August 2008

Apparently Not Broadening Their Horizons

Who would have thought it:

UPDATE 1x:  In case you didn’t know — which we figured these guys knew what they were doing when they sent this out — the joke is on the IR Editor on this post.  I trusted the sources and wanted to do them a favor and publicize, since they asked us to.  Won’t happen again.

The bars the McCain Young Professionals will be visiting Saturday night are gay bars.  This weekend will be Boystown’s annual Market Days.  Market Days’ celebrations are obscene and public indecency runs rampant at Halsted and Broadway during Market Days.

IR does not endorse this activity, nor do we encourage anyone else to participate.  We apologize for being so gullible in this instance.

Young Professionals for McCain, we enjoy a good laugh like anyone else, but this isn’t funny.  I hope the McCain people are kidding . . . and if this is a joke on behalf of the Hillary Clinton faction that is reportedly involved in helping the McCain people, the joke is on the McCain people.  Hillary’s people are NOT helping you — especially with the already wobbly and very hesitant socially-conservative base.

Carry on . . . and thanks to the gentleman who so kindly called IR to tell us what was going on.  You know who you are.  We owe you one.

Not such a big tent afterall.

Obama the Anti-Christ: Not So Much

According to LaHaye and Jenkins

LaHaye and Jenkins take a literal interpretation of prophecies found in the Book of Revelation. They believe the antichrist will surface on the world stage at some point, but neither see Obama in that role. “I’ve gotten a lot of questions the last few weeks asking if Obama is the antichrist,” says novelist Jenkins. “I tell everyone that I don’t think the antichrist will come out of politics, especially American politics.”

“I can see by the language he uses why people think he could be the antichrist,” adds LaHaye, “but from my reading of scripture, he doesn’t meet the criteria. There is no indication in the Bible that the antichrist will be an American.”

Of course, LaHaye and Jenkins are awful, and I mean awful, writers.  Slactivist did an excellent series on just how awful here.  A small sampling:

For his next trick, the Great Carpathio will require a volunteer from the audience:

“I would like to present to you all just a bit of an object lesson in leadership, followership, and may I say, chain of command. Mr. Scott M. Otterness, would you approach me, please?” The guard in the corner jerked in surprise and hurried to Carpathia. “One of my leadership techniques is my power of observation, combined with a prodigious memory,” Carpathia said.

Here’s another lesson in leadership and, er, followership: Talking about your “leadership techniques” isn’t a very good leadership technique. Particular when the skills you’re patting yourself on the back for don’t have much of anything to do with leadership and in any case aren’t really techniques. The only way I can imagine an actual human saying that last sentence above without being immediately deposed and mocked by his former followers would be if it were said ironically, in self mockery. A campaign-weary politician praising the “great city of Cleveland,” while speaking in Cincinnati, might get away with saying something like that as a joking apology. But just as he never uses contractions, Nicolae never employs irony.

“One of my leadership techniques is my power of observation,” Nicolae says, “combined with a prodigious memory.” And somehow, here in LB, the people who hear him say this are as impressed by him and he seems to be. This goes on for quite a bit.

“Mr. Otterness here was surprised because we had not been introduced, had we, sir?”

“No, sir, Mr. Carpathia, sir, we had not.”

“And yet I knew your name.”

The aging guard smiled and nodded.

One half-expects Carpathia to raise one hand with a flourish, like Jon Lovitz’s Master Thespian, crying “Leadership!” (followed by this). The impression I get is of That Guy who thinks that reading the waitress’ name off her name tag gives him license to send his steak back and tip a lousy 10 percent.

I tried to read the first book once.  After 10 pages of awful prose I just gave up.

He’s Insane

Latest Evidence:

Blagojevich said Thursday he’s considering ordering lawmakers back to the Capitol in September and keeping them there until they fix education funding – a move that most believe would require some kind of tax increase.

The catch is Blagojevich would then veto any such increase.

“If it increases income taxes, yeah,” said spokesman Lucio Guerrero. “Any kind of taxes.”

Apparently he wants the Lege to pass a bill mandating a state magical money tree.

3-Way Hold-up

By the end of the week I expect every bill will be tied to passing it and the capital bill or there will be no capital bill.  IOW, there will be no capital bill.

But it’s Blagojevich who has created the poisonous atmosphere of mistrust in which the legislature will convene in special sessions next week to consider his other, other lottery-lease idea (this time it’s to help pay for a $25 billion construction plan) and to address school-funding reform.

“I’m prepared this time,” Meeks said. He’s been calling for students to boycott Chicago Public Schools and attempt to register in suburban districts.

And he said he won’t stand down or support any construction plan until the governor does more for education reform than just make promises and float notions.

It seems someone has learned his lesson.

For Blagojevich this is chickens–home–roost.

They Play Both Kinds of Music: Country and Western

Charlie’s

Boystown’s only gay country bar is a line-dancin’, two-steppin’ extravaganza in the early evenings, but after 2AM Charlie’s transforms into a packed, raging after-hours non-country dance club. On any given day of the week, there’s a drag show (either planned by management or improvised on the bar). Expect a long wait to get in, a long wait for the bathroom (plus free gropes from behind), but really good music for those who’ve outgrown Berlin.

Excellent Sidetrack Reviews

At Tripadvisor

As a gay man who lives in San Francisco, and who’s been to gay bars in LA, Miami, NYC, Paris, London, Sydney and a lot of places in between, I have to say this about Sidetrack: I’ve never seen so many hot guys in one place ever. Period. And damn, they’re all Midwestern nice too — none of what folks usually label “attitude.” If you’re looking for a husband, a hookup, or just a good time, you must visit the Sidetrack on Friday or Saturday night. The drinks are great and not too steep. Really clean, large, nicely designed. I wish SF could have something like this. You go, Chi-town.