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Barbarella’s vlog on YouTube plugging her latest column of Diary of a Diva in the San Diego Reader.

This week in the San Diego Reader, I am quoted by Barbarella, the stylish blogger and columnist, in her latest entry of Diary of a Diva. She uses a snarky little tweet of mine to grab the reader’s attention in her discussion about online social networking where she compares it to the water cooler conversations at work, but with a little more control. You know, those conversations we all love to have on Facebook, Twitter, and even MySpace. Often, when people ask those of us who use social networking what they are about, we’re often hard pressed to explain, especially when it comes to Twitter, and Barbarella does take some time to explore that issue.

Barbarella, I enjoy your stories and your witty contributions to the online conversation. Thanks for the quote.

Scene where the villainess Miss Hartigan gets punched by Rosita, the lovely assistant of the Next Doctor.

Yesterday, the overhyped “The Next Doctor” was shown in on BBC as the Doctor Who Christmas special. For those of us in the States, we’ll have to wait until whenever the BBC & the Sci-Fi Channel or BBC America agrees on a US airdate. I’ve gone though YouTube to see if any one in England was bad enough to record the episode and post it, and this is the best clip I can find. The other is a poor copy of the intro.

The Telegraph’s review of the episode is lukewarm. Warning, fellow Americans, there are spoilers. I don’t really care; I just want to be able to watch it and make up my mind if I like it or not.

Now the hype that remains is who will actually be the next Doctor in 2010, and Catherine Zeta Jone’s name is on the list as a female candidate.

Last night, I went out with my friend Scott to ice skate at Horton Plaza. It’s an annual tradition in San Diego; however a lot of people here can’t skate. I just do the San Diego thing and deal with it - for a while.

Happy whatever festive occasion you choose to celebrate. Happy Holidays from ShindoTV.

Facebook-land is an interesting place. Most of the time, it is fairly inane, especially with the apps that are designed to distract people from their work. There’s tons of statuses and other kinds of feeds that go on all day. Most of the time, my timeline of statuses, links, and other news seems to go largely unnoticed. However, some of my items related to Rick Warren have provoked responses from some people on my network.

I joined a Facebook discussion group No Rick Warren at Obama Inauguration and I got a response was from a good friend of mine, an evangelical Christian, who wondered what my personal beef was with Rick Warren. To his credit, he and his wife took some flack from people they knew for voting for Obama and voting against Props 4 & 8. I sent him a response saying we can agree to disagree and these were my reasons:

I’m not at ease with Warren’s gentler rhetoric about GLBT issues. He certainly showed his loved towards “sinners, not the sin” with support for Prop 8.

If Obama was insistent on getting an evangelical pastor for this invocation, couldn’t he have gotten Brian McLaren?

Thankfully, a unifying opinion on Warren is not the basis for our friendship (which would be in trouble if it were). There is room to talk about him and the issues he represents.

Given that, I don’t have a soft opinion on Warren right now. I think it’s great that Melissa Etheridge is having a dialogue with Rick Warren. She is someone who has a lot at stake with this whole Prop 8 issue, so she’s a better person than I can be right now. I’m just not there.

I haven’t been a good gay blogger by editorializing on how Rick Warren is so innapropriate for Obama’s inauguration (which is my opinion). All I’ve been doing was doing things here and there on the Facebook feed such as joining that group and posting links to a Rachel Maddow commentary and an SF Gate editorial appropriately entitled The Purpose-driven Bigot. That, and I posted a tweet on Twitter. Given that people seem to pay more attention to my Facebook feed than my blog, I was asking for it.

Read the rest…

There are a few things I’d like to completely disappear or go away for good, but they won’t. These things are bothersome year after year, but I can only wish…

1. Stupidity

For the past few eight years, we have lived through an incredibly stupid era. It was definitely exemplified by George W Bu$h and his rhetoric, but it’s been expressed through some of his constituents (see Religious Right). American stupidity reigned supreme and any American abroad were ashamed and pretended to be Canadian instead. It’s difficult to believe that Americans are stuck in provincialism, bizarre religious concepts, and good old-fashioned bigotry. However, there seems to be an evolutionary imperative for the human race, especially the American subspecies, to remain stupid as the idiots keep having litters of children while smart people have few or no children at all.

2. The Religious Right

I’ve got to hand it to these people. They’ve been taking hit after hit in the past few years and they keep going. My admiration for them, however, ends there. They have engaged in a culture war against a great deal of the American population including women, racial minorities, gays and lesbians (major target), intellectuals, liberals, and common sense. While helping themselves to the freedom of speech and religion, they have sought to limit rights for women, gays, and minorities. Also, they have sought to reduce the quality of an American education and impose their religion upon non-Christian school children in the form of Creationist “science” or “Intelligent Design.” If they had their way, everyone would have to follow Old Testament type laws while they are free to wear mixted textiles and eat lobster.

