Alan, Esq.

Nancy Pelosi Does the Right Thing?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:52:12 GMT

Let it never be said that I have never given credit or praise to the Democratic Speaker of the House.

Pelosi Blocks Resolution to Honor Michael Jackson.

Remember When A President Was Criticized For Politically-Motiviated Firings?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:46:44 GMT

Well, apparently the Obama White House is firing Inspectors General under some very dubious and questionable motives. That should teach an Inspector General for daring to investigate close friends of President Obama's who control federal funds...

Other than FOX News and The Washington Post, the rest of the media has simply ignored this story. Of course, when Bush was accused of politically motivated firings of U.S. Attorneys, CNNMSNBCABCCBSHUFFPOMOVEON were shouting about it from the rooftops, demanding investigations and truth commissions.

On this one... the calls by the media are not quite as loud... I wonder why...

In Today's Breaking News...

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:05:43 GMT

America's most beloved child molester, Michael Jackson, is still dead.

Our Country is in the Best of Hands...

Fri, 15 May 2009 01:59:22 GMT

And she wonders why people have a hard time believing what she says.

I find the bit of editorial license used by CNN seen in the last 5 seconds of this clip... Mind-boggling, indeed.

Old Boss Same as the New Boss Alert.

Sat, 09 May 2009 19:17:36 GMT

In addition to rendition, state secret privileges, and other war on terror policies, we now learn that the Obama administration is reinstating military tribunals for captured terrorists.

While I am happy that Obama is taking the war on terror more seriously as president then as presidential candidate, it is interesting how he adopts the very same policies in which he attacked President Bush for.

Hello D.C.

Fri, 08 May 2009 22:16:22 GMT

I'm here with Lisa this weekend in DC/Silver Spring attending SEX 2.0, a conference dealing with the politics, sociology and media issues relating to sexuality. It leads me to ponder the ultimate question as to whether sex bloggers/rersearchers actually have sexm ;)

More Change We Can Believe In.

Tue, 05 May 2009 19:02:16 GMT

The future generations will have a lot of fun paying off this debt which totals about $9 Trillion dollars.

Back in 2004, MoveOn.Org produced this rather compelling ad criticizing President Bush's deficit spending.

I'm still waiting for MoveOn.Org's criticism of Barack Obama's $9 Trillion deficit.

Study: Children Exposed To Pornography May Expect Sex To Be Enjoyable.

Tue, 05 May 2009 18:41:00 GMT

Also, learn about the emotional side of murdering whores.

Selective Outrage?

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 06:37:26 GMT

Lisa and I attended the premiere of Kirby Dick's new documentary, "OutRage" at the TriBeca Film Festival last night. Dick had directed one of my favorite documentaries of all time, "Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist" and became quite famous with the success of "This Film is Not Yet Rated."

"OutRage is an intense indictment against closeted homosexual politicians who stridently oppose gay rights legislation. The film predictably (and rightly) goes after the likes of Sen. Larry Craig and Rep. Mark Foley. I fully expected that Dick was going to bash Republicans in this film, and he does not disappoint. (The Manhattan crowd enjoyed it. Former N.J. Governor, Jim McGreevey is in the film and was in attendance at the premiere) To be fair, the Republican Party deserves its fair share of criticism on its gay-rights stance. Nevertheless, Dick does make an attempt to avoid naked partisanship by obtaining many interviews from Log-Cabin Republicans, and other gay activists who effectively make the case that closeted folks like Larry Craig are more victims of their own self-loathing. Dick is able to get access and interviews with a wide variety of politicians and activists ranging from Andrew Sullivan, Rep. Jim Kolbe, Rep. Barney Frank and the aforementioned former N.J. Governor, Jim McGreevey. While I had serious disagreements with McGreevey as a governor, his interview where he describes his personal torment wrestling with his sexual identity is especially moving. It's a powerful film, and no matter your stance on gay marriage and gay rights, it's a thought-provoking and powerful film.

