by your command

8.03.2006
the wait will soon be over...

19 september,
2006

"V" for the gift of sight

i rented this and took it to a friends house to watch. the film ended, i drove home and watched it again, immediately...i'm amazed that some slanted political group didn't try to stop this film from being released. and no barks from the christian colition? you'll see why.

in its opening monologue, we are told....remember remember the 5th of november. beyond that i will remember yesterday, it was the day that i experienced "V". anytime a well written film starts to ask all right questions and push all the buttons, i sink deep into it. V gave me something personal; affirmation on my own personal feelings about our world and how we exist within it. it also paints a picture, one i've seen in my mind far too many times, that wont ever hang in any art gallery. we are on this path of decay and destruction. what is to come could well be what you will see in this film. for those of us who still allow ourselves to think and to feel, V will show you what happens when you give in and give up. the film does not point the finger at anyone person or event, it presents itself as somewhat of a revolving square. the viewer gets an opportunity to see all the sides and thus you are able to draw your own conclusions as to who is responsible. who is right? who is wrong? if only it were that cut and dry. if you are someone who has ideas of "the end" but choose not to think about it because of the fear it brings, star far away from this film. if you are someone who wished more people would come together and demanded change, you will make a new friend, his name is V.

GCN Headline News 08-01-2006

8.01.2006
This is a live, updated report.
And now our very own, Donna Gonna Tellem...

Good evening everyone, i'm donna gonna tellem and this breaking news just in. Just minutes after the stroke of midnight, the one on one interview with the wicked witch of the west is over. sally secret spent almost two hours conducting the live interview for the gotham city news and she's ready to talk. according to sally, the original interview was to be broadcast live, in its entirety. because the one on one went into overtime and a personal request not to air the interview by the witch was made, the editorial staff at GCT is transcribing the entire interview as we speak. seems the wicked witch was overcome by fatigue because of the heat from all the broadcast lights. inside sources say that she remained focused and was very precise in detail with her responses.

i called sally secret just before we went on the air to find out at least one detail or remark from the interview. she had this to say...

donna, all i will say at this point is....when you know that what you are doing is wrong and you don't want to be caught or questioned for doing it, you can do one of two things. focus all your rotten energy, make the world aware of the horrible person that lives deep inside you, and hunt down the person you want to silence. the second option, which works best for a lady who wants to be an avon representative someday, is face you own mistakes and take ownership of them. my advice to one of the persons mentioned in the interview-take the horn back while there's still time. you may need the extra cash. oh and donna, let your viewers know the entire q&a will be published and public within a few days.


well viewers there you have it. as soon as we get more details on the wicked witches q&a with sally secret, GCN will be there live. that you can count on. i'm donna gonna tellem and this has been a live breaking news update, here at gotham city news. good night...

hair doo's and donts

7.28.2006

so i says nadine, have you heard the latest? hey, turn that damn dryer on low! you'll end up looking like shake & bake before the days over. and before i forget, it's your turn to bring the potato salad tonight for bridge. anyway, i was on my home from the pharmacy yesterday and i ran into alfie. so i says, hey alfie what's it all about?

i stood there in all that heat and humidity for almost 5 minutes till she caught her breath. it's a good thing my appointment was today and not yesterday. that humidity makes my hair curl in 27 different directions! then i get home and fred won't even look at me. all he says is "where's my meatloaf?" anyway, alfie tells me she was over at the gotham times the other day and she over heard 2 type setters yacking up a storm in the ladies powder room. a good girl would go in, do her business then get the hell out. why, alfie stayed in her stall for almost 20 minutes wanting every last detail. can you imagine the smell by then! any, she says the wicked witch of the west has left oz, just like we heard on the television. i always trust donna gonna tellem... anyway and she is going to do a one on one interview with sally secret at the gotham times! can you imagine? that will be the first time sally will look good on tv! did i say that?

