'Star Trek' Actor George Takei Comes Out (Article taken from Yahoo News)
LOS ANGELES - George Takei, who as helmsman Sulu steered the Starship Enterprise through three television seasons and six movies, has come out as a homosexual in the current issue of Frontiers, a biweekly Los Angeles magazine covering the gay and lesbian community.
Takei told The Associated Press on Thursday that his new onstage role as psychologist Martin Dysart in "Equus," helped inspire him to publicly discuss his sexuality.
Takei described the character as a "very contained but turbulently frustrated man." The play opened Wednesday at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles, the same day that Frontiers magazine featured a story on Takei's coming out.
The current social and political climate also motivated Takei's disclosure, he said.
"The world has changed from when I was a young teen feeling ashamed for being gay," he said. "The issue of gay marriage is now a political issue. That would have been unthinkable when I was young."
The 68-year-old actor said he and his partner, Brad Altman, have been together for 18 years.
Takei, a Japanese-American who lived in a U.S. internment camp from age 4 to 8, said he grew up feeling ashamed of his ethnicity and sexuality. He likened prejudice against gays to racial segregation.
"It's against basic decency and what American values stand for," he said.
Takei joined the "Star Trek" cast in 1966 as Hikaru Sulu, a character he played for three seasons on television and in six subsequent films. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986.
A community activist, Takei ran for the Los Angeles City Council in 1973. He serves on the advisory committee of the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program and is chairman of East West Players, the theater company producing "Equus."
Friday, October 28, 2005
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Can you hear the angels singing?
You know, that "Ahhhhhhhhh", like opening up a box and finding God inside, a bright light pouring out of the top and warming your face. Ok, maybe the angels' "Ahhhhhhhhh" only makes ME think of something like that.
Anyway, yesterday was a wonderful day at work because I have finally been told when I'll start my new work hours... November 1st. Woo-hoo! I'll be working 8:30am-5pm, just like the rest of the civilized world.
I'll also be heading up a team of my own, which is cool. I'll be more "in the loop" from now on, which is both a blessing and a curse. We'll see how it goes. I like being in the know. I like putting in my two bits.
Maybe I'll even get internet access. Hey, it can happen.
Anyway, yesterday was a wonderful day at work because I have finally been told when I'll start my new work hours... November 1st. Woo-hoo! I'll be working 8:30am-5pm, just like the rest of the civilized world.
I'll also be heading up a team of my own, which is cool. I'll be more "in the loop" from now on, which is both a blessing and a curse. We'll see how it goes. I like being in the know. I like putting in my two bits.
Maybe I'll even get internet access. Hey, it can happen.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Letter to a concerned and wonderful friend
Hey R-
Yeah, I've been MIA for the passed couple of weeks. I haven't written an entry in eons. Work has been hectic..., so I've been trying to de-stress by watching TV instead of blogging. Surprisingly, it's actually been working!
For the first time in years, I didn't even touch the computer this entire weekend. No email, nothing. That's gotta be some kind of a record for me! We kept ourselves busy going to a Halloween party on Saturday and having dinner at my mom's on Sunday. We even pulled out Trivial Pursuit Sunday night to play with my niece. How suburban can you get?
It just feels good to get away from yourself for a while and do things you normally wouldn't do. It's refreshing. I'm not sure when I'll get back to Blogland. It's starting to feel like yet another chapter in my life, one that may be ending. Who knows?
But I am doing OK. Thank you for asking. Even if I stop writing in my own blog, I'll still be lurking around on yours:)
Take care-
Alicia
Yeah, I've been MIA for the passed couple of weeks. I haven't written an entry in eons. Work has been hectic..., so I've been trying to de-stress by watching TV instead of blogging. Surprisingly, it's actually been working!
For the first time in years, I didn't even touch the computer this entire weekend. No email, nothing. That's gotta be some kind of a record for me! We kept ourselves busy going to a Halloween party on Saturday and having dinner at my mom's on Sunday. We even pulled out Trivial Pursuit Sunday night to play with my niece. How suburban can you get?