One would think that a closeted, nelly queen of a mega-church pastor or several allied politicians such as a certain senator from Idaho being exposed for engaging in acts they sought to criminalize would send the Religious Right into shame and hiding. If that wasn’t enough, what about the numerous sexual and financial sins of some prominent clergy that has surfaced over the years. No matter, the faithful are either in denial or migrate to another bigot who mirror their views.

Religious right leaders, candy coating your tired, hateful rhetoric for a new generation doesn’t work. We can see right through it.

3. Financially Irresponsible Corporations

Why do the banks get a bailout package from the government? Why can’t I and every other citizen get the bailout instead of some insulting economic stimulus package? The money would have been better spent paying off all the student loans out there, putting some money back to banks at the banks at the same time. I’d say let the banks suffer, but this wasn’t put up for a popular vote.

Banks, you got our tax money, you better clean up your act. If it is put on the ballot, you can count on me to vote on nationalizing you.

4. Post-adolescent Celebrity Trainwrecks

Britney and sis, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan: All your drama in 2007 and 2008 has gotten old and tiresome. Get some dignity, please.

5. Homophobia

This should be number one on my list, but see Stupidity and Religious Right. This one affects me and a lot of other people on a very personal level. First of all, prejudice of any kind is never right. Many people still harbor bigotry towards minorities, but it is easy to tell them they’re wrong. If they persist, especially in making racist comments, they’re assholes. If they commit hate crimes, they should be thrown in jail. We should hold people to the same kind of standard when it comes to homophobia, but it then becomes someone’s personal belief, a differing of opinion, religious convictions, a moral issue, etc. However, racism, misogyny, and even religious intolerance are dealt with through social and even legal sanctions.

While there is some social and legal protection against homophobia, it’s pretty thin. Plus, the religious right and other homophobes won’t stop until gays and lesbians lose those rights. Also, preventing sexual minorities from gaining any more equal rights is high on their agenda.

Eventually homophobia will be as archaic as bloodletting. I only hope it happens sooner, not later.

These are the things I wish would go away in 2009. As for items 1, 2, and 5, we all have to keep fighting the good fight.

For my friend Brian (Sharon’s boyfriend) and me, our main objective in going to LA on Monday was to visit the Norton Simon Museum in San Diego. There is an extensive collection of European art (with some emphasis on the masters of the 16th-19th centuries) and Asian art (focusing primarily on Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism). Like most museums, there were a few special exhibits such as one on works by Ruth Weisberg.

While Weisberg cites Guido Cagnacci’s Martha Rebuking Mary for Her Vanity as an inspiration for her works, I also couldn’t help noticing a similarity to the vibrant images William Blake created to accompany his poetry. Her images also have a very strong sense of allegorical narrative and some of her subjects bear names of certain virtues and attributes. The one of the nude male below is “Hesitation.”

With European art, there are lots of portraits of wealthy people, religious art that’s essentially an excuse to show naked people, and even some still lifes and art studies. The Norton has a few Rembrandts in its collection, including this self portrait. He’s notable for how he sees people and how he portrays them with his technique. Rembrandt is also the artists artist as he constantly studied works of art to feed his own work.

There are some rare Picassos, especially ones that don’t have the notoriety of Guernica or the various cubist paintings. The ones on exhibit highlight his appropriationist nature, as he is mentioned as saying “Bad artists copy, good artists steal!” Here, he references an earlier image of David and Bathsheba and applies his own style.

The Norton had a surrounding garden where one could stroll and view some of their outdoor sculptures. Due to the rain, it was closed off to the public. However, in from the north end of the Asian art collection, one could view some of the sculptures, such as this Buddha.

The Norton Simon Museum is well worth the drive up to Pasadena. The quality of its collection definitely rivals that of any Smithsonian gallery. I will have to return again, whether to take things in a second time or to see more of their special exhibits.

While our main objective was to get to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, my friend Brian (Sharon’s boyfriend) and I decided to stop by Sunnin Lebanese Café in West Los Angeles. It’s a longtime favorite restaurant of Brian’s, going back to his undergraduate days. It’s the second time I’ve eaten there. Sunnin is light on the wallet, has an interesting variety, and is a satisfying eat for the money.

The owner was offering some kind of spinach special today, but neither of us were feeling very adventurous. It was hard to go wrong with anything from their sandwich selection and also a few of the appetizers. We got four of the appetizers and shared them between us.

First photo, clockwise: Baba ganoush, pita, hummus, stuffed grape leaves . Second Photo: Rekakat.

Brian had the falafel sandwhich (not pictured), while I went with the beef shwarma. As far as the shwarma offerings in various San Diego places - no comparison. This one is too good, almost putting me in a food coma.

