Are You Ready For Some ... Futbol?!

Yeah, I thought I'd be writing on this blog more but . . . been writing my resume ;)

However, now that it's WWC time (that's Women's World Cup for you newbies), I'm b-a-a-a-c-k! And boy do I have lots to say.

First of all, let me reference a great new show I've discovered (thx Fox), Garbage Time!  Here's a pic of Kate Nolan, the host, with Syd the Kid! Gotta love the Red Solo Cups. This may be the ep where she trashed the all white ("clean") jerseys of the USWNT. She could have very well also trashed the blue ones....

Leaves me longing for the old "Where's Waldo" (pic below, just 'cuz) kits; and even 2014's Red White & Blue ones.

But I digress. 'Cuz what needs to be talked about here is . . . soccer! And my love of Megan Rapinoe (that's Pinoe to us true fans), even before her recent 2-goal effort v. AUS. She plays with such intensity, ALL game and has quite improved her ball skills (from her time in France perhaps?) and off-ball skills... and ...

Ok, I'll spare you all and move on to FIFA. Corruption? Bribes? Surprised much? I still can't believe the lawsuit v FIFA and CSA re: astroturf was dropped. I mean, some of these stadiums placed turf Over Grass on the pitch (Montcon).

USA in "group of death"? So Sweden (#5) and Australia (#10) are also highly ranked; ANY team at ANY time can win (or cause a tie, see: Nigeria!) a game in a World Cup! Who coins these terms, Fox?

But speaking of Fox and it's coverage: With the exception of Lalas (does ANYone really like him as a TV personality?), I really like the Fox Broadcasting Team/s. Lots of former players who are women (Kelly Smith, Ari Hingst are my new faves and I've always been a fan of Heather Mitts)! Yes, in 2015, that's still a surprising thing. I'm esp. enjoying the nightly "World Cup Tonight" show; and that ALL 52 matches are being televised!

Dudes and dudettes, if you haven't tuned in yet, you need to. USA v SWE on Friday; here's what you need to know: Sweden's coach, Pia Sundhage (NYT piece here), led USWNT to 2 Olympic gold medals and 2nd place in last WWC but she's currently trash talking the USWNT players. Gotta luv competition, eh? (I'll always luv Pia though). If USA wins, we'll have 6 points in our group stage, pretty much assuring us #1 spot to move on in tourney.

I'll leave more tidbits for tomorrow. Today is a "day off" for the Cup, however you can catch repeats of many games on Fox & FS1 all day and night today. I'll leave you with... "Where's Waldo"?

Amerika: Home of the Free?

 Been pondering this Indiana situation.

It's true that the law doesn't encourage discrimination, but it sure doesn't stop it from happening. 

Yesterday, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a Republican presidential candidate, said in a Senate floor speech that [Indiana Governor] Pence was "giving voice to millions of courageous conservatives across this country who are deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks upon our personal liberties." 

See, that's the kind of language that worries me.

Their personal liberties?!

Hey, if you wanna be a pro-choice, anti-gay feminist-hating individual, in the name of your religion, go right ahead. No one is stopping you from booking a hotel room, eating in any dining establishment you so desire, etc.

Just don't block MY right to do so! 

See, here's the thing: I grew up in the service industry. My parents had a small business, a restaurant. My dad had only a few simple rules: 1. Serve hot foods hot; 2. Serve cold foods cold; and . . .

3. The customer is always right!

Always! [Even when they were wrong and we knew they were wrong!]

It's business, people! It's America, home of the free!

Everybody should be welcome to dine, to imbibe, to lodge, to work, to play, to vacay. Wherever they so desire.

Boy, does this hark back to the days when "the Negros" couldn't sit at the counter; or ride the bus; or . . .




 

"Indiana wants me" (oh wait, no they don't!)

Well, it's been a long time since I blogged, but sometimes Facebook and Twitter just don't give me enough space to spread my creative wings and thoughts.

Yes, I have thoughts [even "between jobs," I do exercise my brain daily]!

And what better time to return to the blog then in the midst of a mayoral campaign here in Philly, March Madness, the Pope and DNC soon to visit, and . . .

. . . well, Indiana.

Need I say more?

[Okay, if you don't know: they just passed a "religious liberty" law which could enable businesses to discriminate against "homosexuals"]

As a lesbian, I would not be welcome there. As a mother, I can't accept discrimination against anyone. As an activist, wow, so many things could be said.

And as a sports fan, I recognize that the Final Four is soon to be held in Indianapolis! What does this mean for all of us LGBTQ sports fans? Members of the media (Jason Collins, Kate Fagan)? Coaches? Players? 

Mascots?! [Sparty the Spartan!? Recently named "gayest mascot of the NCAA tourney" by Outsports]

Good lord, just imagine if the women's Final Four was there this year, who would be left to play? watch? care? [If not the LGBTQ community?]

As a longtime activist, I believe in boycotts. Hey, it worked in Arizona when the NFL pulled the 1993 Super Bowl from the state when they removed MLK Day as a holiday.

Looks like Salesforce Inc. has already pulled their trainings out of Indiana. Good for them. 

One now needs to ask: WWCD?  [What Will Chipotle Do?]




 

It's a strange day in PA when Rick-y Boy Santorum is avoiding the Prez, while Arlen Spector, who will join the Prez at a public event tomorrow, was the swing vote on getting the FMA out of committee!

Libby indicted! Ooooooh. Bushie's 0-for-2 this week!

Well, I thought perhaps The Gal & I would go as John Roberts and Harriet Miers this year for Halloween (you know, them being scary and all. . .), but - guess that idea's out now, seeing as Ms. Miers is out of the running for the Supreme Court.

It'll be hard to top last year's costume, when I went as Mary Cheney and actually "scared" some folks at a party who thought I really might be a Republican (I had a fake Bush/Cheney button on).

Spent the weekend in Richmond, VA at a wedding.

Well, spent most of the weekend with wedding activities.

The other half of the time the extended Boroff-Berkowitz-Denenberg families staked out spots in the hotel trying to catch a glimpse of The Boss, who was coming to town for a concert and staying in our hotel.

Mostly, we saw lots of roadies and made sure the teen cousins ('jailbait') stayed far away from them.

We did, however, get to shop a bit in Carytown (think: Manayunk without the hills and with easier parking). I was interested in going mostly because all of the tourist magazines I read listed this restaurant/bar called "Babe's of Carytown" - which I had originally seen on the GayRichmond web site. Unless you know exactly what a rainbow flag means, you might just wander in to the place to grab a nice bite to eat.

Could you just see the Philadelphia tourism folks directing unknowing tourists to Sisters?!