It just feels good to get away from yourself for a while and do things you normally wouldn't do. It's refreshing. I'm not sure when I'll get back to Blogland. It's starting to feel like yet another chapter in my life, one that may be ending. Who knows?
But I am doing OK. Thank you for asking. Even if I stop writing in my own blog, I'll still be lurking around on yours:)
Take care-
Alicia
Friday, October 7, 2005
The reasons behind the songs
I haven't been in the writing mood lately; forgive me. I wanted to write about why I chose the songs I did for my new mix when I was posting yesterday, but I was just feeling all-out-lazy and just wanted to watch ER. Today, I'm feeling a little more verbose, so I shall set to accomplishing my task.
K.K. - Without You - Motley Crue - Kristine was my first best friend. We met in kindergarten. One of our favorite things to do growing up was to hang out in her play room and listen to records and later on, tapes. Kris was a HUGE Motley Crue fan (as was I), and this song always reminds me of her.
A.T. - Stand - REM - I also met Andriana in kindergarten. We only lived about 5 or 6 houses away from each other. We could even talk to one another through our bedroom windows since she lived on the side street near my house. Andie loved songs you could dance to, and she loved songs that actually had a dance to them even more. I remember her doing the STAND dance in her basement den.
H.A. - My Sharona - The Knack - I met Heather in fourth grade. We became fast friends when we found out we shared the exact same birthday. We were, in fact, only born minutes away from each other, both in Bridgeport but in different hospitals. In high school, Heather and I went to go see Reality Bites, and we would re-enact that scene in the gas station where Lanie and Vicki and Sammie are dancing to this song over and over again.
J.P. - Heavenly - Harry Connick Jr. - I met Jess in fifth grade. I believe she was already a Harry Connick Jr. fan at the age of 10, and she introduced me to his music as we hung out more. I love this song, and I always think of her when I hear it. "The man in the moon is smilin' cuz he's in love with the girl in the world..."
L.C. - Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi - Lea STILL loves Bon Jovi and breaks out her old t-shirts for when she goes to the concerts. Any Bon Jovi song reminds me of her, but I especially like this one.
S.D. - High Enough - Damn Yankees - Scott was my first major crush and ultimately, my first love. This was "our song" which he made sure he put on the two mixed tapes he made me in eighth grade. Those tapes are lurking somewhere in my mom's house to this day. When he started working at my office a couple of years ago, we talked about those damn tapes. He actually still remembered the music he put on them.
M.M. - More Than Words - Extreme - This song is one of my guilty pleasures, and it will forever remind me and probably most of the girls that went to Flood Junior High of Mike because he and Jav played and sang it at the talent show.
A.Z. - Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison - Andy used to play and sing this song all the time. And then we danced to it at the eighth grade banquet. The Zy... I wonder where he is now.
B.D. - Precious Things - Tori Amos - I started listening to Tori in eighth grade, and this song just stuck with me. It's all about Billy..."Running after Billy, running after the rain..."
C.S. - Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms - One day while visiting Sanetti at the beach, this song came on, and it's reminded me of him ever since. I think it had more to do with my feelings about his relationship with his girlfriend than anything else.
C.G. - Whale and Wasp - Alice in Chains - This entire album, Jar of Flies reminds me of Guthrie. I think it just establishes the time period of our friendship.
C.C. - Footsteps - Pearl Jam - When Chris and I started hanging out, he had just started moving away from R&B and more into Seattle Grunge. When he found Pearl Jam, it was like finding the love of his life. I remember him singing this song all the time when we first started dating.
K.C. - Seether - Veruca Salt - With Chris came his sister, Kim, who now, after all these years, is one of my closest gal pals. When I first met her, Chris had her do the "Seether Dance". This will always be Kim's song.
R.C. - Blister in the Sun - The Violent Femmes - This was Rob's favorite song in high school. We would sit around, smoking, and singing this song.
