Wmcmanus

Actually, the entire tribute to Zep was outstanding, from Jack Black's video documentary to the Foo Fighters (rock and roll, aka been a long time), Kid Rock (ramble on) and Lenny Kravits (whole lotta love): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBoXYCJ3MRQ

A good friend of mine from my grad school days, a Christian guy, got married to the 4th and final daughter of a Rabbi, who had refused to show up to any of his other daughter's weddings (all of whom married Christians). Jim was fine with having a Jewish wedding, so Aliza's father not only showed but presided over the ceremony. Only Jewish wedding I've ever been invited to, and although it was a small wedding, we all had a great time. Fast forward the clock 20+ years, and suddenly Aliza was dying of cancer. Her father, who had hardly spoken to her or to Jim in all of those years (because he never did truly accept him), told him one day at her beside so that she could hear him and remember it, "Jim, you were the best thing that ever happened to my daughter. I can never thank enough for making her so happy for all of these years. I'm sorry that I have misjudged you." End of conversation. She died a couple of days later, but at least she was able hear it with her own two ears, and that meant the world to her. She just said, "Thanks, dad. I know." Of course it probably doesn't hurt that Jim is a Senior VP of a major international bank and makes North of a million dollars per year, but that never mattered to Aliza. She just loved him "because"... as it should be.

Seth Myers was photographed the other day wearing a 1988 vintage T-shirt for a local state's attorney campaign that I was involved with as a volunteer in LaSalle County, IL. http://www.usmagazine.com/hot-pics/weekend-update-reunion-201336 Below is the email I received today from Gary's wife, Lana: Dear Friends and Relatives, If you haven't seen this phenomena on FaceBook, we would like to share this with you. We are not quite sure how Seth Meyers, former Saturday Night Live star and next to replace Jimmy Falon on the Late Night Show decided to sport a vintage 1988 Peterlin for State's Attorney T-Shirt. We first were notified that it was on Hot Pics in "US" Magazine yesterday online. And we aren't sure why Seth decided to advertise GLP, when he buffered Obama's campaign with $4,000 in 2008. I'm sure he doesn't care that Gary is a Republican ; ) Amy doesn't seem to mind either. Anyway we had quite a few laughs with the sighting, especially by the many parade walkers, sign makers, sign erectors, writers, managers, chairpeople, and supporters. It's amazing that shirt was designed 25 years ago and it looks like brand new. They seem to keep popping up. I think I'll dig mine up and wear it to the YMCA! Hope this gives you your daily chuckle. We will let you know, if we ever solve the mystery. Love, Lana Here's a recent pic of Gary (he was much younger way back when): I'm pretty sure my copy of said T-shirt is long gone, but I'll have a look at the junk I have in storage back in my mom's basement the next time I'm home. My guess is that it was an XL as opposed to my present 4XL.

Nice game, uh... well from the end of regulation on. I'm a certified bandwagon Blackhawks fan. Always have been, always will be. "Go Chicago!" is about all I've ever really known about hockey. If I actually understood the game, I'd probably watch during the regular season, because it sure is intense. But you can always count on me to be there in the playoffs, even though I know that may annoy some people.

Some pretty cool shit here: http://clipnation.com/open-beer-ultimate-compilation/

When you have about 50 minutes on your hands, meet Kim Peek, the real life Rainman (which is to say that the movie was loosely based on his life): Part 1/5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2T45r5G3kA Part 2/5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJjAbs-3kc8 Part 3/5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auufbu_ZdDI Part 4/5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRPxMDj33S4 Part 5/5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1aA5osvYgY It would have been interesting to "know" Kim before Rainman, which seems to have had a profoundly positive impact on his self image and socialization skills during the intervening years. I'd imagine that Dustin Hoffman's portrayal would seem much more spot on if we were afforded a glimpse of what he was able to observe at that time. Edit: I'm just learning about Kim Peek, and didn't realize that he died in December 19, 2009 at the age of 58. It was a Saturday. This year it will be a Thursday. He was survived by his father, who was his life long companion and care taker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Peek

A customised 1911 Silver Ghost Rolls Royce owned by the Maharaja of Mysore. Want.

Beautiful stuff, and supposedly 21 of the dancers are deaf.

Life vs live. Amazing artist.

Happy birthday. Hope I'm not late to the party.

This is a T-shirt that I could never wear. Just wouldn't have the heart to be that cruel.

Gotta love this. Treat these people like the filth that they are! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=132070636995606&set=vb.454236237992461&type=2&theater http://www.youtube.com/dan291968 From what I can gather from his YouTube page, he lives in Allentown, PA. ... Then, there's this... the worst mistake a guy can ever make when talking smack with some new girl that he's been hitting on.

