The Gayest Month You'll Start This Week

The Gayest Breakfast You'll See This Week (4 Bears Only)

Notice: Some links in this post may be NSFW, depending on where you work. I hope by now, no one really needs the link to that acronym. 

Anyway...

I actually did make pancakes and sausage this morning for brunch, though not nearly as many  of the Pride Cakes (Flip Jacks?) as you see in the image on your left. Mine were actually much smaller, rather misshapen* and regular pancake colored, even though they were whole-wheat. And I used local honey in place of syrup. I do try, though I simply refuse to give up butter. I don't go nuts, but I'm not about to eat something even poop-eating flies supposedly won't touch. Butter's flavor and texture are so necessary for so many recipes. While most, if not all of them, can be made using less butter combined with olive oil, they simply cannot be made with hydrogenated vegetable oils, which are far, far worse for you than honest-to-goodness cow's milk butter. 

Wow. That escalated quickly. 

Sorry for the tangent... because this post isn't about food or cooking or diets or anything other than the fact that June 1st marks the start of Pride Month here in the U.S. Usually at this time of year, Uncle P is either directing or in a JTMF benefit show (our only event this year isn't until October, but more on that, anon). This year, I have the leisure of being able to attend multiple Pride events, should I so desire, without having to man a booth or table at any of them. I've never been to NYC Pride or even Philly Pride. I've only ever been to NJ Pride which is held in Springsteen Central, Asbury Park at the Jersey Shore, which is being held tomorrow. I've been three times, but have never gotten to see the parade, because I was always manning the JTMF table, in hopes of drawing audience members and/or donors. I have a very funny NJ Pride story about D & Siah; a Velcro fly; a very drunken, horny twink named Noel and an Evil You-Know-What for another time. While I have always had time to wander the grounds and visit the other booths, I was never able to see the parade or really mingle with the multitude of gay Guidos on hand.

Here's the thing: I'm not sure I really want to go to any of them. But I actually kind of do. I may decide to brave the traffic and the crowds and go to Philly Pride next Sunday. I've always had a great time checking out the different booths and vendors at NJ Pride (yes, and the hotties), and expect I'd like Philly's version just as much, if not more. I just need to convince someone to join me. Any takers?

Although, if this is the best promo they can come up with, maybe we're all better off staying home:

Really, Philadelphia? Find a new agency, quick, before the Copyranter craps all over that crap. As well he should.

This June, celebrate yourselves, no matter what you sexuality! Celebrate your loved ones who support you and love you for who you are!. Celebrate your partner, if you are lucky enough to have one. Celebrate love, because that's all any of us want and everything all of us deserves. Don't ever stop fighting the haters and the liars.

We've seen more wins than defeats, this past year. Hopefully, SCOTUS will rule in favor of Marriage Equality and the U.S. will join the 21st Century along with the 14 other countries who have embraced marriage rights for all their citizens.

More, anon.
Prospero

*Don't even say what you're thinking, perv!

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Back In a Flash...

First, a little confession: this post really has very little to do with the DC Comics character in the tight red outfit and the bulging... muscles. I say very little, because in all fairness, the "flash" figures in very much in the main subject of tonight's post. But, as you may have read, more of that, anon.

Now, I'm hardly ashamed to admit that I love Superhero movies. I think most of us agree that a good Superhero movie is fun and uplifting no matter how dark it is, while a bad one can be irksome; stupid; embarrassing and downright wrath-inducing. And while I have read (and can certainly appreciate) several graphic novels; I was more of an Eerie; Creepy and Famous Monsters kind of kid, than a Marvel Universe kind of kid (Hmmm - imagine that! Who would ever have thought...?)

Anyway, while looking for an appropriate image that wouldn't give everything away, I found the one above (or to your left, depending on your browser) and was surprised to learn how little I actually knew about the DC character also known as "The Scarlet Speedster." That nick name, for one. Or that The Flash, much like Green Lantern, has multiple alter-egos. I know... "What the hell is he talking about now?" You'll see the connection in a minute, I promise. I just thought I'd share some useless knowledge with you which might someday win you a bar bet, or at least a full pie in Trivial Pursuit (though Mr. Rader probably already knew all that, anyway). But, I digress.

The 'Flash' in tonight's post title actually refers to Flash Mob, something yours truly is about to embark upon the planning of.

Shhh.. it's a secret!

Said event is to promote, well... something; which will be taking place, well... somewhere, sometime later this year.

Uncle P has been fascinated by the idea of the Flash Mob, ever since I first heard of the concept. For those unfamiliar (or just too lazy to read the Wikipedia article hyper-linked above), a Flash Mob is a group of people who assemble in a public place at a designated date and time, perform a (usually) pointless act for a set period of time, and then disperse quickly. What started out as technological performance art (the first flash mob participants were usually notified via text message among network of friends and acquaintances), has since been co-opted as advertising and/or promotional events designed to sell a product or promote an event.

