New Beginnings

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:00:24 -0600

It’s obviously been a long time since my last blog post. I noticed after I joined Facebook, the bulk of my online recreational activity shifted to the micro-blogging and social networking aspects that FB lends itself to so easily. So, no promises on many updates to the blog from this point forward - so follow me there, citizens! I’ll still post here occasionally as a running journal of sorts for major life events and the like.

The new year finds the United States of Michael in a new home - yes, we’re no longer in Norman, and have moved to Oklahoma City, specifically, The Village, to be closer to work. I heard from a relative the surest way to increase personal happiness is to shorten the commute. It’s definitely true, I’m glad to report. Additionally, I have found a spot with a cool roommate, his boyfriend, a dog, and two cats - one of them being an exceptionally chubby kitty with a great disposition.

Other than that, I’m still single, still working away, and excited about what life holds in store in 2010.

I snapped the picture above on my drive home, Christmas Eve, 2009, during the worst blizzard in recorded history in Oklahoma.

When we Have Robot Lovers

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:47:11 -0500

This is what I want mine to look like.

Me As an Obama Poster

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:39:49 -0600

Anyone can go to this website and upload a photo to Obama-Poster-ify it. It’s really fantastic. At least an hour of fun on this one. Check it out here.

All the Pretty Horses

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:26:35 -0600

According to Perez Hilton, Harry Potter, er, Daniel Radcliffe in EQUUS isn’t doing so well on Broadway. Only 60 percent of the seats are sold, at best. And probably most insulting, banal teenage musicals are selling way better. Is it just me, or does this seem to always happen when an actor decides to rebrand themselves by being edgy. We admire the bravery by taking the role, but alas, its appears that it’s back to Hogwarts this time. Check out the entire Perez page on Potter. It’s a goodie.

Photo of the Day

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:52:23 -0600

Taken at the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City, 9pm after the OKC Thunder vs. LA Clippers match.

Kitty!

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:03:35 -0600

Okay, you gotta admit...This is funny!
Video after the jump.

It’s All Over the Web

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:30:51 -0600

Photos and video from the Prop 8 Protest on Saturday are flooding the Web. Thanks to Andy Towle and Chris Crain for posting my pictures here and here. Both sites have an exceptionally good roundup of pictures and stories from all over the US.

Thoughts on the Prop 8 Protest

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:34:34 -0600

The passage of Prop 8 taking away the right of same sex marriage in California was a definite election night buzz kill.

A silver lining, if any, has been the amazing nationwide outpouring of support as shown this last Saturday with a coordinated 300 city, nationwide protest. Sadly, the turnout in Oklahoma City was only around 150 people. Still, though - not bad for a gay community that seldom protests and takes the conservative tilt of the local culture as an unmovable given.

Even with an admittedly small turnout, It was still touching to see families, kids, students, young and old alike turnout in 45 degree weather. Some takeaways: the gay minister who spoke movingly about he and his partner’s recent marriage in California that is now in jeopardy; the young girl with her parents waving the pride flag, the connectedness and energy from the rise in social networking.

I’m hopeful. Video after the jump.

Wow

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 19:16:30 -0600

“Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot
I can think of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!”

Of course, Guy Fawkes did not succeed in his attempt to blow up the Parliament in 1605. And ever since, the British people have memorialized the event by having keggars and burning the poor little Guy in effigy.

My friends...we just blew up the Parliament. Metaphorically speaking, of course. It is extraordinary how such monumental change can happen in just a seeming instant. Of course, we all know it’s been building up to this for sometime. The frost of financial ruin served as the last bit of catalyst tipping the election even further toward it’s already likely outcome.

It’s too bad for the conservative governing coalition that the American people couldn’t have sent a collective memo a few months back warning them that their mandate for power had been revoked. It might have saved them a trip to the CVS to buy all those Tums the day after the election.

The outcome of the election won’t solve all our problems. But at least the idea of American goodness has been reaffirmed by our ability to self correct from time to time.

Dude, Where’s My Newspaper?

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:32:16 -0500

I admit this old-fashioned, but I still enjoy reading an actual newspaper. You know, the inky kind that leaves residue on your fingers and keeps you inconveniently flipping back and forth between sections.

As tale-end Gen X, born right after the Carter election, I don’t know anyone in my age group that subscribes to the paper - even though most of us actually grew up in homes that had daily subscriptions, or at least the Sunday paper for coupon clipping.

Some of my newspaper love is by background, admittedly. My parents met back in the 60s when they both worked at the old Oklahoma Publishing Building in downtown OKC. My dad was a photographer, and my mom was in the ad department. In high school, one of the best jobs I had was at the Oklahoman - taking pages off the proof printer for the editors and running a cart down to the press at 1 am to grab the first editions for the staff in the main building. It was always fun to go down a few minutes early and watch the press whirl into action and see all the little papers fly overhead on a conveyor - already neatly folded.

So you can imagine our dismay at the US of MH that we have not received our Sunday Oklahoman for three weeks running now. A call to customer service has not remedied the situation. The Sunday ritual of breakfast, over-caffeination, i-tunes and newspaper has been woefully incomplete.

Citizens, this is serious. I miss getting angry at the conservative editorials, seeing what’s new in local business, looking at pictures of people I don’t know in the Style section, and flipping through ads of things I don’t need to buy- but seriously consider doing so anyway.

We’ll keep you posted on all the breaking news as this story develops.