During the Q & A with the director, I was able to raise my one objection, regarding what I saw as selective outrage primarily against Republicans. Despite Dick's efforts to be "bi-partisan", he couldn't resist taking a few gratuitous shots at President Bush and the Republican Congress who passed the Defense of Marriage Act. However, the film makes no mention of the following facts: 1) President Obama opposes Gay Marriage. 2) Vice-President Biden opposes Gay Marriage and voted in favor of DOMA. 3) Former presidential candidate John Kerry opposes Gay Marriage and supported a Constitutional Amendment to the Massachusetts state constitution banning Gay Marriage. I also pointed out that McGreevey deserved a lot more criticism than the film gave him. So, where was the outrage against those Democrats? Surprisingly, a few people in the crowd applauded my ~~rant~~ question, knowing McGreevey was in the crowd. Dick acknowledged the point and at least conceded that Democrats have been guilty of being weak on the issue. I just wish the film had been stronger on that point.

Notwithstanding my soapbox view, I highly recommend the film, and encourage anyone to see it.

Susan Boyle Has Jumped the Shark...

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:31:03 GMT

Ok... so she's ugly and she knows how to sing... I don't understand the hype.

She's no different than Lemmy Kilmister, the lead singer for Motorhead, and he's been doing it for 30 years...

More of That Change We Can Believe In...

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:32:11 GMT

Remember how President George Bush trampled all of our Civil Rights with warrantless surveillance??? It's a good thing we have a new guy in the White House, right? The Electronic Frontier Foundation offers this interesting insight: In Warrantless Wiretapping Case, Obama DOJ's New Arguments Are Worse Than Bush's.

As a candidate, Senator Obama lamented that the Bush Administration "invoked a legal tool known as the 'state secrets' privilege more than any other previous administration to get cases thrown out of civil court." He was right then, and we're dismayed that he and his team seem to have forgotten.

Sad as that is, it's the Department Of Justice's second argument that is the most pernicious. The DOJ claims that the U.S. Government is completely immune from litigation for illegal spying — that the Government can never be sued for surveillance that violates federal privacy statutes.

This is a radical assertion that is utterly unprecedented. No one — not the White House, not the Justice Department, not any member of Congress, and not the Bush Administration — has ever interpreted the law this way.

I suppose we will soon see "King Barack" and "F#@K Obama" signs in the street from all those people who thought Bush was a fascist, right?

President Bush is Still Discriminating Against Gay People?

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:53:51 GMT

Just received an e-mail alert from The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, decrying the decision of the U.S. Census Bureau to not count same-sex couples in the 2010 Census. You can read their statement here. Here's the first paragraph.

Census Bureau officials announced that they would waste time and money to remove any same-sex couple from being listed as married in the 2010 census survey. This expensive and insulting policy — a holdover from the Bush administration — simply cannot stand.

I especially love the attack on former President Bush. Last time I checked, it was Barack Obama who was going to be president when the 2010 census will be conducted. In fact, President Obama is facing criticism over his plan to have the White House oversee the Census as opposed to The Commerce Department.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that this was a decision of the Obama administration, we see how the supporters of gay rights refuse to attack or criticize President Obama. Instead, it's still President Bush's fault.

I wonder how long The Task Force and other groups will continue to give Obama a pass. Then again, considering how there is never any mention of the fact that President Bill Clinton signed The Defense of Marriage Act into law, I suspect that they will continue to give him that free pass while he remains in office.

Off to Atlanta

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:44:07 GMT

Lisa and I are heading to Atlanta this weekend for the Leather Leadership Conference. I will be leading two workshops: 1) How organizations can "cover their ass" and 2) Post-Burnout Activism.

If anyone is in the area, feel free to say hello.

Obama's Next Cabinet Appointment.

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:03:17 GMT

California IRS Agent Admits to Cheating on His Own Taxes.

Most Ethical Congress Ever...

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:24:13 GMT

Sen. Chris Dodd's Cavalcade of Scandals.

The NY Post does an excellent job of summarizing the numerous allegations of sleaze surrounding the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and former presidential candidate...

Shady Land Deals. Mortgage Scams. Off-Shore Investment Schemes. Executive AIG Political Donations... Influence Peddling... Oh yes... And the lies about all of the above... followed by the lies he utters to explain the prior lies...

How is it that this man is not only still in the Senate, but not indicted? Then again... many Senators tend to have long political careers prior to their indictments.

More of That Change We Can Believe In.