K.S. - Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down - Any Bruce Springsteen song reminds me of Kevin, but I'm not a big fan of The Boss. Instead, because Kev's such a huge fan of Superman (as am I), I picked this song. I was surprised when he adopted a new dog that he didn't name it Krypto. As long as he doesn't pull a Nicholas Cage and name his soon-to-be-born child, Kal-el, all will be well in the world. And Nick, please don't name your next kid J'onn J'onzz after The Martian Manhunter; most of us can't even pronounce that.
T.R. - Ants Marching - DMB - Tom loved this song and played it all the time.
M.D. - Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw? - Jimmy Buffett - Because that's what we did after this song came on the juke box one night at the bar.
D.K. - Professional Widow - Tori Amos - Dawn was big into the raves when I met her working at the kiosk. When she found out I was a Tori fan, she told me she loved the remix of this song. When Tori put it out on a Greatest Hits type of record, I fell in love with it, too.
H.B. - No Ordinary Love - Sade - "There's nothing like you and I, Baby. This is no ordinary love, no ordinary love." Need I say more? Oh, how I love my husband.
A.B. - Glory Box - Portishead - Yes, I even picked a song that reminds me of me. "I'm so tired of playin'/ Playin' with this bow and arrow/ Gonna give my heart away/ Leave it to the other girls to play/ For I've been a temptress too long/ Just give me a reason to love you/ Give me a reason to be a woman/ I just wanna be a woman."
K.K. - Without You - Motley Crue - Kristine was my first best friend. We met in kindergarten. One of our favorite things to do growing up was to hang out in her play room and listen to records and later on, tapes. Kris was a HUGE Motley Crue fan (as was I), and this song always reminds me of her.
A.T. - Stand - REM - I also met Andriana in kindergarten. We only lived about 5 or 6 houses away from each other. We could even talk to one another through our bedroom windows since she lived on the side street near my house. Andie loved songs you could dance to, and she loved songs that actually had a dance to them even more. I remember her doing the STAND dance in her basement den.
H.A. - My Sharona - The Knack - I met Heather in fourth grade. We became fast friends when we found out we shared the exact same birthday. We were, in fact, only born minutes away from each other, both in Bridgeport but in different hospitals. In high school, Heather and I went to go see Reality Bites, and we would re-enact that scene in the gas station where Lanie and Vicki and Sammie are dancing to this song over and over again.
J.P. - Heavenly - Harry Connick Jr. - I met Jess in fifth grade. I believe she was already a Harry Connick Jr. fan at the age of 10, and she introduced me to his music as we hung out more. I love this song, and I always think of her when I hear it. "The man in the moon is smilin' cuz he's in love with the girl in the world..."
L.C. - Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi - Lea STILL loves Bon Jovi and breaks out her old t-shirts for when she goes to the concerts. Any Bon Jovi song reminds me of her, but I especially like this one.
S.D. - High Enough - Damn Yankees - Scott was my first major crush and ultimately, my first love. This was "our song" which he made sure he put on the two mixed tapes he made me in eighth grade. Those tapes are lurking somewhere in my mom's house to this day. When he started working at my office a couple of years ago, we talked about those damn tapes. He actually still remembered the music he put on them.
M.M. - More Than Words - Extreme - This song is one of my guilty pleasures, and it will forever remind me and probably most of the girls that went to Flood Junior High of Mike because he and Jav played and sang it at the talent show.
A.Z. - Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison - Andy used to play and sing this song all the time. And then we danced to it at the eighth grade banquet. The Zy... I wonder where he is now.
B.D. - Precious Things - Tori Amos - I started listening to Tori in eighth grade, and this song just stuck with me. It's all about Billy..."Running after Billy, running after the rain..."
C.S. - Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms - One day while visiting Sanetti at the beach, this song came on, and it's reminded me of him ever since. I think it had more to do with my feelings about his relationship with his girlfriend than anything else.
C.G. - Whale and Wasp - Alice in Chains - This entire album, Jar of Flies reminds me of Guthrie. I think it just establishes the time period of our friendship.
