Impressions.....by David Mixner

 

 

-MSNBC's anchor Thomas Roberts is off to a rousing start in 2012. His news hour is up 24% among people age 25 to 54 and an amazing 19% in total viewers. Roberts occupies the 11AM EST hour for the network. Roberts also can be found on The Weekend Today Show reading the news. He might be the first openly gay ever to be in that position.

Continued great news this week on the marriage equality front. A poll taken in New Hampshire shows that an amazing 62% of New Hampshire citizens do not want the legislature to repeal marriage equality in the Granite State.

-In the Nevada caucus Mr. Romney took 91% of the Mormon vote according to "Politico." The state's population is about 25% Mormon.  About the same number of Mormon's live in Arizona.

-The national media group, GLAAD, has called upon CNN to release journalist Roland Martin because of homophobic comments.  On election night this past Tuesday, Martin played a major role.  Guess GLAAD got their answer.

-Womensenews.org ran an excerpt from Hanne Black's "Straight" which examines how Germany's legal codes created in the 1860's are mostly responsible for the concept of heterosexuality and homosexuality. Interesting stuff.

-USA Today had an article about increasing concern that some long dormant volcano's might erupt. They take a look at two of them. One is located in Death Valley and the other at Crater Lake in Oregon. New evidence points that both of them could be more active than originally believed by scientists.

-The Huffington Post ran a story about the Princeton Review picking ten schools that are filled with 'tree-hugger hippies!' Topping the list is New College of Florida. Also in the top ten is Warren Wilson College. Never heard of it but evidently it is hidden in Ashville, North Carolina. Bless their hearts!

-Facebook is going public this week and joins the ranks of all the emerging high tech giants over the last several decades. In California alone, Facebook has 20,000,000 members. See how your state ranks by clicking here.

-Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts has a new sense of 'family values.' He has paid his daughter, former American Idol contestant Ayla Brown, a total of $9,500 to sing at campaign events.

-President Kennedy's fondness for women was not a historical unknown to most people. The latest to throw her hat in the ring is Mimi Alfrod (photograph), a former intern who says she had an eighteen month affair/sexual relationship with the President. The unfortunate part about these recent books is that no one is alive to tell us if they are true or not.

-A massive cold wave and snowstorm has hit almost all of Europe and even North Africa. Over 500 have died from the storms and freeze that stretch from London to Tripoli and over to Bucharest.

-The first openly gay candidate to make it into a run off in Finland's Presidential election lost the race this past week. Conservative Sauli Ninisto defeated openly gay Green candidate Pekka Haavisto (in photograph with his partner) by a vote 63% to 37%.

-The New York Times has an article by Emily Ramshaw on how many Texan women hold the decision making power in the 'stop breast cancer' movement both in Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood.

-Speaking of The Times, 'The Great Man's Wife", was an astounding column from Maureen Dowd about Callista Gingrich and her husband Newt, Talk about a tough piece....

-The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) scored a real coup in obtaining the Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, as their National Corporate Spokesperson for marriage equality. Here is the video:

Nigeria On Verge Of Civil War

 

 

The deterioration of the situation in Nigeria should be of grave concern for the United States. Since just before the holidays there has been a dramatic increase of attacks on the Christian South by the Islamic extremist sect Boko Haram. Over Christmas, the terrorist group fire bombed churches, NGO's and other secular targets. This follows on their bombing of the United Nations headquarter in the capital city of Abuja.

Hundreds have died and the south is calling for reprisals.

These attacks represent a bold escalation of the violence and fighting. Nigeria has been the "poster child' of the one major nation with significant resources that could disintegrate into civil war and even become a 'failed nation state'.

Nigeria has is one of the world's leading oil producers but is racked with corruption and poverty. The MEND insurgency in the Nigar River Delta has been another focus of serious problems for the central government. This region at one time attempted to create an Igbo lead state of Biafra beginning in 1967 that led to a civil war that killed over a million people. Because of MEND the unrest continues in the oil producing region.

Now the near dozen states in the northern sector of Nigeria are totally Muslim dominated and even are ruled by Sharia Law separate from the central authority of the nation. Increasingly the goal of Boko Haram has not just been the implementation of Sharia Law in the northern region but the creation of a new nation.

