Obama Leaps Ahead Of McCain In Minnesota

It is being reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama now has a commanding lead of 55 percent to 37 percent in Minnesota over Republican John McCain, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the poll conducted by the newspaper last week among 1,084 likely voters.

Sunday Football

-Hello everyone and a good Sunday morning to each of you.  Welcome to our blog … we are Steve and Warren – a gay male couple from Minnesota.

-Out in our back yard this morning it is warmer than it was yesterday – we’ve got 41 degrees under clear skys.

Today’s forecast for our corner of the world is: Breezy. Partly cloudy. Highs 53 to 58. East winds 10 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph by late afternoon.

Color weather radar indicates rain across much of the southwestern portion of Minnesota at this hour.

-Quote for the day:

Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not. ~ Václav Havel

-We went to the movies yesterday … the 1:25 p.m. showing of How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. It was an “Ok” film … about:

Sidney Young, a smalltime, bumbling, British celebrity journalist, is hired by an upscale magazine in New York City. In spectacular fashion Sidney enters high society and burns bridges with bosses, peers and superstars. After disrupting one black-tie event by allowing a wild pig to run rampant, Sidney catches the attention of Clayton Harding, editor of Sharp, and accepts a job with the magazine in New York City. Clayton warns Sidney that he’d better impress and charm everyone he can, if he wants to succeed. Instead, Sidney instantly insults and annoys fellow writer Alison Olsen. He dares to target the star clients of power publicist Eleanor Johnson. He upsets his direct boss Lawrence Maddox and tries to make amends by hiring a stripper to dance for Lawrence during a staff meeting. Sidney, of course, doesn’t stop there, finding creative ways to annoy nearly everyone. His saving graces: a rising, sexy starlet develops an odd affection for him, and in time, Alison whose friendship with him might be the only thing saving Sidney from torpedoing his career.

I’d rate the film at a B- … it was funny, but now quite as funny as other films that Simon Pegg has been in.

-Our shopping finished and our movie over – it was off to Red Lobster for lunch.  We were going to go last Saturday, but the place was so busy – that we just couldn’t get it.  So when our shopping was done yesterday around 4:30 p.m. or there abouts we got to Red Lobster.

We were very fortunate because there were not many people there and the waiting time was only about 5 minutes.  Once seated Steve and I both enjoyed our salads, buttery rolls, potatoes and shrimp.  It’s a place we decided that we are going to go to only once or twice a year from now on – just because we (1) don’t need all that fattening food and (2) it’s kind of pricey and we don’t really need to spend that much money just to eat out.

-Steve’s Chicago Cubs … lost last evening.

Manager Lou Piniella said he had a bad feeling about this series, and those fears were realized.

For the second consecutive year, the Cubs scored six runs in the National League Division Series, and for the second consecutive year, they were swept in three games.

Last year it was the Diamondbacks. This year it was the Dodgers.

-In a political move that clearly shows very much “out to lunch” – Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday accused Democrat Barack Obama of “palling around with terrorists” because of his association with a former 1960s radical, stepping up the Republican campaign’s effort to portray Obama as unacceptable to American voters.

The vice presidential candidate’s reference was to Bill Ayers, one of the founders of the group the Weather Underground.

Obama, who was a child when the group was active, served on a charity board with Ayers several years ago and has denounced his radical views and activities.

-In gay news this morning,

Singer-Songwriter Melissa Etheridge has announced plans to marry partner, Hollywood actress Tammy Lynn Michaels.

The 33 year-old Michaels gave birth to the couple’s twins, son Miller Steven and daughter Johnnie Rose, back in 2006.

Etheridge also has two children, daughter Bailey Jean and son Beckett from a previous relationship with Julie Cypher. Crosby, Stills & Nash guitarist David Crosby was the sperm donor for her first two children.  The donor of the sperm for the twins has not been disclosed.

-October is GLBT history month.  On this October 5th:

October 5

October 5, 1513 – Spanish conquistador Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovered what he claimed was a colony of cross-dressing males in present day Panama. It was reported that he massacred them.

October 5, 1840 – John Addington Symonds, one of the earliest scholars of gay and lesbian issues is born. He assisted Havelock Ellis in the writing of
“Sexual Inversion.”

October 5, 1987 – The city commission of Traverse City Michigan voted unanimously to repeal a law banning the sale of condoms in city limits.

October 5, 1990 – Dennis Barrie, director of the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, was acquitted of obscenity charges after displaying a Robert Mapplethorpe exhibit.

October 5, 1998 – The US Congress killed an amendment by Rep Frank Riggs (R-CA) which would have barred San Francisco from spending federal housing money to implement its domestic partner ordinance.

October 5, 1999 – African scholar Ali Mazrui criticized Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for targeting gay and lesbian citizens for harassment and arrest.

-Today is NFL Sunday, and Steve and I will be making our NFL picks for the day and sending them either by email or telephone over to his sister who keeps track of our winning and losing selections.  So far Steve has is leading everyone with his correct picks of football winners for the season.  I’m tied with Steve’s dad for second place as of this week.

-Since it is warmer out this morning, maybe we’ll be able to get out and take a walk this afternoon to get some exercise.

We really only walked yesterday in the stores and even know it is getting cooler – we’ve got to keep up our hiking / walker each and every day – until the weather is so cold that we can’t get out.  Then I think we will move to the school and walk inside.

As for the rest of today … I think we’ll just lounge around and watch NFL football.  Later on we have to go to a local hotel for a birthday party – which we will do.

-Well that’s about it … for Sunday.  Enjoy your day – we will also.  Yesterday was a fun day and today will be the same.

I’m not going to rush on out of here to head for the shower – because I don’t have to go to work – but I think I’ll dig around in the kitchen and grab a bowl of cereal and read the morning news on the internet.

Steve and I wish you a great Sunday … take care and enjoy your day off – I know we will for sure.

We will see you back here tomorrow morning – Monday, as we begin the work week together.

-Until next time…