anyway, according to what alfie heard the witch got the rug pulled right out from under at work from her store manager and store assistant manager! charlies angels minus one, i don't think so. seems the witch was made an example of and then they delivered the punch just this past thursday. can you imagine, riding a broom all that way to find out 48 minutes later you were gonna be slapped, fried and rolled out! alfie said that the women in stall 3.... you remember that one dont you vonda...or should i say fonda, fonda boys on a count of you sneaking that darling gas attendant billy joe bob into the ladys room...you should be ashamed! i must say he's better looking than my fred. so i was sayin', the lady in stall 3 said that it's all an issue of double standards. seems the witch was "guilty" of many of the same that the very ones that brought her down had done them selves. can you imagine? nadine, you know what that means when i'm holding up my hands and make those dancing peace fingers? nixon, what are nuts! did you take your logic pill today? i guess not... those are quotes. alfie also said that the witches boss and the boss's assistant have broken more procedures than g.i. joe when he was forced to take that weekend road trip with ken in the barbie bus. i'll never forgive her for that, she's in the attic for good.

look at the time would cha! vonda, are you listening cause i'm only gonna repeat this once more on a cout off your dry timer got stuck on turbo doo...pull that damn plug right now and pay attention. the wicked witch plans on spilling all the beans to sally secret at the times, one on one. if its a fight there lookin for, the witch plans on setting the broom, oops i mean the room on fire! she has documents, statements and a journal that she kept. she also plans on making all the information and documents public via her personal blog and her myspace blog. she's becoming quite modern. vonda, nadine...just cause she's old doesn't mean she can't climb the steps all the way to the top of corporate america. i wonder if she knows about escalator's.....

GCN Headline News 7-22-2006

7.22.2006
this is a live special report...and now from the communication center of the Gotham City News,
our very own
Donna Tellem...


good evening, i'm donna gonna tellem and welcome to this live, special report. details are still sketchy but 3 gotham city residents have reportedly seen something unusual flying in the skies. it has been confirmed by commisioner gordon, that it's not batman. sources say it's a female, approximate age 60 to 150, with dark mellon green skin. she has, as i said earlier, been sited on three different occasions souring over gotham city at record speeds on a straw broom. yes viewers, i said a straw broom. local authorities are asking all residents of gotham city to check their utility closest immediately and report any missing household brooms to the proper authorities.

viewers.....Hold on i'm getting something...we now have conformation that it is in fact the wicked witch of the west. what she is doing here in gotham city is still unknown. again folks, it has been confirmed by the gotham city s.w.a.t division, the wicked witch of the west has left oz and is now, as we speak, circling high a-top the gotham city times building. stay tuned for more live reports and details as they become available. this is donna gonna tellem, reporting live from the communication center, here in gotham city...

20 july, 2006

7.21.2006
so you thought a "little hot water" was all it would take?
...think again my pretty's!

killing a "witch" isn't all that easy and its impossible to silence one forever...

a word to the wise... keep your eyes to the sky and your ears wide open. you won't see me in the light but you will hear from me in the dark!

next stop, the gotham times.

east village horror

6.13.2006
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Drag queen beaten
in E. Village horror
BY RICH SCHAPIRO AND ROBERT F. MOORE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Sunday, June 11th, 2006

An internationally known drag queen and recording artist was robbed and beaten by four trash-talking bullies who shouted anti-gay slurs at him in the East Village early yesterday.

"We're going to kill you, f----t!" at least one of them screamed as they followed 38-year-old Kevin Aviance down the street. "We're going to get you, f----t!"

Four suspects were arrested and charged with assault as a hate crime, cops said.

"I thought they were going to kill me," said Aviance, who suffered a broken jaw and bruises. "I was thinking 'Is this the way I'm going to die?'"

The brutal incident unfolded after Aviance, whose real name is Eric Sneed, left Phoenix, a gay club on E. 13th St. where he had met friends for drinks after posing for Homo Xtra magazine.

The 6-foot-3 diva, who often performs in elaborate gowns, was wearing what his publicist described as "boy clothes" - shorts, a black T-shirt with a hood, and a hat at the time.

In his bag, he was carrying pumps, women's clothing and makeup from his magazine shoot.

"I've been doing this for 15 years and I've never been harassed," Aviance said. "If anything people approach me with warmth."

