The GonzoScene

Deleted scene from Paternity Leave

Source: https://youtu.be/n5Nb4NedcR0

The struggle of leaving the closet, coming out and living authentically is one of the biggest challenges anyone LGBTQ can face. Fears of rejection by family and friends, doubts about job security, and the threat of being judged a sinner can nail that door shut for years, even decades…

It’s to be expected that changes in our culture, our state laws, and a remarkable revolution in religious tolerance won’t be universally embraced. But who knew those advances might benefit certain members of our community more than others?

“An ex-girlfriend once exclaimed, ‘I just don’t understand how you can be attracted to men and women,’” says Vickey Allen of Middletown. “Luckily, my response – ‘I don’t understand how you’re only attracted to women’ – clarified it for her.” She was 12 when she first realized that she was bisexual, Allen says. Since then, she says, “I’ve encountered plenty of biphobia” [which] can occur both within and outside the LGBT community” …

“I’ve known I’m bisexual all my life,” says Jamie Fernandez of Greater Hartford. “I came out to friends as bisexual and was quickly called ‘greedy,’ told to ‘pick a side’ or asked if I flipped a coin to decide. For many years, I denied part of myself.” Fernandez, 43, is a bisexual transgender woman in a polyamorous relationship … “I didn’t have issues with me being bisexual; others did,” Fernandez says. “And I internalized that and did the same harmful behaviors others do in dismissing the validity of others’ lives.”

That word – “phase” – is perhaps the most common misconception about bisexuality; that either someone cannot choose between being gay or straight or is temporarily caught in between those orientations … “If it is,” says Caleigh Price, 47, “It’s a reeeaaallllyyyy long one…”

“Everything is a phase. Life is a phase,” says Jen Carpenter… “To invalidate anyone’s sexuality based on a time frame is to invalidate life. Nothing is finite, most importantly life. But is that to say that we are not alive just because one day we will not be?”

In honor of Day of the Dead, here’s a repost of my comic about the San Francisco Columbarium and the man who spent 26 years restoring it.

Ten years ago, the Department of Homeland Security sent American law enforcement agencies an intelligence briefing warning of a rising threat of domestic rightwing extremism, including white supremacist terrorism. The economic recession and the election of America’s first black president would create fertile ground for rightwing radicalization, the 2009 report concluded. Military veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, in particular, would be attractive targets for recruitment.

Republican politicians and conservative pundits reacted with outrage and demanded a retraction. The report was politically motivated and unfairly demonized conservative views, they argued. “Americans are not the enemy. The terrorists are,” the head of the American Legion, a veterans group, wrote. 

The head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) publicly apologized. The small team of domestic terrorism analysts who had produced the report was disbanded, and analysts were reassigned to study Muslim extremism, according to Daryl Johnson, the career federal intelligence analyst who had led the team. By the next year, Johnson says, he had been forced out of DHS altogether.

So today I heard some old white male pundit pontificating on his radio show. He was saying how “the squad” (Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar) are using Twitter and trying to be rock stars.

Then I read where Nancy Pelosi tried to belittle The Squad, saying that they have their “twitter whatever”..... and I was seething. Sorry, but too many of these q-tips just do not understand. This isn’t the 90s. The West Wing isn’t on tv anymore. Helloooo??? Stop taking advice from “former” Republican strategists, stop overvaluing conservative voters, and for the love of God, listen to your own mf base.

Look at Trump. He routinely uses Twitter to rally his base, set policy, and even pass executive orders. HE DOES THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT SOMEHOW THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WANTS TO PRETEND THAT TWITTER IS INCONSEQUENTIAL AND DOESN’T MATTER???

Look, I’m not saying that politians and voters can accomplish everything via Twitter, but JFC, by now everyone and their brother should recognize that social media is an integral fucking part of politics. Lmao. I bet 20 years from now, after Twitter is all but dead and gone, Dems will finally try to legitimize it as a political tool. They stay 20yrs outta step.

Republicans are not interested in decorum or civility. But the intransigent Democratic leadership wants to play a game of cards in a house even after Republicans have kicked the card table over, set the house on fire and locked them inside.

Centrist Dems are like, “Y’all youngsters be patient and wait your turn. And don’t speak until you’re called on. And be respectful because we need to reach across the aisle and work with Republican fascists.”

WTF?

Ever notice how most of the people saying “be patient” are the ones who don’t really have anything to lose? Trump’s administration isn’t gonna fuck up Biden or Nancy’s world. They’re already set.

This generation is spoiling for an honest to God fight. This generation feels what MLKjr called the fierce urgency of NOW. We want to fight Republicans. Because we know we can take them. We wanna kick their racist asses all the way from Miami Florida to Fairbanks Alaska. We are not interested in Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi civilly reaching across the aisle, not unless it’s to punch a Republican fascist. Which. fucking. part. of that. is unclear?

Fuck centrism.

That shit failed.

It did not work.

At all.

Try something different.

So today I heard some old white male pundit pontificating on his radio show. He was saying how “the squad” (Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, and Ilhan Omar) are using Twitter and trying to be rock stars.

Then I read where Nancy Pelosi tried to belittle The Squad, saying that they have their “twitter whatever”..... and I was seething. Sorry, but too many of these q-tips just do not understand. This isn’t the 90s. The West Wing isn’t on tv anymore. Helloooo??? Stop taking advice from “former” Republican strategists, stop overvaluing conservative voters, and for the love of God, listen to your own mf base.

