The Pot and The Kettle

Where does Venus Williams stand on the great Wimbledon scandal of 2006?

From the BBC:

We want to be treated equally as the men. This is not just about women's tennis but about women all over the world," she told BBC Sport.

At Wimbledon we would like to have equal prize money to prove that we are equal on all fronts.

We will keep lobbying on the matter. We don't want to deprive fans from seeing women's tennis but we are willing to be extremely proactive in our stance.

Oh no she didn't! Venus, girl, you did not just threaten a womens tennis walk out, did you?

Somehow I don't think that's ever gonna happen, so keep your threats to yourself, Vee.

This is not a gender equality thing or a "dark ages" thing. I'm all for equal pay among the sexes for equal work. So girls, if you want equal pay, its time to, at a minimum, start playing best-of-5 matches. Until then, you can live with the $60,000 difference in prize of about $1 million.

The Championships at Wimbledon (or plain old Wimbledon, for all you regular folks) is under fire, as it is now the only Grand Slam which does not offer equal prize money to its men and women champions. Just recently the French Open (Roland Garros) announced that it would be awarding its winners the same prize money this year, for the the first time ever. The U.S. and Australian Opens have been practicing equality for, like, ever.

This is an interesting article which has the opinions of Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Maria Sharapova, and Venus Williams, all weighing in on why Wimbledon should abandon the dark ages and jump into the new millenium!

Personally, I think women should get the same money. More personally, I think Lindsay Davenport needs to win! Because that may not happen, we are behind pretty Maria.

A court ruled today that the now-infamous Duke University lacrosse player Collin Finnerty will have to stand trial in Washington, D.C. for the assault of Jeffrey O. Bloxgom.

According to court papers, Finnerty was arrested (along with two friends) for punching Mr. Bloxgom after he told them to "'stop calling him gay and other derogatory names.'"

No one should be assaulted (well, I can think of one or two people who may deserve a beating) and no one should have to deal with punks on the street like Collin and his Chaminade buddies, but get over yourself Mr. Bloxgom . . . being called gay isn't the worst thing that could happen to you and certainly not the worst name you could be called. Hello?!?! Your name is Bloxgom for f**k's sake!

Update: Not only is "gay" derogatory, but the term "homosexual" is unacceptable!

And Mr. Bloxgom is heterosexual (or so he says).

Who is willing to pay to see this chickie strip?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Beuller?

Hmmmm, no hands. That's what I thought. I won't make any comments on the guilt or innocence of Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann

This, by the way, is Kim Roberts -- the "second stripper" from the Duke lacrosse party. Clearly a viable witness now that she is changing her story.

I won't make any comments on the guilt or innocence of Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, but I will say that the whole damn lacrosse team is guilty of bad taste!

I had my fingers crossed that Julia Roberts's theatrical and Broadway debut performance in the Richard Greenberg play "Three Days of Rain" would be lauded by the critics and fans and would push her into the winner's circle at the next Tony Awards. I could hear the announcer . . . "Star of stage and screen, Academy Award and Tony Award winning actress, America's sweetheart . . . Julia Roberts."

Not so fast, Pretty Woman.

"Three Days of Rain" opened last night to a star-studded audience which, unfortunately, also contained New York's harsh Broadway critics.

Clive Barnes, of the New York Post, I think sums up in his first few short sentences a lot of what was said about the play and the performance:

HATED the play. To be sadly honest, even hated her. At least I liked the rain - even if three days of it can seem an eternity.

Why, for heaven's sake, did Julia Roberts, film star extraordinary and box-office attraction incredible, decide to make her professional stage debut at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in last night's half-baked, fully drenched revival of Richard Greenberg's 1997 play, "Three Days of Rain"?

Although not impressed with Ms. Roberts herself, it seems like Clive was bothered more with the actual play and, as he put it, "two furiously overacting male co-stars (Bradley Cooper and Paul Rudd)."

My hopes were dashed. It looks like Julia's Oscar will have to do without a Tony.

Here at thepotandthekettle, we are proud to declare this a TOMKAT-free zone. (I can't believe I just actually used the non-word TOMKAT) (Twice now!) All I will say is that little Suri better learn to run fast.

As for Little Joey Potter, now that she has delivered what she has promised to, maybe they will let her go?

Remember when Joey had to sing "On My Own" on The Creek? That was awesome, and can be found on the bottom of the linked page. And there is always this.