As Aviance desperately tried to hail a cab a few blocks up First Ave. about 1:30 a.m., the attackers tossed debris at him, Aviance said. One thug punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, he said.

The gang dragged him to the sidewalk and started kicking him, he said. "They were not human," he said.

"You can see the extent of the violence and hate," an investigator said. Aviance added that there were several witnesses to the beating who didn't help him. "They were just cold."

Someone did escort him to nearby Beth Israel Medical Center, where he had his jaw wired shut last evening. He was listed in stable condition.

The muggers snatched his cell phone and wallet.

Arrested last night were Gerard Johnson, 16, and Gregory Archie, 18, both of Manhattan; Akino George, 20, of the Bronx; and Jarrell Sears, 20, of Newark, N.J. A police source that a witness led cops to Johnson, who fingered at least one of the other suspects.

Aviance has been a mainstay of New York's underground club scene and has performed his dance hits all over the world. The bald gender-bender hit No. 1 on Billboard's dance music charts in 1997 with "Din Da Da" and topped the charts again in 2002 with "Alive." He has appeared on television's "America's Next Top Model" and in a music video for Madonna's "Secret."

He was supposed to host the closing party for Gay Pride Week, which begins June 18, but that won't happen this year because of his injuries, according to his publicist, Len Evans.

time to get uncomfortable

6.04.2006

I just signed this petition to stop the divisive "Federal Marriage Amendment."

It's an election year, and Republicans are in deep trouble. Instead of addressing the things Americans really care about, they're trying to change the subject and use wedge issues in hopes of distracting from their failures and dividing Americans to win elections.

This time, LGBT families are the pawns in their political game. And this time, the American Constitution is their political playing field. They want to amend the Constitution to deprive gay people of equal rights under the law.

With your help, we can a powerful message to Republicans that legislating discrimination defames good people. Please join me by signing this petition:

http://www.democrats.org/page/petition/lgbtdiscrmntn/fqsvxu

our next president 2006

6.03.2006

here's a thought of mine you might consider...

what if no one decided to run for the president?

honestly, who in their right mind would want to embrace this time?

and if somehow, it happens, no matter how good of a person they may be, in the end they will shoulder the blame for everything that's bad and gone wrong...

are cylons gay?

in this heat...of course you would!

10,858 and still counting

6.02.2006

if someone had asked me a year ago..."what's this blog thing your doing? or "do you think it will be received well?" my answers then would have had contained large amounts of uncertainty.

today, the answers are much clearer... i am pleased and also proud to say being ron b has become something really special to me and obviously to a great number of other folks as well; 10,858 page views to date from all over the world! Wow, just typing "all over the world" gives me the shivers! yes, it was a year ago today that i sat at my desk with this empty "virtual" pallet before me deciding then to, give the world a small glimpse into my thoughts, ideas and personal feelings on just about anything you could have imagined. i take great comfort in knowing now, after these past 12 months, people still read! but more importantly, that there are so many people from all over the world who still care about others. if all the compliments, suggestions and loyalty were represented by a single baseball for each, i could easily fill several stadiums with them! how do you even begin to consider thanking anyone for something so amazing? in one small way i've maintained my commitment, being ron b and staying with you via the blog.

i have had many wonderfull opportunities to make new friends as well as hear other thoughts and ideas from some of the most "creative" and "real" people i never knew existed. the sharing of links between blogs has also impacted me on positive levels i never imagined. the endless amounts of information and feelings i've gotten from other fellow bloggers has definitely enhanced the quality of my life. i'm part of a "family" again and all the experiences that come with it. it's certainly one of the best feelings i know and it's from you and because of you...

i tip my hat to all of you

summer of 2006 has arrived

6.01.2006

although it's cool and overcast right now, these past few days have been FAR TOO HOT! Christ, the humidity consumes you instantly. Warm is ok, hot & humid not.

Anyway, when i'm not working or writing or thinking, me and graham (aka king farook) have decided, chillin is best!

yikes!

saw these sweet treats










and yes, those are in fact camouflaged gumballs!