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:35:03 GMT

Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama - June 1, 2007:

"It's time to turn the page on the bitterness and bigotry that fill so much of today's LGBT rights debate. The rights of all Americans should be protected -- whether it's at work or anyplace else. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" needs to be repealed because patriotism and a sense of duty should be the key tests for military service, not sexual orientation."

President Obama's Defense Secretary, Robert Gates - On Plans to Repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy - March 29, 2009:

"I think the president and I feel like we've got a lot on our plates right now and let's push that one down the road a little bit.”

Nice to see the Commander & Chief bravely standing up for one of his campaign promises...

I wonder how long Gay Obama supporters will continue to step up and provide justification for their "messiah"? I'm looking at you, Andrew Sullivan...

How long did Estragon & Vladimir wait for Godot?

Indignant Ignorance...

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:26:28 GMT

Christopher Hitchens will not let someone spew ignorance unchallenged.

I hope he used the ShamWow to clean up the blood.

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:50:56 GMT

ShamWow spokesman gets into brawl with hooker.

Dean v. Olbermann

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 07:13:48 GMT

The irony in this clip is utterly delicious.

"American Swing" Opens in NYC This Week.

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:39:40 GMT

Lisa and I are going to the premiere of "American Swing" at the Quad Cinema tonight. Entertainment Weekly gave it an "A-" calling it "A shrewdly made documentary about the rise and fall of Plato's Retreat, the infamous Manhattan sex club of the '70s and '80s." Not only does the documentary depict the rise and fall of "Plato's Retreat" and its owner, Larry Levenson, but also gives a very entertaining portrayal of sex and culture in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Last week, I caught a special screening at the Museum of Sex, and can strongly recommend it. You can find out how to get tickets at the Quad Cinema.

Obama The Candidate vs. Obama The President.

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:06:22 GMT

On Earmark Reform:

Then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., one year ago this week, swooped in from the campaign trail to -- along with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. -- vote for an amendment to impose a one-year moratorium on earmarks for fiscal year 2009.

All three then-presidential candidates voted for the amendment,offered by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC.

It failed: 71 NAYs, 29 YEAs.

Candidate Obama said then "we can no longer accept a process that doles out earmarks based on a member of Congress’ seniority, rather than the merit of the project. We can no longer accept an earmarks process that has become so complicated to navigate that a municipality or non-profit group has to hire high-priced D.C. lobbyists to do it. And we can no longer accept an earmarks process in which many of the projects being funded fail to address the real needs of our country."

Today, of course, President Obama will sign into law more than 8,000 earmarks for FY 2009, part of the $410 billion omnibus spending bill.

Meet the new boss... yadda yadda...

How Things Change.

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:06:37 GMT

For 8 years, we were told that the highest form of patriotism was dissent against President Bush. Now, Republicans who disagree with President Obama are traitors.

I'm shocked... shocked...

Obama Derangement Syndrome?

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:55:03 GMT

Bob Herbert's column, "Miracles Take Time" in yesterday's NY Times is incredibly amusing. He can't understand why people might be angry at the ObamaMessiah. Yes, he's only been president for 6 weeks, but in that time, the Dow Jones has dropped 33%. He's increased federal spending by trillions of dollars thus burdening future generations with more debt, broken numerous campaign promises on issues such as lobbying reform, earmark reform, anti-terrorism, etc. And he cant seem to fill a cabinet with people who bother to pay their taxes. Nothing to criticize there...

But Herbert's tone deafness and hypocrisy really comes through in this quote.

Mr. Obama is as legitimate a target for criticism as any president. But there is a weird hysterical quality to some of the recent attacks that suggests an underlying fear or barely suppressed rage. It’s a quality that seems not just unhelpful but unhealthy.

For 8 years Mr. Herbert and the rest of his lefty colleagues at the NY Times continually repeated the mantra that President Bush was stupid, evil and racist. Just google "Bob Herbert" and "Bush Derangement Syndrome." Also, you can watch a hilarious clip of how deranged Herbert was during the 2008 campaign here.

But now the critics of Obama are hysterical?

Priceless...

Suing Dell for Consumer Fraud.