The odds are increasing dramatically that Nigeria could fall inward into chaos and the ramifications around the world will not be minor.

David Mixner's Review of 2011: Villains of the Year

 

He is Number Five on the List!

When it comes to selecting the "Villains of the Year" there are so many choices that it is depressing. How do you develop criteria for people willing to do harm to so many for personal power? So with a nod to the many choices here are my personal five "Villains of the Year":

1. The World's Dictators: This motley crew is led this year by Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad both who were willing to kill thousands of their own citizens, create civil war and mass destruction in order to hold on to their personal power. Gaddafi lost but Assad is still systematically killing Syrian's yearning for freedom. And we must not forget President Robert Mugabe, who in his 80's, is willing to starve his own people in a nation that was once considered Africa's bread basket.

2. Bryan Fischer and Peter LaBarbara: According to the Southern Poverty Law Center these men lead vehemently anti-LGBT hate groups. Their hatred of the LGBT community seems to know no bounds. Their hate filled agenda against LGBT citizens is one of the most extreme in the world including supporting the epidemic of hate in Africa. These two gentlemen preach hate, retribution and create mass hysteria with lies and deceptions.

3. Congressman Eric Cantor: The Congressman is the one with the smug smile on his face behind House Majority Leader John Boehner in most photographs. More than any other member of Congress he has become the face of insisting that the poor pay the price for the rich to have their tax cuts, special exemptions and free ride on the back of middle class Americans. Cantor holds up desperately needed legislation to rebuild America in order to obtain special privileges for the rich.

4. Catholic Bishops: At one point in my youth I had admiration and respect for so many in the Catholic Church who walked side by side with civil rights protesters, fought against war and helped to feed the poor. They served as a moral conscience in that period. Now they have become advocates of hate, division and policies that damage the world. The churches ugly and constant campaign against the rights of LGBT people is just tragic. Their unwillingness to make room for women in the church hierarchy is medieval. Their refusal to allow the use of condoms to control both disease and disastrous population growth is a literally deadly policy.

5. Donald Trump: A man who has come to represent greed, the pursuit of endless personal power and self aggrandizement at the price of our institutions, honesty and the American people. To toy with the political process to promote a show, to become a right winger to gain attention and the humiliating parade of Republicans he makes show up in his office has degraded us all in the process. Donald Trump is the 'poster child' for all that is wrong with America and all that Occupy Wall Street is fighting

Impressions.....by David Mixner

-Well President Obama's team doesn't have to do any work in the next election. The re-elect campaign just has to run Ron Paul's anti-Gingrich ad over and over again. As they say back home, bless your heart, Mr. Paul.

-Speaking of campaign ads, Rick Perry's anti-LGBT ad continues to receive widespread disapproval. The latest count on YouTube is that almost 650,000 people disapprove of the ad and only close to 20,000 people approve of it. Who needs focus groups with those kind of record breaking numbers!

-Those of you who hadn't been able to see "Venus in Fur" starring Nina Arianda and Hugh Dancy (photograph below)at the Manhattan Theater Club before it closes on this coming Sunday can breathe a sigh of relief! The award winning play is transferring to the Lyceum Theater on Broadway. Tickets will go on sale December 15th for the February opening at the Lyceum.

-The Williams Institute has released data showing that marriage equality in Iowa has pumped up to $13 million dollars into the Hawkeye State.

-While Mitt Romney says he was opposed to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell' he has proclaimed to The Des Moines Register editorial board that he would NOT seek to reinstate the horrible policy.

-JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is just baffled by all the uproar around the issues of economic justice. At a speaking event when he was asked about the unrest among the masses he said, "Acting like everyone who's been successful is bad and that everyone who is rich is bad. I just don't get it." Yes, clearly he doesn't...

-All that in Spain is not 'mainly on plain.' The Spanish Royal family is being rocked by scandal. King Juan Carlo's son-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin, has been cashing in on the Spanish monarchy's good name and is likely to be charged with committing fraud.

-History is being made again in Hollywood as Trangender Actress Harmony Santana (below)has received a "Best Supporting Actress " nomination in the prestigious "Independent Spirit Awards". She was nominated for her role in "Gun Hill Road".

-Handsome Cleveland Browns Linebacker Scott Fujita has come out for marriage equality in the latest of HRC's YouTube program.

