Outrage

In his latest documentary filmmaker Kirby Dick takes aim at the hypocrisy of closeted gay politicians who vote against their community's best interest in order to keep their jobs and powerful positions.

The targets are mostly Republicans, given the despicable practice of the GOP of using gay rights to rile up its base and elect more conservatives.

The information presented is pretty much all in the public domain, out there for anyone wanting to see it, but apparently a lot of conservative voters are more than happy to turn a blind eye on behavior they deem inappropriate, as long as the person doing it votes the way they want them to.

The main criticism of the documentary is that it's not good or useful to out people who haven't decided to come out on their own; that the act of coming out is so personal and life altering that no one has the right to make that decision for you.

I do agree with those statements when they relate to people who do not harm anyone by staying in the closet, but in the case of these sleazy individuals who are just like me and vote against me over and over and over again, I believe they lose their right to privacy, so I applaud this type of action whenever it's warranted.

The information is presented effectively and directly and it's quite the eye opener. An indictment of all those people who will stop at nothing in their quest to gain and keep power.

I wonder how they sleep at night knowing that what they do goes against their own well being and that sooner or later someone might come along who will crush their dream life and job to smithereens .

Grade: 8

101 Dalmatians

I finally saw this Walt Disney classic about the most adorable group of puppies ever assembled!

The movie is very cute, even though it feels dated, which isn't surprising since it's from 1961.

The story is simple, funny, and entertaining and it's narrated from the point of view of the dogs themselves, rather than their human counterparts, which is something I didn't expect.

The only gripe I have is that Cruella De Vil isn't properly punished in the end, but simply stopped for the time being. That left me wanting better closure, but I guess that's how the original story went.

A good movie for the family viewing.

Grade: 7

Hate Crimes legislation approved by Congress

It now goes to President Obama, who has promised to sign it.

According to HRC, the largest GLBT organization in the US, this was the "first major piece of civil rights legislation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

From CNN:

The Senate passed groundbreaking legislation Thursday that would make it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager who was beaten to death in 1998.

The expanded federal hate crimes law now goes to President Obama's desk. Obama has pledged to sign the measure, which was added to a $680 billion defense authorization bill.

President George W. Bush had threatened to veto a similar measure.

The bill is named for Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in October 1998, and James Byrd Jr., an African-American man dragged to death in Texas the same year.

"Knowing that the president will sign it, unlike his predecessor, has made all the hard work this year to pass it worthwhile," said Judy Shepard, board president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation named for her son. "Hate crimes continue to affect far too many Americans who are simply trying to live their lives honestly, and they need to know that their government will protect them from violence, and provide appropriate justice for victims and their families."

Finally some progress on our behalf at the federal level.

The Choice, by Nicholas Sparks

Ray bought me this book because he knows I really liked the other two books by Sparks I read (The Wedding and At First Sight).

This one is good, but not excellent. It's a nice love story and the characters are very cute and relatable, but the vast majority of the book takes place in just over one weekend, and I felt like what happened (and it's a lot) was a bit rushed and a little too far-fetched.

At any rate, it is a good read and if you like Sparks you won't be disappointed.

The core question of the book, How far should you go in the name of love, is certainly something that stays with you.

Grade: 7

National Equality March on Washington

The whole family attended the National Equality March on Washington last October 11^th and it was a great experience.

Here's a beautiful video montage of the several speeches that were given:

Anastasia

I knew the story of the Russian princess Anastasia from the 1956 live action version with Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brinner, but this animated adaptation works well for a young audience.

After Rasputin successfully incites a revolt against the Russian Czar, the entire royal family is murdered, except for the Queen Mother, who escapes to Paris, France, and Anastasia, who is separated from her grandmother and remains in Russia.

The movie tells the story of how Anastasia, who has lost all memory of that fateful night along with her past, will finally reunite with her grandmother and find love in the process.

A good movie for the whole family.

Grade: 7

Two Little Girls in Blue, by Mary Higgins Clark

The first book I ever read by Higgins Clark, Two Little Girls in Blue has a good premise and great execution. It's a thriller that will keep you hooked to the story of these two little girls from beginning to end.

The characters are all well developed and a special mention goes to the reader, Jan Maxwell, who does a great job of giving each character its own voice and personality, helping you to easily keep track of who is doing what and when.

A very good read.

Grade: 8

Lakeview Terrace

An interesting take on the racism experienced by an interracial couple at the hands of a black man rather than the usual white bigot.

The movie doesn't really break any ground and is not particularly memorable, but it does make you wonder what one could do to defend himself against an obnoxious, violent, mentally unstable neighbor, especially when the guy happens to be a cop, which means that he's presumed to be the good guy.

Samuel L. Jackson is great as usual as the bad guy, and the gorgeously handsome Patrick Wilson holds his own against him. Kerry Washington as Wilson's wife is good as well, but somehow ends up playing more of a supporting role in spite of being on screen almost as much as Wilson himself.

Overall a decent movie that will keep you on edge for a couple hours.

Grade: 7

Dude, Where's My Country?, by Michael Moore

This book refers to the dreadful period following the fateful terrorist attacks of 9/11 in the US, so it's a little old, but it's still totally relevant, given that Bush was in office just 10 months ago.

Moore talks about the damage Bush was able to do to the country he loves in the name of national security, all the while helping his rich friends and even our alleged enemies in the Middle East.

This book is guaranteed to make your blood boil with its revelations and considerations, but I believe to be aware is better than to be ignorant.

Don't miss it.

Grade: 8

Balto

I've always been curious about the story of Balto. I know there's a statue of him in New York City's Central Park, which always made me wonder, Why would a cartoon character receive such an honor? Perhaps there is more to this than an animated character. And apparently there is, since the movie is based on a real story.

Being an older movie, the animation is in the classic 2D format, but like I said in the past, the amount of polish doesn't matter if the story itself is good and well told, and this one is.

Balto, a dog/wolf mix, doesn't feel at home with either dogs or wolves and is shunned by everyone except for a small group of friends. The day will come, however, when Balto will rise to the occasion, face his nemesis, and gain the respect he long deserved.

The movie is good and it's perfect for family viewing.

Grade: 7