This week on Mixed Marshall Arts

By On May 11, 2012 · Leave a Comment

As you may or may not know, I have another blog called Mixed Marshall Arts covering the world of combat sports & entertainment: MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling. Here’s a list of what’s gone down recently…

Tagged with: • •
 

Why Obama’s Statement on Gay Marriage was Right and Wrong

By On May 9, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Just in case you’ve been completely unplugged and shut in today, President Obama finally came in support of gay marriage. Some cited the convenient timing with last night’s referendum in North Carolina, but to that I can only say that it’s logical for his feet to be put to the fire on this issue in light of the national reaction and his previous cowardice (where he said his views were “evolving”).

It’s pretty wild that he chose an election year to do this, and that his people decided to go with what’s right over what’s convenient. There will be some political opportunities stemming from this, but I think the risks outweigh the reward. People claim that he would have lost states where this could have an effect, but given the expected level of contention in states like North Carolina and Virginia, amongst others, I’m very skeptical of that assertion. I think the view that it’s safe if not advantageous for him to do so comes from the fact that a slim majority in national polls favor marriage equality. But we still use the electoral college and there’s quite a bit of regional disparity in that poll.

So as quickly as I muttered “about fucking time” in reaction to his statement, I also appreciated the move from a historic standpoint.

But I do have to say I’m disappointed in Obama’s assertion that in regards to this issue he still “respects states’ rights.”

When you’re talking about economics and infrastructure, I’m willing to entertain “rights of states” arguments. But just as it’s wrong for civil rights to be put up for a referendum, it’s also wrong for it to be viewed as a “state issue.” This country’s history with civil rights has proven, time and again, that it can’t be something that’s punted off to the lower levels of government just to satiate someone’s religious fervor for libertarian and/or anti-federalist ideologies.

If civil rights were left to states, we’d still have areas in this country where segregation was a mandate. To cede federal authority on such matters is wrong, and it ignores ample historical evidence that supports it.

Tagged with: • • •
 

Food for Thought from North Carolina’s Referendum

By On May 9, 2012 · 1 Comment

1. I’m not really surprised that the measure to legally define marriage as a union between a man and a woman passed. Yet it’s still a somber reminder that this nation still has a long way to go.

2. The disheartening reaction some have had in response to this reminded me of Neil Young’s “Alabama”:

Oh Alabama,
can I see you and shake your hand?
Make friends down in Alabama.
I’m from a new land,
I come to you and see all this ruin.
What are you doing Alabama?
You got the rest of the union to help you along,
what’s going wrong?

That’s the attitude we need right now. Not “let’s sever ties with North Carolina.” They’re us, and we have to own as a country what happened there tonight. To pretend that homophobia is a geographically isolated phenomena is foolish, and to act as if there aren’t allies in the state is unfair and self-defeating.

3. By the way, gay marriage kinda goes back to the Middle Ages, interestingly enough.

4. The whole of sports, not just MMA, needs more guys like Jason High.

His point is absolutely on the money. A straight referendum in New York would not have passed, and there’s a very good reason it didn’t come to that: because it wouldn’t be right. If referendums were how this sort of thing were determined, we’d still be, as a society, stuck in the nineteenth century.

Tagged with: • •
 

This week on Mixed Marshall Arts

By On May 4, 2012 · Leave a Comment

As you may or may not know, I have another blog called Mixed Marshall Arts covering the world of combat sports & entertainment: MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling. Here’s a list of what’s gone down recently…

Tagged with: • •
 

Special deal: $5 off this Saturday’s show in Albany for college students, state workers, groups of 6 or more

By On May 4, 2012 · Leave a Comment

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – I was just informed that if you come to Saturday’s show with a group of 6 or more, each one of you will get $5 off your ticket.

Also, present your college ID at the door and receive $5 off. (Note: can’t be combined with other discounts/offers).

State worker? That’s $5 off as well. Just show your ID at the door.

Tagged with: •
 

THIS WEEKEND: Performing at Comic Syndrome, Donate to the Hero Initiative

By On May 4, 2012 · Leave a Comment

REMINDER:

Facebook event page

====================

Also, if you’re going to see “The Avengers,” consider making a matching donation to The Hero Initiative to help offset the injustice being done to Jack Kirby.

Tagged with: •
 

Junior Seau’s Suicide and MMA

By On May 3, 2012 · Leave a Comment

A lot is going through my head right now in the wake of Junior Seau’s suicide. If you’re a fan of sports, I’m sure a lot is going through yours as well. If not, then it should be. This should be giving everyone from the front offices to the bleachers pause and cause for concern, particularly in the NFL where the suicide rate among former players is nearly six times(!) the national average.

The links between concussions, CTE/TBI, depression, and suicide are far from “inconclusive” and it’s not tasteless nor is it irresponsible to bring it up. The only uncertainty is the vague metaphysical notion of universal uncertainty; the kind that people apply when they want to dismiss an argument because they’d prefer not hear it or don’t have the emotional or intellectual maturity to participate in the discussion. There’s no avoiding it: Seau killed himself, but before he did it, concussions killed Seau.