-Towlroad.com reported the businessman and space pioneer Richard Branson has spoken out publicly against the horrible anti-LGBT legislation being pushed in Nigeria. On his blog, Branson said:

Like everyone else in society, gay people have an enormous amount to offer and Nigeria should embrace them not prosecute them.

All of us with influence in Nigeria must do what we can to stop this cruel law. I would urge educated Nigerians all over the world to do what they can to help fight this discrimination.

-This year has been one of the mostly costly ever for the United States in weather disasters. So far there have been a dozen that have caused more than a billion dollars in damage. This is an all time record for the United States in one year

-"Mother Jones Magazine" has published an extraordinary article about life inside of Uganda for the LGBT community. As that nation debates the death penalty for the nation's LGBT citizens, "The Love That Dares" captures of the heroism of the community(photograph below) as it struggles to survive under such oppression.

-Author, political genius and commentator Robert Shrum has a great new column in The Week. In "The GOP Establishment Better Get Used To Newt" , he points out that Newt is likely here to stay.

-Is actor Tim Allen's new Fall show on ABC, "Last Man Standing" a winner or loser? The Daily Beast just published its list of television's winners and losers for the Fall Season. Check them out.

-Now this is taking 'home schooling' to a new level. Actor J.D. Lewis is taking his two sons, Jackson and Buck, to twelve countries in twelve months to teach them about the world. You can follow their wonderful adventures by clicking here.

-Sarah Palin is learning finally what it is like to be out of the limelight. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the former Alaska Governor has been pitching a new reality show about her husband Todd and his snowmobile racing. How quickly things change....there are no takers so far from any cable outlet.

-Public Policy Polling is reporting that for the first time marriage equality has pulled into the lead in Colorado. The states voters approve 47% to 43% in favor of same sex marriage. Making progress one step at a time.........

-Totally was absorbed by this YouTube.com video of "Hubble Ultra Deep Field in 3D". Sit back and be amazed by our ever expanding universe.

LGBT: Now Our Straight Friends Can Go To Prison With Us!

 

 

You might consider forwarding this story to your straight friends so they are fully informed because they are now at risk!  The massive epidemic of hate against LGBT people continues unchecked in Africa. The latest is Nigeria. In all their wisdom, the Nigerian senate just passed legislation that would send not only their LGBT citizens to prison for marrying BUT also send any straight friends who supported them in their marriage to prison too!!!!

Yep, that is right, there is a new twist happening in some of the homophobic legislation that is being passed. Straights who support a same sex marriage go directly to jail with us for ten years. You read it right.  Ten years in jail for witnessing our marraige!  Wonder if they will allow us neighboring cells so we can stay in touch?

The Washington Post in article about the situation in Nigeria writes:

Under the proposed law, couples who marry could face up to 14 years each in prison. Witnesses or anyone who helps couples marry could be sentenced to 10 years behind bars. That’s an increase over the bill’s initial penalties, which lawmakers proposed during a debate Tuesday televised live from the National Assembly in Nigeria’s capital Abuja.

Other additions to the bill include making it illegal to register gay clubs or organizations, as well as criminalizing the “public show of same-sex amorous relationships directly or indirectly.” Those who violate those laws would face 10-year imprisonment as well.

The Post also cited the atmosphere of hatred directed at their LGBT citizens that is taking over the country:

“Such elements in society should be killed,” said Sen. Baba-Ahmed Yusuf Datti of the opposition party Congress for Progressive Change, drawing some murmurs of support from the gallery.

Gay sex has been banned in Nigeria, a nation of more than 160 million people, since colonial rule by the British. Gays and lesbians face open discrimination and abuse in a country divided by Christians and Muslims who almost uniformly oppose homosexuality. In the areas in Nigeria’s north where Islamic Shariah law has been enforced for about a decade, gays and lesbians can face death by stoning.

LGBT: America Must Act To Protect LGBT Africans

 

 

Each day the situation is getting worse for LGBT Africans. Just this past week we have seen gay men sent to prison in Cameron, Nigeria taking action to make consensual same sex a crime, Zimbabwe cracking down on its LGBT citizens and the surfacing again of Uganda's death legislation. All over the continent African LGBT citizens are being sent to prison and are in great jeopardy.

