat has caused deaths. The repeated hits on the head are finally suspected to cause brain damage. There are class action suits against the NFL from former players, but why isn't the NFL ahead of this?  It's not something that happened overnight. Junior Seau played for 20 years and never had a concussion on the books.  Is that because he was incredibly lucky, didn't report that his bell had been rung, or the team doctors hedged the findings? The rules are changing but ever so slowly. The penalties are getting greater, but mostly in the heat of the game, not in the long run.  There should be zero tolerance on head hits. Automatic suspension and heavy fines. The NFL is going out of its way to make a very strong example with the New Orleans Saints, but really?  Do they think this isn't a prevalent practice?  Do they think that taking the other guy out isn't common at every level?  Maybe the Saints just weren't careful and got caught. 

Junior Seau didn't leave a suicide note. He shot himself in the chest which is almost unheard of except Dave Duerson, the first of the three suicides, shot himself in the chest, too. He left a suicide note. His note said he shot himself in the chest so that doctors could study the damage to his brain.  Wonder what happened to that research?  Is the NFL sitting on the results?  Did no one do the study?  I have no idea.  I am actually out of my fact base here.  I know that the NFL has problems. They have had problems for a long time and seemingly ignore the quality of life and life and death issues of the injured/retired players. The game is definitely becoming more and more Gladiator like. Blood lust and hard hits are driving the sport and the ratings.  Something has to be done, but not sure that without litigation the NFL will step to the forefront. I am deeply sorry for Junior Seau's family.  Anyone who had to see his mother's raw anguish over losing her son must be moved.  Let's hope the NFL doesn't let him die in vain. Come on, Roger, do the right thing!

Shockingly, no sidebars today.

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An Apple By Any Other Name

I begin this with a deep sigh.  I can tell that my admiration for Apple is going to go through the ins and outs of any relationship.  The only problem for me here is that it is entirely one sided.  For those of you who have read my blog or spoken to me, you are keenly aware that I have a very bad feeling towards Nike and I am beginning to feel that those feelings may take over with Apple.  The difference is: there really isn't any other choice regarding Apple.  They have dominated the market in computers, iPads, iPhones, iTunes, iPods, etc. so I will not cut off my nose to spite my face, but it's definitely getting harder.  

The recent allegations of unfair and harmful labor conditions is hard to swallow.  It is even harder to swallow when Apple tells about the tons of cash that they are sitting on. Probably $1B would help alleviate all that ails the work force in Asia. That would still leave $99B in their coffers.  And then, last week's articles that Apple doesn't pay its fair share in taxes.  Really?  They, too, have gotten around the 8.25% in California and registered in Nevada for tax purposes.  I am sure that there are other tax tricks, but that one really stands out to me.  Apple is without question a California company and more precisely a Northern California company.  It is legendary and helped revolutionize the entire sect and area.  If they chose to pay or not pay taxes in Nevada, but donated the savings to California, that would work.  But Steve Jobs wasn't big on charity.  Apple has a new CEO, but doesn't seem to have changed that view.  So, as Apple stock keeps soaring and making many millions and Apple keeps introducing new and updated products, just keep in mind and at what cost.  

As I said, there are many brands of sneakers, better made, better quality, not as fashionable.  There are many choices other than Nike.  There aren't many choices under the Apple competitors umbrella.  I cannot boycott and it would be stupid, too, but I would like to start seeing Tim Cook, Apple CEO, introduce a large charitable foundation and start paying back to the people that made them so stinking rich.

Sidebars:  The Voice is down to the final four.  That show is so well produced. Dancing With the Stars dumped Jaleel White last night.  The Biggest Loser finally ended its season. Let's hope that the producers learn that one hour a week is more than enough for the entire next season.  Ultimately, the contestants dropped a lot of weight, attitude, and looked great, but it was an insufferable season. Glee tackled domestic violence in last night's episode. It's amazing how well they can do serious subjects and, alternatively, be so inane at times. Newt Gingrich finally bailed on the Presidential race. We are done with that crazy. It's another gray day here in the Big Apple. Enjoy your day wherever you are.

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Anti-Jerks

Where to begin? So many thoughts swirling in between my two ears.  Did you hear about the MLB player from the Detroit Tigers?  Early Friday morning, outside the Hilton Hotel, 2:40am, Delmon Young was drunk and began to verbally assault a group of men, one of them homeless wearing a yarmulke.  Surprise, surprise. Delmon Young was drunk and shouting anti-semitic slurs at this group and put his hands on one of the guys.  He was arrested by police and released hours later.  But really, people who get drunk and use anti-anything language are exactly what they say the aren't.  They are racist, anti-semitic, homophobic, misogynistic, etc. etc. etc. It isn't an accident that these feelings spew out under the influence.  It is truth.  Delmon Young was benched for the rest of the games in NY by the Tigers.  MLB weighed in today and have suspended him for 7 games including the ones that he has missed so far.  And, Delmon Young has to enter a treatment program.  Seriously?  A treatment program for ignorance and hate.  I wonder how that works.  It sounds weak and laughable to me.  He is who he is.  Remember South Pacific?  "You Have to Be Carefully Taught." It's disgusting all the way around.

Speaking of disgusting, did you hear about Amare Stoudemire?  Star player for the Knicks, pissed off at how crappy the Knicks played against the Miami Heat for the second game in a row, he punch his hand into a glass fire extinguisher cover.  Guess what?  Blood, cuts, and will be out for at least one game it seems.  Seriously, Amare?  The Knicks already lost Shumpert due to a torn ACL, not self-inflicted.  Who gets screwed again in all of this?  The fans.  Knick fans who have spent hard earned money to watch the 3rd and 4th games at the Garden are not getting their money's worth.  The Knicks should give rebates to the ticket holders.  They can take it out of Amare's overinflated salary.  Paid way too much to act so stupid.  The Knicks didn't have a prayer to beat the Heat, ultimately, but thought that it might be competitive.  Not anymore.  

Sidebars:  Did you hear that the House of Commons came down hard on Rupert Murdoch?  I mean, the House of Commons? That's big.  They pronounced that he isn't competent to manage a huge corporation.  Ouch.  I can't remember ever hearing any proclamation from the House of Commons since Oliver Cromwell. The Good Wife concluded Sunday for the season.  Really sad that it's over the first Sunday of May sweeps.  They didn't milk that at all. Amazing Race (spoiler alert) lost the heart of the show on Sunday.  Mark and Bopper were eliminated. (You can read about them on my 4/23/12 rant). Saw Barry Manilow at Radio City Music Hall last night. He is one of the great entertainers and Radio City is the best place for a concert. Still feel that Christina Aguilera has it in for Tony Lucca on The Voice. Grateful that Cee Lo reminded audiences all over that the original singer of Killing Me Softly is Roberta Flack, though Lauryn Hill had a huge remake of the song.  The Biggest Loser season finale tonight. 

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