I haven’t been by a Starbucks yesterday morning, but no problem. Who needs the Christmas blend when you can have the thick Turkish coffee in a tiny cup. That small shot kept me going all day, and even drinking the sludge was part of the fun. Finishing things off, there was this goat milk pudding with honey and pistachio nuts. I don’t know what the name of it, but it was absolutely delicious.

Overall, good food, good times, minimal bill shock. Now if I can only find somewhere as good as Sunnin in San Diego.

A Comdey of Manners: Picard in a dinner date with Lwaxana Troi.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, the First Lady of Star Trek, died yesterday. The widow of the late Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett had been part of the Star Trek universe from the beginning as the Number One, the extremely logical executive officer who didn’t get the green light from NBC execs. Barrett-Roddenberry made a bigger contribution to her husband’s legacy with her iconic characters Nurse Chapel and Lwaxana Troi, endearing her to fans, while her role as the computer’s voice, from the Original Series to Voyager and the feature films, made her an integral part of Star Trek. Regarding the upcoming feature film, she’ll be heard one last time as the Enterprise’s computer.

My thoughts are with Eugene Roddenberry Jr. Your mother is greatly missed.

All right, I’ll spit it out: Friends do not let friends do “Ugly Sweater Parties.”

This year, I became aware of a theme party phenomenon known as the Ugly Sweater Party. In fact, if you Google the term, you’ll get result after result where bloggers have chosen to embarass themselves by showing the world what hideous garments they are capable of SELECTING and then WEARING! If you’ve never seen any of these images before, you are warned. You will be traumatized by this alleged exercize in irony.

I fail to see the irony in the ugly sweater contest. What is ironic? That the participants have such great taste that they willfully put on garments that rightfully belong in the landfill? Are they making fun of the badly dressed? Are they poking fun at those who wear gaudy sweaters with cutesy appliqués during the holidays to show their Christmas spirt? What? Only the wrong kind of people would actually wear them in a non-ironic setting? I better stop because my head is starting to hurt on the questions.

If you think you’re so clever and ironic by participating in the ugly sweater party, let me break it you. You are in bad taste. You picked the ugliest garment possible and you’re quite proud of your find. If you think you’re somehow better than the person who likes to be cute in those gaudy appliqué sweaters, think again. You’re much worse. There’s something sweet and earnest about someone who picks that sweater without irony. You, on the other hand, are mean and superior (in your mind, anyway). While we’re on the subject of mean and superior, imagine Clinton and Stacy of What Not To Wear hovering over you as you search for that ultimate party find. They are clever and ironic, and bitchy on top of that. Who do you think would win? Not you.

I refuse to post any images. The Internet is littered with pictures of people celebrating their bad taste and their affected irony, which they think will make them interesting. They should actually try to be interesting, but that’s too much work for some.

For those of you who don’t partake in the ugly sweater party, be a good friend and don’t let your friends do “ugly sweater parties.” It’ll only be embarassing in the long term. However, if you’re evil, go to the party sans sweater and take lots of pictures. They’ll think it’s great that you’re chronicling the event, but you have the goods against them whenever no one ever wants to admit they ever participated in this new and ghastly custom.

I went to the Linkery the second time this month. Last week, it was a crowded dinner party affair for Jen and I got to meet some interesting people. This time, I met up with my longtime friends Sharon and Nadia. I haven’t had the chance to hang out with both of them at the same time in a while, so it was nice. Plus, I haven’t been able to go out to lunchtime foodie adventures with Sharon in a while, and going out with her for lunch or dinner is always fun.

Much to Nadia’s amusement, Sharon and I took pictures of the food, starting with the chorizo and goat cheese flat bread. This was our starter.

Nadia ordered the picnic plate with the potato salad and cole slaw. This time, there was no confusion.

I ordered the same thing as I did last time. I freely shared the sauerkraut with my friends. Sauerkraut’s going to have it’s day and Trader Joe’s will stock it. Only, they don’t carry it now. Trader Joe’s, how do you expect me to replicate this $$ experience on the cheap?

Sharon ordered the butternut squash with Israeli couscous. Wonderful vegetarian option, but Sharon has a link.

After dinner, before dessert, Sharon gave us some Dove’s chocolates. The insides of the wrappers were like fortune cookies.

Mine said “Be Fearless” and “Smile Before You Go To Bed. You’ll Sleep Better.”

Sharon’s read, “There’s a time for compromise. It’s called later.”

Nadia’s read, “Send a love letter this week.”

Dessert was lovely. Sharon, Nadia, and I all shared the carrot cake with lemon cream cheese icing.

While the food was great, the best part of the evening was being able to catch up with Sharon and Nadia. Happy Holidays, friends.