The extent of the epidemic of homophobia that is sweeping Africa is deeply disturbing and has reached the stage that the foreign policy machine of the United States must get involved. America must seriously consider doing the following:

1. Joining British Prime Minister David Cameron and threaten to block aid to nations persecuting members of the LGBT community.

2. Put the topic of oppression of LGBT citizens on the agenda for all future summits with African leaders held by both President Obama and Secretary Clinton.

3. Extend asylum to African LGBT citizens who face imprisonment or death.

4. Cut off any US Funds to any organization that is actively organizing to support any homophobic actions in Africa.

5. Add significant educational programing on Voice of America and other officially sponsored outlets to get the truth to the people of Africa

What Are The Ten Least Crowded Places In the World?

 

 

The long wait is over and we have passed 7 billion people on our beloved planet. Now we appear to be rushing quickly to hit the 8 billion mark as if it is a milestone that we must achieve or be a failure. Much has been written about the impact of overpopulating earth however what are the ten least crowded places in the world?

Ready to pack your packs and get away from the noise, traffic, climate disasters, smog dense and jam packed cities? Ready for some wide open spaces? Well National Geographic has given us ten places where there is still plenty of room and natural beauty.

Greenland: Only 58,000 citizens living in an area three times the size of Texas!

Falkland Islands: In a place the size of Connecticut there are only 3, 000 citizens.

Mongolia: Three million people in a place the size of Alaska. There are about four people per square mile.

Western Sahara: Comparable to Colorado there are only 500,000 people living within its borders.

French Guiana: Can you tell me where it is located? About 200,000 people live here in a place the size of South Carolina. There are more monkeys than people!

Namibia: The famous "Dunes of Namibia" is home to about 2.1 million people in an area the size of Texas and Louisiana combined!

Australia: Believe it or not, the land of Oz makes this list. It has 22 million folks living in an area the size of the lower 48 states.

Iceland: Home to 300,000 people this tourist destination is about the size of Kentucky.

Suriname: This tropical rain forest nation is home to over 400,000 people in area that is like the state of Georgia.

Mauritania: Home to 3.2 million people this desert nation is not quite as big as Alaska.

Impressions....by David Mixner

 

 

-Doesn't Alan Cumming look just adorable? Ed Kennedy on AfterElton.com printed this wonderful picture of Alan.

-Alan van Capelle and Matt Morningstar had their first child. On October 26, Ethan George van Capelle Morningstar joined the world. Everyone is doing fine.

-In the can't believe they said that department, Lonely Planet, the travel guide owned by BBC Worldwide, has picked - get this - Uganda as a top travel pick. God, I can't wait to take a bunch of LGBT friends and vacation in a country where homophobia is rampant! What are they thinking?

-Former National Football Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his wife, Chandler, have made a $5 million dollar donation to Georgetown University. What is interesting about this gift is that, according to the Washington Blade, $1 million goes to the creation of a program for LGBT studies. Wow.

-This is the 20th anniversary of "The Perfect Storm" that slammed the East Coast with huge waves, high winds and tons of damage. A front combined with Hurricane Grace and then sat off land for several days. The video is the USS Kitty Hawk in the storm facing 90' waves!

-A Florida Panther was hit by a car and killed this week. The Panther used to roam all over the entire Southern United States. Currently there are only about 150 adult Florida Panthers left.

-Despite current sexual harrassment accusations, the Pizza King Cain continues to be on top. The Quinnipiac Poll has him beating Romney in Ohio! The poll shows Cain at 28% and Romney trailing at 23%. A distant third is Newt with just 7%.

-The Democratic House Majority Pac has released a list of twelve Republican districts that they feel can be transferred to the Dems in the next election. Many of the Republicans were hurt by redistricting.

-Don't think Elizabeth Warren running to be the Democratic nominee for Senate in Massachusetts will have any problem finding volunteers! This photograph from Mother Jones shows a volunteer meeting for Warren taking place in Framingham, Massachusetts! Unbelievable!

-Karen Ocamb of LGBTPOV writes a powerful article on why the Occupy Movement should be important   to the LGBT community.

-Speaking of the Occupy Movement, there is story about photographer David Shankbone who has become the 'unofficial photographer' of the Occupy Wall Street protests. The article features his fifteen favorite photographs.