Look at Trump. He routinely uses Twitter to rally his base, set policy, and even pass executive orders. HE DOES THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT SOMEHOW THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WANTS TO PRETEND THAT TWITTER IS INCONSEQUENTIAL AND DOESN’T MATTER???

Look, I’m not saying that politians and voters can accomplish everything via Twitter, but JFC, by now everyone and their brother should recognize that social media is an integral fucking part of politics. Lmao. I bet 20 years from now, after Twitter is all but dead and gone, Dems will finally try to legitimize it as a political tool. They stay 20yrs outta step.

Republicans are not interested in decorum or civility. But the intransigent Democratic leadership wants to play a game of cards in a house even after Republicans have kicked the card table over, set the house on fire and locked them inside.

Centrist Dems are like, “Y’all youngsters be patient and wait your turn. And don’t speak until you’re called on. And be respectful because we need to reach across the aisle and work with Republican fascists.”

WTF?

Ever notice how most of the people saying “be patient” are the ones who don’t really have anything to lose? Trump’s administration isn’t gonna fuck up Biden or Nancy’s world. They’re already set.

This generation is spoiling for an honest to God fight. This generation feels what MLKjr called the fierce urgency of NOW. We want to fight Republicans. Because we know we can take them. We wanna kick their racist asses all the way from Miami Florida to Fairbanks Alaska. We are not interested in Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi civilly reaching across the aisle, not unless it’s to punch a Republican fascist. Which. fucking. part. of that. is unclear?

Fuck centrism.

That shit failed.

It did not work.

At all.

Try something different.

You’re 12 years old. Life is confusing. Who you know you are and who they say you are is a source of endless conflict. The reflection you see in a mirror only heightens the confusion and conflict. You’ve been taught to be truthful, yet you’re punished for telling the truth. You find yourself friendless and alone. You rebel – against everything.

It is hard being 12. Unfortunately, as we grow up, things can become even harder. Is there an answer, a balm, a respite from this hardship?

While each person should follow their own path, that path must lead us through things we can control. What we can control is excellence. No matter what pronoun they use, no one can argue with an “A” grade. It speaks for itself. It speaks for you, and it speaks to you. It says, “I am excellent.”

Academic excellence creates acceptance for those who are different. It opens doors that most people will never walk through. It reaffirms to ourselves that we are worthwhile, hardworking and smart. 

Through the doors that open for you, you’ll find an ever-increasing number of people who not only accept your difference, but welcome there being a diverse population making contributions.

Perhaps you’ll get a scholarship to a great university. Perhaps you’ll earn admission to graduate school. In each case, it is you, the complete you who is accepted, you who has earned your way in the world. It will be you who can perhaps one day be a role model for those with whom you share this struggle. 

The Last Duel in France — The Defferre vs. Ribiere Duel of 1967,

You would think that dueling was an outdated ritual consigned to the 19th century, something that no longer had a place in modern world. However, well into the 20th century official duels were taking place, one of the last between French politicians Gaston Defferre and Rene Ribiere in 1967.  Yes, at the same time the Vietnam War was raging, rock and roll was taking the world by storm, and men were exploring space, two Frenchmen decided to settle their differences with a good old fashioned duel.

Defferre and Ribiere had always been longtime political rivals, however the incident which led to honorable combat was a heated debate at the French National Assembly.  During the Assembly, Defferre was constantly interrupted by Rebiere while giving a speech. Finally Defferre lost his cool and shouted “shut up, you idiot!” Offended Ribiere demanded Defferre withdraw the insult, however Defferre refused. As a result Ribiere challenged Defferre to a duel.

On the 21st of April, 1967 the two men met at the private residence of Neuilly-sur-Seine to conduct the duel, which was to be fought with epees. The next day Ribiere was to be married, and Defferre claimed that the he intended to aim for the crotch in order ot ruid Ribiere’s wedding night. The duel lasted approximately four minutes, with Defferre wounding Ribierre twice on the arm. After the second wound the duel was stopped, and Defferre declared winner.  

The Defferre Ribiere duel would be the last time in history blood was officially shed in a gentlemanly duel in France. Unlike most duels throughout history, the Defferre Ribiere duel is special in that it was one of the few to be caught on film

These are warrior shields from the Wahgi people of Papua New Guinea. The warriors paint them with imagery meant to symbolize animals who have traits they wish to embody in battle. These depictions are intended to give the person using it the powers of what they’re depicting.

Now. Look at this Wahgi shield:

Hmm. That looks a bit different from the others.

That looks VERY different. Why, it looks like

The Phantom… American comic book character by Lee Falk. And that’s because it is.

The Wahgi people were isolated from the rest of the “modern” world until 1933. They came into contact with WWII service men who shared some aspects of western culture with the tribesmen. In particular, they showed them the comic books they read while shipped out. The Wahgi loved them. In particular, the Wahgi adored the stories of the Phantom, who wasn’t even particularly popular in its home of America.

He is so popular that the few Wahgi who can read english will read the comics out loud in the village center and hold out the pages for everyone to see, so the whole tripe can enjoy them and marvel at the Phantom’s might in battle.

They identify with the Phantom because he came from a jungle territory, like them, wore a mask to fight, like them, and came from a long line of warriors, which the Wahgi, who worshiped their ancestors, deeply respected. Further, despite not really having superpowers, the Phantom is strong, clever, and incredibly fast. He was so fast that his enemies began to believe that he was impervious to bullets and could not be killed.

Therefore, the Wahgi began painting HIM on their shields to invoke HIS abilities in battle. There are TONS of Phantom-Wahgi shields out there.