There are all kinds of Flash Mobs, and the best ones are usually just for fun. Probably one the most famous Flash Mobs is Frozen Grand Central, staged by the group Improv Everywhere, in which participants made their way through New York City's Grand Central Central Station and all froze at once, remained frozen for several minutes and then simply continued on as though nothing had happened:

And honestly, can anyone doubt that everyone in Antwerp's Central Station had a great time when this happened?:

I imagine that for the participants, a Flash Mob must be an exhilarating experience. All the performers out there know the rush of performance for its own sake. It's intoxicating. And to be a part of something that makes me people stop and smile and have a good time, is even more of a rush. Of course it's great to get paid to perform, but real performers do it for the joy of performing. Watch the faces of the folks participating in and watching these seemingly spontaneous events. The spectators are particularly fun to watch, as their expressions change from confusion to curiosity to smiles as they realize what's happening. And watch the faces of of the dancers/actors/participants as they perform. Who cares if their selling something, as long as everyone is having a good time, right?

Yes, that was very much a commercial Flash Mob. But did you see anyone that wasn't having a good time? And you may have noticed that train stations seem to be excellent places to stage a Flash Mob, but really, any crowded public place will do. The baech is used quite effectively in one of my favorite flash mobs (and one I've posted before), this clip promoting Australia's 2009 Gay Mardi Gras:

Or this one, celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Who's "Tommy" in San Francisco, last year:

And a Flash Mob doesn't always have to include music and dancing (or more than six people):

So, I am excited and full of ideas for planning and pulling off a Flash Mob of my own, especially since it will be promoting a, well... very good cause. If you're interested participating in this mad experiment, let me know in the comments and I will send you details as they emerge.

More, anon.*
Prospero

*I may be taking a night or two off this week. The Muse has struck and I am in the midst of feverishly writing a new screenplay. But I promise I'm not abandoning you. See this post's title for reassurance.

P.

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TV Review: "Warehouse 13"

I love my DVR. I just finished watching the pilot for SyFy's (I'm still not used to the change and think it's silly, but more on that, later) newest original series, the very Steampunky Warehouse 13 and I have to admit that I loved it. It's highly derivative of dozens of films and series that have come before, but it's just so much fun, you don't really care.

After a supernatural encounter at the opening an ancient art exhibit at the Smithsonian in which they save POTUS' life, two polar opposite Secret Service agents are recruited by the mysterious Mrs. Frederic, with orders to report to secret location, in an unnamed town in literally The Middle of Nowhere, South Dakota. There they find themselves assigned to gathering objects: relics, artifacts, historical documents, personal effects and exceptionally rare bits of oddness. Some display qualities that are quite dangerous, while others are merely amusing. The objects are then neutralized and stored in a cavernous, miles-long underground storage facility, the titular Warehouse 13. Among the warehouse's more interesting items are a stun-gun made by Tesla, a human-powered electric car made by Edison, Houdini's wallet and a wish-granting copper teakettle which produces a ferret whenever the wisher makes an impossible-to-grant wish (I must apologize to all the ferret lovers, out there for that last image. When I went to GoogleImages, I accidentally typed in "Evil Bitch from Uranus" and got that picture).

The 2 hour pilot gave us plenty of time to get to know the almost stock characters, but the cast is quite good (all long-time TV vets) and the chemistry between the two leads is excellent. Handsome Eddie McClintock (the poor man's David Boreanaz ) plays Agent Pete Lattimer, an impulsive, reformed alcoholic who boinks babes in meaningless one-nighters and gets "vibes" on which he always acts. Joanne Kelly ("Slings and Arrows;" "The Dresden Files") is Agent Myka Bering, a no-nonsense, by-the-book agent with an exceptional eye for detail who is still in mourning and suffering guilt over the death of her lover/partner. Veteran character actor Saul Rubinek ("Frasier") is Artie, the semi-mad scientist curator (and comic relief) of Warehouse 13. The always wonderful CCH Pounder is Mrs. Frederic, the mysterious ageless director of the project whose arrivals and departures are as silent as they are surprising. When asked by Bering and Lattimer's boss about how she got into his office, she deadpans "Through a door" with just enough irony to make sure we knew she didn't mean a physical one. There's an Indiana Jones/X-Files/Fringe/The Prisoner/Lost/Weird Science kind of thing going on that simply shouldn't work, but somehow does. It's certainly not as good as "Fringe," (how can it be? It doesn't have the astounding John Noble playing its madman), but it's certainly loads of fun. I hope they can keep it going. *** 1/2 (Three and a half Stars).

And now back to my SyFy comment, earlier. I may think the new name is stupid and indicative of the laziness of the texting generation, but I am glad to see the channel trying to improve its programming quality. I do hope that includes original movies, because they had some of the worst I've ever seen in my life (Mansquito, anyone?). I just hope they get as good as this giddy promotion clip promises:

More, anon.

Prospero

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