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:44:50 GMT

Today, I became a civil plaintiff by filing a lawsuit against Dell, Inc. alleging they sold me a defective computer. For 3 weeks, I have been spending an average of 2 hours/day on the phone with technical support, who do not understand the English language, only stick to unrelated scripts, and when they are unable to resolve the problem, always always always blame anything but the computer for the problem.

On February 6, 2009, I purchased a new Dell XPS ONE 24" screen. Essentially, it's a big screen all-in-one Dell PC. Overall, I like the computer as it is incredibly fast. I don't really enjoy using more "advanced" applications like Microsoft Office Word, as it is so much more complicated than MS Word 2003, but I suppose, like all other MS "updates" it's just something I'm going to have to get used to.

However, the one significant problem is the TV Tuner. One of the main reasons I purchased the computer is that it came advertised as a High Definition TV Tuner. It is designed to allow the user to plug in the coaxial cable from their cable service (no set-up box necessary), and the computer will act as a cable-ready television, which can allow the user to record and then later edit television programming.

When I received the computer on February 12, 2009, all of the functions worked except the TV Tuner. When I connected the cable to the computer, and ran the setup function, I received an error message advising that no cable signal was detected. If you then tried to play the TV, only 2 channels would come in (channel 5 - Local Fox & channel 6 - Telemundo).

I immediately called Dell to try and fix the problem and as a result, for the last three weeks, I have been trapped in Dell Technical Support Hell. No call lasts less than 2 hours, as the technicians never understand the english language except their pre-written script. (Yes... the cable is attached). They always seem to love making you go through the set-up process over and over again. They would always say that it was my cable signal's fault, but if you plug the same cable into a $50 TV, all the the channels come in perfectly. Nevertheless, I have learned that when Dell tech support doesn't know how to fix something, they always blame the customer.

Finally, they sent out a Dell Technician to replace the TV Tuner Card. The technician was actually knowledgeable and polite, although he was several hours late. He replaced the card, and the same problem occurred. At that point, the technician stated since the cable signal was fine, the problem must related to the TV Tuner's software/driver. The technician then called Dell Technical Support, and I was shocked to learn that technicians have to speak to the same rude telephone support staff who don't know the English language.

I listened to the telephone rep try to blame cable signal. First, he said that the Dell could only recognize Analog cable signals and not Digital. When the tech advised that the signal was analog, the phone rep then reversed himself, again trying to blame the cable signal. He also said I would need to get a set-up box (which will increase my monthly bill) The technician started yelling at the phone rep saying the TV Tuner card is designed to accept either Analog or Digital, and that it doesn't matter that which signal is coming in and that no set-up box is needed. (It should also be pointed out that their own manual states clearly, a set-box is not needed.) As the tech left, he said the folks on phone support don't know what they are talking about.

A week later, Dell sent another technician (3 hours late), who again was knowledgeable and polite. He replaced the TV Tuner card again, but the problem was not resolved. Like the last tech, he advised that it was a driver/software problem, and called phone support. Once again, the phone reps were useless, and blamed me and the cable signal telling me that I must purchase a set-up box from my cable company (which will increase my monthly bill) in order to view television. The tech then started yelling at this rep saying that a set-up box is not necessary since the computer comes with a TV Tuner. Again, the tech left saying that the phone support staff is talking out of their asses.

Since I could not get anywhere with the telephone support staff, I then asked if I could return the computer for a full refund. Their response: Since 21 days had passed, I could no longer return the computer. However, when I pointed out that the computer was defective on Day 1, and the last 3 weeks have been spent with Dell's delays in being unable to fix the problem, the last Dell phone rep I talked to actually argued that that because two channels were playing, that proves the computer is functional and not defective. I asked if that means that if I buy a TV, and only 2 channels come in, that the TV is functional? There was no answer.

At that point, I began drafting my Summons & Complaint alleging Dell has violated the NJ Consumer Fraud Act. It should be noted that the Act provides a plaintiff is entitled to treble damages.

Hopefully, once the Complaint is served, I'll get a representative to call me who speaks English.

Revenge Against Monkeys...

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 03:19:23 GMT

Scientists make HIV strain that can infect monkeys.

Considering it is alleged that monkeys gave AIDS to humans, this seems ironic.