Who wore it better?

Ah, fuck sticks! This was "supposedly" Aunt Bee from the Any Griffith Show, but as it turns out it's just another internet hoax. Why the hell do people do shit like that? Here, I was getting all excited about a sexy young Aunt Bee, and just starting to get over how wrong that is, and suddenly, it never was!?!!? Urgh!!!! http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/celebrities/ss/Young-Frances-Bavier-Aunt-Bea.htm

^ Am I the only one wondering how that room would sound?

I've been there. Of course, the gate was closed... and that goofy guy wasn't standing there. Bangor, ME. Any guess of who the lovely lady in the picture below is? Click on it for a better view.

Well put, and I agree with what you've said. Perhaps I did jump to conclusions, and my apologies to you and anyone else who may have been offended. Nice post, as well, Grahame. I also agree that the Romeo and Juliet laws that are now beginning to come into play are a step in the right direction in helping to delineate the line-drawing issues that Al mentioned. Never an easy task for any jury, much like the whole date rape thing is difficult to adjudicate even when both parties are legal adults.

^ That dude is smooth!

I did miss that, Steve. Just read through the thread quickly and was struck by what seemed to be a universal rejection of what the school did in this case. Again, the parental involvement seems pretty devious, in that they knew all along and timed their public disclosure of the matter in such a way. Very unkind and sad parenting, not to be willing to accept your daughter for who she is, much less make her relationship a public and "political" matter. That part is truly disgusting and reeks of hate and prejudice. Shame on the mother who reported this. It's funny, because one of the best guys in my home town, who is the barber there that I have been going to for 35 years (whenever I'm in town) got married at the age of 18 when his wife, a native American Indian who was one of 14 children, was only 13. He's in his early 60s now and always says, "Thank God the laws weren't the way they are now, back then! Margie is the best thing that ever happened to me..." and then she'll argue the opposite, that he's the best. They're still a "cute" couple in terms of how the interact with each other and love their kids and grandkids. He's the best of the best in terms of his character and family values. She says that her parents thought he was a great guy and were just happy to have one less mouth to feed.

Maybe I am assuming a bit. Sorry if that's the case. Maybe what I missed completely is the offense taken by everyone (and myself as well, if this is the view that I missed) that your view was that the law was applied discriminately against her because she was a lesbian; thus, by extension, in your view if the same situation related to an 18 year old male, the school would have been cool with it. That seems a bit strained in my view. But if that was your take on it (or anyone else's), then I can see why it would make you upset. Discrimination in any form, for or against any particular race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, is a bad thing, although I do think it's generally a good thing that the law does make efforts (often insufficient) to protect certain classes of individuals that have historically been discriminated against. As for the situation you've linked to, yes that is patent unfairness in the application of the law. Completely abusive.

Messed up, maybe. Maybe messed up in terms of a parent reporting the relationship the minute she turned 18, although there are probably many, many examples of the same situation occurring with young heterosexual couples involved where a parent notifies the authorities in the exact same way, the minute one of them turns 18. But putting the parental involvement aside, what is so wrong in society's concern over a sexual relationship involving one person who is of legal age and another person who is a minor? Society has always been concerned about these types of situations. There are statutory rape laws in every one of the 50 states. But now, suddenly, it is a bad thing for society to be concerned about a person who is of legal age having a sexual relationship with a person who is a minor, and a 14 year old at that? Why? Because lesbians should be exempt from the same laws that non-lesbians are subjected to? If the 18 year old in question were a young man, and not a young woman, he would likely be tried as an adult for statutory rape, but because it's a lesbian couple, suddenly there is no issue for society to deal with? This should be of no concern to anyone, and why? Because lesbians are a special protected class? Because a lesbian cannot possibly inflict physical or emotional harm on a minor through a sexual relationship? Again, what might be fucked up in this particular situation is the parental involvement. But ask yourself, does it suddenly become a crime the minute a boy turns 18 and thus in the eyes of the law, becomes a man, and is now carrying out illegal acts with a minor (his girlfriend) who has not yet reached the age of consent? Yup. That's a crime. Always has been, and always will be. It might not always be "fair" and if the age of the minor is close to the age of the adult, then it might not get prosecuted. But by law in all 50 states, it is at least a violation of the law that would be subject to prosecutorial discretion. None of you who have replied to this thread can see the double standard? Suppose I'll be attacked ad hominem as being homophobic because I don't think there should be a different laws or different standards in the application of the law, merely because of sexual orientation. Have at me. Is the idea to have equal rights for gays and lesbians, but not equal responsibilities? Interesting.

Happy birthday, Raffy!