C.C. - Footsteps - Pearl Jam - When Chris and I started hanging out, he had just started moving away from R&B and more into Seattle Grunge. When he found Pearl Jam, it was like finding the love of his life. I remember him singing this song all the time when we first started dating.
K.C. - Seether - Veruca Salt - With Chris came his sister, Kim, who now, after all these years, is one of my closest gal pals. When I first met her, Chris had her do the "Seether Dance". This will always be Kim's song.
R.C. - Blister in the Sun - The Violent Femmes - This was Rob's favorite song in high school. We would sit around, smoking, and singing this song.
K.S. - Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down - Any Bruce Springsteen song reminds me of Kevin, but I'm not a big fan of The Boss. Instead, because Kev's such a huge fan of Superman (as am I), I picked this song. I was surprised when he adopted a new dog that he didn't name it Krypto. As long as he doesn't pull a Nicholas Cage and name his soon-to-be-born child, Kal-el, all will be well in the world. And Nick, please don't name your next kid J'onn J'onzz after The Martian Manhunter; most of us can't even pronounce that.
T.R. - Ants Marching - DMB - Tom loved this song and played it all the time.
M.D. - Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw? - Jimmy Buffett - Because that's what we did after this song came on the juke box one night at the bar.
D.K. - Professional Widow - Tori Amos - Dawn was big into the raves when I met her working at the kiosk. When she found out I was a Tori fan, she told me she loved the remix of this song. When Tori put it out on a Greatest Hits type of record, I fell in love with it, too.
H.B. - No Ordinary Love - Sade - "There's nothing like you and I, Baby. This is no ordinary love, no ordinary love." Need I say more? Oh, how I love my husband.
A.B. - Glory Box - Portishead - Yes, I even picked a song that reminds me of me. "I'm so tired of playin'/ Playin' with this bow and arrow/ Gonna give my heart away/ Leave it to the other girls to play/ For I've been a temptress too long/ Just give me a reason to love you/ Give me a reason to be a woman/ I just wanna be a woman."
Thursday, October 6, 2005
New mix
There are many people who have made a lasting impression on me while growing up. Writing these passed few entries has brought up memories of them, and, along with those visual memories, audio ones have come up, as well. My life seems to be compiled of soundtracks, songs that have also recorded events that have taken place within their melodies and bass lines. On my break at work last week, I decided to put together yet another soundtrack of my life, this one consisting of the people I have known. I'm thinking about calling it "This is how you remind me..."
K.K. - Without You - Motley Crue
A.T. - Stand - REM
H.A. - My Sharona - The Knack
J.P. - Heavenly - Harry Connick Jr.
L.C. - Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
S.D. - High Enough - Damn Yankees
M.M. - More Than Words - Extreme
A.Z. - Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
B.D. - Precious Things - Tori Amos
C.S. - Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
C.G. - Whale and Wasp - Alice in Chains
C.C. - Footsteps - Pearl Jam
K.C. - Seether - Veruca Salt
R.C. - Blister in the Sun - The Violent Femmes
K.S. - Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down
T.R. - Ants Marching - DMB
M.D. - Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw? - Jimmy Buffett
D.K. - Professional Widow - Tori Amos
H.B. - No Ordinary Love - Sade
A.B. - Glory Box - Portishead
K.K. - Without You - Motley Crue
A.T. - Stand - REM
H.A. - My Sharona - The Knack
J.P. - Heavenly - Harry Connick Jr.
L.C. - Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
S.D. - High Enough - Damn Yankees
M.M. - More Than Words - Extreme
A.Z. - Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
B.D. - Precious Things - Tori Amos
C.S. - Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
C.G. - Whale and Wasp - Alice in Chains
C.C. - Footsteps - Pearl Jam
K.C. - Seether - Veruca Salt
R.C. - Blister in the Sun - The Violent Femmes
K.S. - Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down
T.R. - Ants Marching - DMB
M.D. - Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw? - Jimmy Buffett
D.K. - Professional Widow - Tori Amos
H.B. - No Ordinary Love - Sade
A.B. - Glory Box - Portishead
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