Dictator Vows To Bring Down U.S. Gover nment


Cindy & Chavez
Venezuela Dictator Vows To Bring Down U.S. Gover nment

Venezuela government is sole owner of Citgo gasoline company

Venezuela Dictator Hugo Chavez has vowed to bring down the U.S. government. Chavez, president of Venezuela, told a TV audience : "Enough of imperialist aggression; we must tell the world: down with the U.S. empire. We have to bury imperialism this century."

The guest on his television program, beamed across Venezuela, was Cindy Sheehan, the antiwar activist. Chavez recently had as his guest Harry Belafonte, who called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world."

Chavez is pushing a socialist revolution and has a close alliance with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq, the issue here is that we have a socialist dictator vowing to bring down the government of the U.S. And he is using our money to achieve his goal!

The Venezuela government, run by dictator Chavez, is the sole owner of Citgo gas company. Sales of products at Citgo stations send money back to Chavez to help him in his vow to bring down our government.

Take Action

Please decide that you will not be shopping at a Citgo station. Why should U.S. citizens who love freedom be financing a dictator who has vowed to take down our government?

Very important. Please forward this to your friends and family. Most of them don't know that Citgo is owned by the Venezuela government.


YOU CAN VERIFY THIS ON THE CITGO WEB PAGE.

i am no mans "bob"

5.26.2006
Cate Blanchett to play Bob Dylan Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, who has portrayed Queen Elizabeth and Katharine Hepburn, will add another legend to her acting resume: Bob Dylan. The 37-year-old Australian actress is one of seven actors to play Dylan at various stages of his career in the biopic, "I'm Not There," tentatively scheduled for release next year. She'll portray a specific aspect of Dylan's personality, embodied by an androgynous singer-songwriter character named Jude, according to Killer Films, the movie's production company. Heath Ledger and his girlfriend and "Brokeback Mountain" co-star Michelle Williams have also joined the cast, along with Christian Bale, Julianne Moore and Richard Gere.

i go here, again and again and again

5.24.2006



we hold onto the past because there was hope then...

no french kissing needed

5.19.2006
every now and then you see something different and you're really not sure how to react?

i will say my first response was a big ole laugh out loud!

a few more pieces of my puzzle

5.15.2006

as i'm sitting here, alone in my apartment, i spent several minutes watching the cursor blink. like a favorite pet, it was there waiting for my attention. wondering what would become of this moment...

i spend a great deal of time thinking about me. no, not in a selfish way. it's time well spent looking at my life. attempting to better understand who and what i am. where i was, where i've gone and why i ended up here. surfaces are for cocktails or areas we place things on; i tend to only see them from below, since what lies beneath them is the part i'm more curious about. i guess you could say a cake would be nothing without its sweet icing, i wouldn't. the ingredients matter, they give the cake its consistency, flavor, appearance and unforgettable smell.

like most, i spend so much of my time & life, working. to this day i still don't quite understand why we truly spend so much time doing it. yes, i'm no burnt out bulb. i know what the basic answer is but beyond that, it's far too much time wasted. so with that in mind, i get angry because it's almost unavoidable. this "life" that's around us dictates it, demands it and refuses to ask less of us. so the leftover time after the 30 or 40 hours is something i embrace with brute force.

many people have told me, "you used to be so out going" or "you haven't gone out in such a long time"...many think somethings gone wrong. in all honesty, something went right. i've recently figured out a few of my "reasons for seclusion". my profession puts me with a wide variety of people: young & old, rich or almost poor, healthy or sickly, happy or sad. it's a mix many of us can relate to. since i'm one of those "non surface" folks, i spend a great deal of thinking about them, listening to them and watching them. it is the end result of these observations that somewhat defines me.

there is much anger in side of me. beneath it, deep sorrow. a very small part of all that is simply basic depression but the majority of it belongs to far greater things. so many people are unhappy. you can see it as clear as a blue sky. i think sometimes when these screaming monsters make their presence know, some of their "reasons for unhappiness" are lagit. but are they trying to make changes in their lives? people are upset by rising costs, poor wages, health issues, poor work conditions & situations, government decisions...the list could go on. so take that, and put it inside someone who is selfish from the start. wala a.k.a. jerk.

