Obama's Justice

So, Justice David Souter is the next one to retire from the U.S. Supreme Court. Although his successor probably won't shift ideological leanings one way or the other, President Obama is faced with yet another very important task of choosing Justice Souter's replacement. I'll be watching with great interest!

Mr. May

It was many years ago that I first laid eyes on Mr. May -- back in my days of watching the soap opera The Young & The Restless. Eddie Cibrian played the part of a bad young man named Matt who did some very devious things. This naughtily delicious man paid his dues and faded from the show -- never to be seen again on Y&R.

Now, this 6' 2", 35-year-old Gemini is back in my thoughts with a vengeance. Mr. May is a Cuban-American actor that any man-o-philic person can appreciate. From his lovely dimples on down to his shoes, Mr. May provides delicious candy for the wandering eye. (I'll let the pictures tell all)

Mr. May is a rather interesting man once you peel away the outer looks. Aside from an alleged affair with LeAnn Rhimes, perhaps his stint as one of the 3-member boy band 3Deep is an even tastier tidbit. Come on, 3Deep? I'm wet already.... anyway, it's been 10 years since their debut album "Yes Yes Yes... No No No".

This 1999 album featured their hit single Into You. (Now, I'm really drooling...) Nevertheless, the band wasn't as well-known here in the States as it was in Canada and other countries; if you were a follower of the soap opera Y&R, you'd definitely know Mr. May and his fellow 3Deep band member, Joshua Morrow.

So Mr. May has sex appeal... that much is apparent. Finding substance in a hottie can be a bit more challenging; for Eddie, it's there. For one, I can appreciate a romantic from time to time, and my knees stirred like soup when I read that Mr. May proposed to his lover Brandi Glanville just a few seconds before the turn of the millennium.

A man with an education is also something to appreciate, as Mr. May attended UCLA and majored in Business and Economics. He is also involved in several charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Some other notables about Mr. May is that he enjoys football, tennis, golf, and basketball. His list of filmography includes the TV series, "Third Watch" (1999-2005), "Invasion" (2005-2006), ""Criminal Minds" (2007), and "Ugly Betty" (2008).

Mr. May -- Eddie Cibrian

Free Cat

Okay... I may not be a cat fan, but that's cold-blooded.
Dark humor to admire from time-to-time, though...

Conformity

One of the biggest ironies in my personal life was being afraid to fly, and then seeking employment with an airline to alleviate my fears. Not only did I conquer my fear in many baby steps, but I was also given the opportunity to meet and be exposed to people from all walks of life. Hence, this is where I get off into a very touchy subject that was spawned from my post on Dallas' recent smoking ban.

I remember my first encounter with a passenger that was pissed off because she couldn't smoke on the aircraft. She recalled the days where she could get up into that metal tube and light it up, and now, the evil ones that be are coming up with more and more regulations. Of course, I was a little tyke back when it was legal, and the look on her face was that of a blissfully reminiscing lady.

At this point in the conversation, there were two choices -- not just for her, but for those around her that will be indirectly affected by whatever choice she makes at this juncture. It's not just about what's fair or unfair to her, and it's not about judging her as being right or wrong... and it wasn't an attempt at personal insensitivity -- it was about conformity. The dreaded "C" word that someone, somewhere will inevitably have to endure.

So back to the choices: 1) The lady could choose not to conform and get a refund -- take a car, bus, boat, or alien spacecraft instead. 2) The lady could choose to conform and board the plane, yet refrain from smoking until she landed.

And because her choices affect those around her, those people are now confronted with choices as well. For those people, their choices are: 1) Conform to an atmosphere that they feel is personally unfavorable to their bodies and endure the flight. 2) Refuse to conform, deplane, and request a refund or another flight.

I believe that conformity blends in with choice -- and choice almost always affects more than just one person. Like it or not, someone's "freedoms" are encroached in the situation above. I chose to listen to her complain about something that was beyond my control -- yet, something for which I could see two sides to the issue. Saying "Yes, Ma'am" over and over again wasn't my way of brushing her off and being insensitive, rather, it was my duty to inform her of her choices and address the next person.

That lady paled in comparison to an issue regarding the "Customer of Size". You have an overweight passenger that feels singled out when he is told that he must pay for an extra seat IF he chooses to fly on this airline. It was a very delicate tight-rope to walk, and I empathized with the gentleman. However, there was the "other side" of the equation that suffered in silence. Again, both sides have a choice. Both sides' pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness have been encroached -- because they are on different sides of the fence. As a result, someone has to conform if they want to receive their product.

Yes, I ultimately disagreed with the gentleman, because the fact is -- he did absorb two seats. It was one less seat that could have been purchased by another passenger -- not to mention the gentleman would have been encroaching the space of the passenger next to him. Insensitive? Depends on how you look at it. Judgmental? Depends on how you look at it. Unfair? Well, what exactly is the definition of unfair, and did that apply only to the Customer in front of me?

