Looking Outside

-It’s a heat wave compared to yesterday morning. Hello everyone and welcome to our blog.

Thanks for stopping by … we’re glad you have taken the time to read us and share our daily lives.

-Out in the back yard this morning we have 40 degrees under clear skies. Color weather radar at this hour does show a substantial amount of rain across most of Minnesota, except around the Duluth area.

Today’s weather forecast for our part of Minnesota is: Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs 43 to 48. East winds 10 to 15 mph.

Apparently that rain to the west of us, is going to move to the south of us … but that one I’ll have to believe when I see it.

-First off this morning … Steve’s back was a bit better yesterday. Thank goodness, for good news. I’ve been worried about him the past few weeks … as it seems that for a young guy he’s been experiencing more aches and pains than most guys should.

I keep jokingly telling him … “What the heck are you going to do, when you get to be my age?” Seriously though, his back felt a bit better and that is positive news for him and for me.

When Steve got home last night about 5:40 p.m. or so, we took our usual hike / walk for about 40 minutes or so. We both dressed up a bit warmer, and even wore gloves … as the winds off Lake Superior were brisk and actually down right cold at times.

One thing about walking in the late fall, like this – you really start to feel the “ills” of the weather. Hopefully we will have a few more days before we have to get out the “winter coats” for our daily walks.

-Each day this month, we’ve been sharing some events with you about GLBT history month. On this date, in GLBT history … here is what took place:

October 22

October 22, 1870 – Lord Alfred Douglas is born near London. Forever known as Bosie, the boy lover of Oscar Wilde was regarded at the time as a mincing queen intent on self-destruction. In the end it was Wilde who was destroyed.

October 22, 1916 – Police in New York City raided an all-male Turkish bath after agents from the New York Society for the Prevention of Vice, who had infiltrated the establishment, filed a detailed report. Thirty-seven men, including the manager, were arrested. Twenty-five of them were convicted and sentenced to prison. The manager committed suicide.

October 22, 1986 – U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop advised that sex education that includes information on both gay and straight relationships would help prevent the spread of AIDS.

October 22, 1977 – Montreal Police raid gay bars Truxx, and Le Mystique charge 146 men with being found-ins in common bawdyhouse. More than fifty uniformed and plainclothes police in bullet proof vests from the divisional morality, mobile and technical squads carried off the raid. It was the largest mass arrest since War Measures Act during the FLQ Crisis. The 146 men arrested were held for up to 15 hours at police headquarters “while ‘compulsory’ VD tests were administered

October 22, 1992 – A report on hate crimes in Michigan was rejected by the US Civil Rights Commission because it included documentation of anti-gay hate crimes.

October 22, 1993 – US Air Force Lt. Heide De Jesus announced that she was dropping her lawsuit challenging her discharge from military service under the ban on gay and lesbian service personnel because the fight had left her literally broke.

October 22, 1999 – Boeing announced it would begin offering domestic partner benefits to its gay and lesbian employees. The company explained that unmarried opposite sex couples would not be included because marriage is an option for them, which brought criticism from union leaders.

October 22, 1999 – San Francisco archbishop William Levada announced he would make a $30,000 contribution to a California ballot initiative to restrict the definition of marriage to opposite sex couples.

-Rumors swirling and twirling around … according to an article over at Gay Agenda published yesterday 10.21.08:

We’ve been hearing for years that the super star and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, both go for the same-sex. It came as no surprise, then, to hear that Smith, who’s been palling around with Tom Cruise and his anti-gay Scientologists, has spent some time with male prostitutes in the past. From the ever-vigilant Ian Halperin:

According to a notorious Hollywood Madame, Smith was a client of hers for years before she packed up shop and moved her operation to Manhattan earlier this year. She remembers the first time she ever spoke with Smith. “I had to reassure him over and over that I could guarantee discretion,” she said. “Once I convinced him I could, he placed his order. It was for a man. I had 14 women working for me and two guys. You’d be surprised at how many Hollywood stars requested the services of the guys.”If that’s true, then those boys must make serious bank. With such a demand for young lovelies, why didn’t the madame get some new stock. That’s what we would do – you know, if we were pimps and all.

Personally, I happen to think Will Smith is a great actor all in all … so who knows, maybe he flows both ways!

If Smith had been 100% gay … that would have been very cool. 

-Bachmann says “I made a misstatement”. According to a news article appearing in today’s Minneapolis Tribune … Bachman is appealing for votes.

Appealing to business leaders and party faithful for support, Rep. Michele Bachmann retreated Tuesday from her televised claim that Barack Obama “may have anti-American views,” but also asserted that “a trap was laid” that prompted her remark.

While Bachmann was on the defensive, her political problems invigorated the supporters of her DFL challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg at a packed town hall meeting in Blaine Tuesday night, as the race gained national attention and Tinklenberg reaped extra campaign dollars.

“Thank you, Michele!” one man shouted, setting off gales of laughter.

Bachmann, a Republican, defended herself during campaign stops at a lumber company, at a GOP campaign storefront and before the Rotary Club in St. Cloud. In her talk to the Rotary Club, she blamed Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” for setting the stage for her controversial comments about Obama.

“Sometimes you make a decision about going on a show … I probably should have said no to Chris Matthews.”

“I had never seen his show before,” she said. “I probably should have taken a look at what the show was like … A trap was laid, but I stepped into it.

“I made a misstatement. I said a comment that I would take back.”

Matthews on Friday asked Bachmann whether she believed that Obama may have anti-American views. Bachmann replied: “Absolutely, I’m very concerned that he may have anti-American views.”

But in her address to the Rotary in St. Cloud, Bachmann said: “I did not, nor do I, question Barack Obama’s patriotism … I did not say that Barack Obama is anti-American nor do I believe that Barack Obama is anti-American.”

Democrats and some Republicans have criticized Bachmann’s MSNBC comments, which included her call for the news media to conduct an “exposé” on the views of members of Congress to “find out are they pro-America or anti-America.”

What should happen, is that Bachmann should be turned out of office and defeated on November 4th. I commented recently about Bachmann’s words of “hate”.

-Steve goes back to work this morning … and as for me … well, I’m not sure of what I’ll do.  Yesterday morning, I was so lazy I sat around on the computer and just read news and blogs.  It wasn’t until about 10:30 a.m. that I finally decided to get naked, and step into the shower and clean up.

Actually the past few weeks, I’ve been very busy every day … so taking a few extra minutes for myself – was good and relaxing.

Not having to meet a daily schedule … is kind of nice.  But then it should be, after all – I’m retired.

-Things we’ve read…

* The powder on chewing gum is finely-ground marble.
* A toothpick is the object most often choked on by Americans.
* Sex is biochemically no different from eating large quantities of chocolate.
* The American Automobile Association was founded for the sole purpose of warning motorists of police speed traps!
* The country of Brazil is named after the brazil nut.

-Have a great Wednesday guys. Remember it is hump day at work and as of noon today, the work week is one-half over and you and Steve are on the downward side…so act accordingly and enjoy the day – the work week is moving along.

We will both see you back here tomorrow … be good!  Happy Wednesday to all of you. 

-Until next time…