i'm tired of all the mean people, you can't seem to avoid them anymore. screaming children. people who spend $2, 000.00 for a set of four wheels. the death of so many for one mans plan. parents who don't supervise their children. people who disrespect others. people who know the laws but think they can interpret each law to fit their personal needs. parents who are stupid; instead of screaming your child's name throughout the store, walk around and find them. people who are two feet away from a trash container but choose to toss their garbage on the ground. all the "me, me, me" people. young people in general because of their greed, their worthless existence, their obsession with material things and their need to spend almost all of their time being selfish. people who lie to gain. people who agree for the sake of not having to think about something. those who want to blend in all over. people who make mistakes and refuse to take ownership to them.

when i'm home, none of this is here. it's peaceful, quiet and comfortable. the door bell doesn't ring, the phone ringer is turned off and the volume on the answer phone is set to 1. i don't think of it as "shutting off" it's more about recognizing what's in need of repair. it's about nurtureing your heart & soul. no time to clock, no duties to manage, no sales to sell, no having to say the same intro over and over, no need to be critical or defensive, nothing to show and nothing to say.

look at what we've become...so much has gone wrong. times change but some things will never be the same. i no longer have much faith in the idea that things will get better. it's become a game of survival. i dislike games without rules and competiveness. life shouldn't be a "sporting event", it's a journey, a celebration, an adventure; one of which we are all entitled to.

i'm sad to say it's very difficult for me to be around "people" for any length of time anymore. i have no choice but to preserve my peace, stay grounded and maintain some focus. if i'm guilty of anything, it's being so protective of myself...

it's 6 a.m., the sun has begun to rise, once agin. we're lucky!

yummy bunnies

5.12.2006

WOW!

i got my first box today and i'm sold. leave it to the good folks at annie's homegrown to produce a cracker that's baked, no hydrogenated oils and has no artificial flavors! they are just the right size for snacking or adding them to a hot bowl of soup. i had to laugh, seeing the little rabbits swimming around in the soup. they also make a cheddar version as well.

you can visit their web site here http://www.annies.com/

film 04-30-06

5.01.2006
here are a few flicks that i recently spent time with...

"the family stone" was a hoot! diane keaton has always been a personal favorite. coming home for the holidays doesn't always guarantee you a gift, but you can always count on the family, being family. i laughed a lot and got a little misty. the film takes place over the holidays and delivers a no holds bar account of what it's really like to "all be together". the film also makes a very strong social statement...having children who grow up to be gay is a good thing. supporting your "family" regardless of who or what they are is always, most important. stop now and go rent this! "welcome back, wasn't that great?" "undertow" a great suspense/chase film. two brothers, kids kept from the real world and a dark secret. dermot mulroney & josh lucas give good performances. script is solid and the backwoods surroundings are a character all their own. "jarhead" i remember a few things about this-i was disappointed in the films direction, i liked some of the visuals, learned about the "oil" rain and a santa hat literally covering a private! "lovely and amazing" nicole wrote and directed and the end result was pure perfection. the cast is great especially the young adopted daughter annie. it a film about holding on and letting go. it makes a strong, positive statement about women without trying to be a film about strong women. a young jake gyllenhaal also gives us a sneak peek of his talents and his love for "older" women.

"lie with me" i read something a while back about this film. in the snippet it mentioned that the film contained lots of nudity; my idea then is very much different now. here's a film the explores "love" in ways it's rarely ever filmed or spoken of. i liked how the female's (played by lauren lee smith) ideas and thoughts were delivered and how the young male (played by eric balfour) pursued his desires without limits. in today's films, you will more than likely not see any male nudity. most male actors are either too shy, torn up about the whole size-worthy issue or have simply decided to keep the package gift wraped.

take a deep breath boys! balfour doesn't seem to agree; i have never watched a major film from america like this. maybe it's canadian thing? maybe clothes don't matter? maybe balfour wanted to make a statement? none the less, the main characters spend a great deal of time, without "disguises" of any kind. their emotions and their "gifts" are right in front of you;
no focus necessary.