If a non-smoker and a smoker walked up to you, both wanting to go to a bar -- the non-smoker doesn't want to smoke, and the smoker wants to smoke -- how would you personally address the issue without singling one of them out? Do you believe things like a flat tax on all income and goods would be fair, equitable and realistic -- and can we truly achieve fairness and equality across the board in this world?

Beginning of an Era

Today marks the beginning of a new era, a day of storms and cool weather here in North Texas. I got up this morning and headed for the coffee machine like I always do. But when I got there, I found a brand new coffee pot and a thank you card from my now ex-roommate. He thanked me for 4+ years of good times and a nice friendship... quite touching, actually.

When I realized that I had no filters, I came back to the bedroom and got dressed. On my way out to the grocery store, he was outside loading up a truck... and it was then that I learned something about myself.

I was too choked up for words, and I may have gotten just a bit teary-eyed. But one thing I couldn't bring myself to do was to say "goodbye". I knew once I left for the store and came back, he wouldn't be there. This was my chance... but all I could manage to say was that I'd contact him soon... not knowing if that would even be possible.

So, then I rushed into the car and sped away, leaving a vapor trail as I peeled around the corner. Now, you'd think I would know something like that about myself by now. After all, I am a ripe age of 34. But in retrospect, I never really had the opportunity to say goodbye to someone on my own terms... you know... to say goodbye to them AS they were in the act of departing. Sure, I've attended funerals and a wide range of other "goodbye" ceremonies -- but those are somehow different.

I could stand over a dead person and say goodbye all day long. But, that wouldn't invoke the feeling I had when I saw my ex-roommate and dear friend loading up a truck for what could be our last moment together in this lifetime.

*Sigh*... the thunder roars... and rain pours... he has ridden into the sunset... another interesting twist in life's timeline that signals the beginning of a new era.

Texas Tea Party

Well, yesterday's Tax Day went off without a hitch... almost. Many people are hearing about Texas Governor Rick Perry firing up an Austin crowd with talks of Texas seceding from the United States of America. CNN's post on this subject received over 300 comments before it was closed off.

It never ceases to amaze me at how one-eyed some people can be. One of the many anti-signs held up during yesterday's tea party urged us to stop "Obama's Socialism". Where was this bitch when Bush's administration crafted most of the bailouts that are taking place now? Where was the "Stop Bush's Socialism" sign when then-President George W. Bush appropriated bailout money for the automobile industry?

These tea parties are a crock of shit, really... and I want to stress that not all Texans are advocating seceding from the United States -- myself included. The blood of our family members have been spilled to give us what we have today. I'm proud to be an American, and I'll be damned if some right-winged cronies take that from me.

However, I believe the rest of the nation can sit back and chill. This secession talk will come to a screeching halt the next time Mother Nature rams a hurricane up Texas' ass. There was no need to even mention the issue of secession -- at all -- except for personal political gain. This only serves to distract our great nation from bigger threats and global issues, and it's time for sore losers to fold up their tents and come back into the American fold.

After all, just last week, Gov. Perry groveled for FEMA assistance regarding wildfires that threatened over 95 counties. It's obvious that we all need each other, especially in times of crisis. Seriously, Texas needs to watch what it wishes for. If secession were to ever happen, I'd high-tail my ass to American soil and rebuild my life in another state.

In the meantime, when the next devastating hurricane barrels onshore, the ungratefulness will come to fruition, and I'll be watching from American soil... praying for my Texan brothers and sisters to come back to their senses.

Ahoy, Matey!

With piracy consuming the American media these days, I have to stop and give kudos to the Navy SEALS, the former hostage and Captain who was recently rescued, and to President Obama. Up until now, when I thought of pirates, I envisioned black hats with skulls, parrots on their shoulder, and... well... it never dawned on me that I've never seen a real life dark-skinned pirate.

Looking at this pirate pictured in this post, this just shatters everything I thought pirates were. There are no gold chests and other treasures on these boats. Most of these men are doing what they do because they are part of a failed government; a poor, starving nation that cannot feed its own people.

Normally, I'm not an advocate for violence. However, I agree that this piracy war will ultimately end on land... and hopefully, many nations can truly work together on this issue. Until then, this is what the Black Man Next Door would do if he were in command.

You remember the story of the Trojan horse? Well guess what... I'd be sailing phantom boats with fake cargo up and down the Gulf of Aden --- luring pirates like roaches. Imagine their surprise when they find nothing but a throng of troops ready to stub them out. Yes... hundreds of booby trapped boats... like mobile roach motels, giving pirates something to marinate over.

Of course, the other option would be to simply arm these vessels so they have a fighting chance when pirates board their ships. Why there are so many unarmed boats sailing in pirate-infested waters, I'll never understand....