-In the latest extensive Economist Poll, people across the nation were asked to rank the issues most important to them. The top five were the economy (44%), social security (15%), healthcare (9%), budget deficit (8%) and education (7%). Republicans please take note in that gay rights got a whooping 2% in the poll!

-The Des Moines Register poll got a lot of attention because of the tight race between Cain and Romney. However most interestingly former Senator Rick Santorum who has particularly lived in Iowa by visiting 70 of Iowa's 99 counties received only 5% of the vote.

-OUT Magazine  has started unveiling their "OUT 100" by releasing the first ten names. They posed the individuals selected as figures from the past or art. Dustin Lance Black sure looks hot in the pictures. (If you want to see what I look like as Sir Winston Churchill, you can find me among the ten).

-President Teddy Roosevelt was a huge trust buster and fought the big monopolies. Upon returning to his beloved Harvard to speak at his 30th class reunion as President, many of those in the audience stood and turned their back to him for betraying industry! Guess ole "Rough and Ready" might have been staying down at Occupy Wall Street.

-Now this has to hurt! In the new University of Texas/Tribune poll on the Republican candidates, Herman Cain got 27% and Texas's own Governor Rick Perry received 26%! Romney was fourth at 9%.

-Wisconsin is going to be a tough state for President Obama. He won significantly in 2008 and now in the latest poll leads Romney by only 3%. At the beginning of 2011 he had a 12% lead over Romney. Have to move Wisconsin now into the toss-up column.

-Finally here is a feature piece from "Good Morning America" about mothers2mothers in Africa. As you know it is one of my favorite organizations and this ABC News clip explains why:

Foreign Policy: The Libyan Experiment

 

 

With some certainty, brutal Libyan dictator Gaddafi met an equally brutal death at the hands of his people. The death is only surprising in that he didn't flee with his family to a safe haven. He was either self-delusional about making a comeback or determined to die on Libyan soil. Thus ends another chapter of a dictator falling as part of the famous "Arab Spring."

In many ways, this revolution more than any other this year could impact long term American foreign policy. Unlike our previous and current military ventures in the Middle East, we strongly supported the uprising by the citizens of this nation. However, we did it without sending ground troops, allowing European powers to lead this effort and with relatively small cost. We provided air support, drones and back up support. As far as I am aware not a single American soldier was killed. Nor have we attempted to impose a ruler on the Libyan people from the top down.

The people of Libya carried the burden for their own change and we provided, with the leadership of others, support for this effort.

Could this be a model for our military involvement in the future?

What government will fall in place now in Libya is still very much open to question. In Egypt the military rulers appear to be deepening their control and not moving toward democracy. Iraq, where we have invested trillions and over 5,000 dead young Americans, the government has no problem crawling into bed with Iran after all of our efforts.

Will the Libyan people be grateful for the West's support and will it yield a building bloc for our role in the Middle East? Democracy as we know it is unlikely. The question now becomes has our national interest been served? The history of the conflict, our coalition with the rebels and their ultimate victory has opened up more questions than answers.

In Memoriam: "A Mighty Woman Who Spoke Truth To Power"

 

 

 

Africa is mourning the loss of its most famous woman, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first female in Africa to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize. Cancer claimed her life at the age of 71. Kenya has declared a day of mourning and heads of state are expected to attend her funeral.

Professor Maathai believed that the destruction of the environment was the failure to plan wise land use and was among the root causes of poverty in Africa. She became famous for founding the Green Belt Movement and mobilizing the empowerment of women. In 1977, she began to organize women to just plant trees to prevent the soil from washing away and save water in the countryside of Kenya. She insisted that the movement to establish 'Green Belts' become a way for women to achieve power, control their own destinies and give hope to their communities.

Since she started the organization over 40 million trees have been planted in Africa. Entire areas that had been stripped of all trees have been replanted and restored to their original glory. Wildlife has even returned to some of the reforested areas. During the recent heated debate over Kenya's new constitution, over 250,000 'peace trees' were planted.

Using the environment and establishment of 'green belts', Professor Maathai used the forum to conduct community training and education programs to teach women on such issues as governance , advocacy and protecting the communities resources. Hundreds of thousands of citizens have been impacted by her work. Today over 600 communities across Kenya care for 4,000 tree nurseries.

In 2004, Professor Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her extraordinary work.