Red more over at the Mixed Marshall Arts blog

Tagged with: • • • • • • • •
 

“I’d Have to be Crazy to Let My 5-Year-Old Tan,” Says Overtanned Crazy Lady

By On May 2, 2012 · 2 Comments

I mean, just look at her.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Important thing to ask: what kind of scummy tanning place would look at that woman and take her money and allow her to continue tanning? In fact, let’s extrapolate that further: what person working at a tanning hut wouldn’t see that woman walking into the door and try to set her on fire thinking that they were the victims of a Mummy attack?

"It's close to miiiiiidnight, and something evil's lurking in the dark..."

Also, what’s weirder, the woman in this video or the hosts of “Today” not acknowledging at all that what we just saw was absolutely bizarre and gross?

IN OTHER VERY IMPORTANT NEWS: oh shit, there’s a fucking bear in Albany! The Times Union has dubbed it the “South End Bear,” which is also some guy’s username on a dating site. I guarantee it.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANT NEWS:

Tagged with: • • •
 

If You’re Going to see The Avengers This Weekend, I Have a Challenge for You

By On May 1, 2012 · 1 Comment

Hey folks. In case you didn’t know, there’s a little movie coming out called “The Avengers.”

As much as my inner dork (which I hate talking about because it’s really not any different from any other type of fandom it’s just been given a pedestal it doesn’t deserve by marketers) wants so badly to part with my hard-earned money to see The Hulk smash things while Iron Man flies around and Cap throws his shield and Thor throws his hammer and Hawkeye shoots arrows and we pretend it’s not ridiculous that he’s a part of this group and ditto for Black Widow, I have a moral conundrum.

Marvel’s poor treatment of Jack Kirby and his family’s estate in light of all he did for the “House of Ideas” is well documented. Really, the only reason Marvel gets as much of a pass as it does is because they’re not as awful as DC Comics has been to Siegel and Shuster and their respective estates. Stan Lee gets all the credit because he made a sweet deal with them and was a good talker. Kirby, on the other hand, was always a bit of a quiet guy. Raised in the inner-city with a hard-nosed work ethic, he shied away from attention and praise. It cost him dearly. Because even though he was probably more responsible for shaping Marvel and superhero comics as a whole than any other creator, Kirby’s name doesn’t appear on anything.

It won’t be anywhere in the credits for “The Avengers.” And that bothers me.

But as Robot 6 reports…

Fortunately, Jon Morris has an awesome solution. “So how about this?” he writes. “You’re probably going to go see The Avengers and, judging by the early reviews, you’ll probably enjoy it. How about — as a thank you to the creators who brought you these characters in the first place, who gave you something to enjoy so much — you match your ticket price as a donation to The Hero Initiative?”

Perfect.

http://www.heroinitiative.org/

The Hero Initiative was created to combat just this sort of injustice. From their website:

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterdays’ creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

So here’s the challenge: make a donation to the Hero Initiative matching the cost of your ticket to “The Avengers”. Or, Hell, double it! While Marvel, Stan Lee, and the others rake in all the money with fake heroic exploits, you can make a real one. While actors play pretend at saving lives, you will be doing the real thing.

So. You in?

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • •
 

Troy’s Loss

By On May 1, 2012 · 1 Comment

The Troy Record’s Talespin blog has an account of Vic Christopher’s departure from City Hall that coincides with what little I’ve heard of the incident.

Back towards the end of Harry Tutunjian’s term as mayor, Christopher told the law firm that was moving out of the city owned Dauchy building he would help them move their leftover stuff. In other words, they said he could have a bunch of the stuff they didn’t want like old desks, chairs and other office-related materials.

He ran it by Tutunjian who told him to get it in writing.

He didn’t.

To make a long story short, City Hall was notified he was taking things out of the building, put him on paid leave, and he eventually resigned.

Talespin notes that it would have been easy enough for those at City Hall to confirm what he claimed, which is that Tutunjian gave him the okay some time ago and said it wouldn’t be a problem. Unfortunately, as soon as Rosamilia won the primary, promises of a new direction for Troy and an end to bipartisan bickering was drowned out by the high-pitched screech of axes being ground.

It’s a shame that partisan hackery and an obvious opportunity for a political hit superceded the better interests of the city. But Vic, personally speaking, is better off. Check out Keep Albany Boring’s visit to his forthcoming wine bar near Monument Square. I’ve been in there a few times since he started, and I think the place is going to be remarkable. It’s exactly the sort of thing Troy needs more of, and perhaps it’s fitting that it’ll be born in the ashes of what Troy needs less of: partisan doofs who cut off Troy’s nose to spite its face and think anyone with half a brain cares about their ambition to one day become King of Shit Mountain.

Tagged with: • •