Dunkin' Donuts has announced the winners of its recent "Great Lengths" contest, which asked customers "to write about the perils they faced and the obstacles they have overcome for a cup of the company's coffee."

It probably won't be too much of a shock to hear that a cop won the donut contest.

Jeff Godwin, 25, who is a patrolman with the Monmouth Beach, New Jersey police department won $51,000 (the equivalent of a lifetime amount of Dunkin Donuts coffee) after his plight to get a cup of coffee stood out from the 8,000 other entires.

Congratualtions, Jeff, you've made us proud -- bringing such honor and distinction to your department, town and state.

Now grab a donut and get your ass back out on patrol.

As the Kettle told us last week, April is Poetry Month. Although not a big fan of poetry (since most people today who consider themselves poets merely put a bunch of jibberish on a page, call it art and say it has meaning) and more a fan of this guy's suggestion for an Anti-Poetry Month (although for completely different reasons), I must agree with U.S. District Judge Brian Sandoval's decision in the following case (from the New York Lawyer):

A federal judge gave a ninth-grader permission Thursday to recite a poem at a state competition that his school objected to, claiming it contained profanity.

The words "hell" and "damn" in W.H. Auden's "The More Loving One," do not constitute offensive language that could disrupt the school's educational priorities, said U.S. District Judge Brian Sandoval.

He issued a temporary restraining order sought by Jacob Behymer-Smith, 14, after school administrators at the Coral Academy of Science told him he could not use the poem in future competitions.

The teen intends to recite it April 22 during Poetry Out Loud, a contest sponsored by the National Endowment of the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

In granting the injunction, Sandoval said there was "a total absence of any evidence" that the school's prohibition was legal under the U.S. Constitution and that the teen likely would be able to prove his First Amendment rights were being violated.

Thankfully young Jacob didn't just say "to hell with this damn poetry!" and move on to short stories. He stood and fought for his poem! Good luck in the competition, Jacob.

What sayeth the Kettle?

FIGHT THE POWER, YOUNG JACOB. FIGHT IT. Here is his poem and it is wonderful. On a similar note, at school Mrs. Olive (not her real name, but wouldn't it be great if it was!) wanted to read an Auden poem at Morning Meeting, but annoying Mr. K. derailed her. Long story. Her poem, here, is divine. You might remember it from Four Weddings and a Funeral. If you don't remember the poem, that was probably because you were weeping. A lot.

This is a "No Turn on Red" sign, obviously. When present, it means that said driver cannot make a right turn when stopped at a red traffic light. More importantly, when the "No Turn on Red" sign is NOT present, said driver may, in fact, turn right when stopped at a red traffic light. Perhaps arguably, the absence of a "No Turn on Red" sign is more important than its presence. (I am nodding towards a disagreement from the Pot.)

People, this is quite easy and not asking much of you to look around for the sign. Do we need to start making "You May Turn on Red" signs? I don't think so. Let's just look for the sign and f%$!'in turn right on red when we are allowed to, k? This would be most helpful if you find yourself stopped at the Prospect/Bloomfield Ave traffice light in scenic Verona, I believe going North on Prospect, but I don't know my directions so well.

I quote my mother, "Excuse me, in this country, we follow rules."

The Pot's 2 cents: When I initially saw this post I was going to advise the Kettle that a right turn on red when there is no sign is not mandatory, but instead merely an option a driver has when waiting at a light. I think that makes sense. The light is still red and its always better to be careful and have the green light before proceeding.

But before I wrote to admonish the Kettle, I did a little research and learned here that oddly enough in New Jersey a right turn on red is mandatory when no sign prohibiting the act is posted. Yes, mandatory. New Jersey Statute 39:4-115(b) (formerly 39:4-114(b)) states that drivers "intending to turn right at an intersection where traffic is controlled by a traffic signal shall, unless an official sign of the State, municipality or county authority having jurisdiction over the intersection prohibits the same, proceed to make the turn" with proper care.

Shall is no may. The Kettle is right . . . make the f**king turn.

So it is National Poetry Month. Forsooth! At school, each member of the English Dept. has to read his/her favorite poem during a Morning Meeting. My turn was yesterday. It was very stressful, as earlier that day, I noticed that I put on the pair of khaki's with a visible hole in the back pocket, and not the holeless khakis, I had ironed the night before. Top that off with public speaking and a lack of coffee in the school building that day, I had given myself a severe headache before I had to read. It wasn't looking good.

But I read, and got a laugh with my little introduction, and when I finished someone even yelled out, "Ye-ah, Papa C!"

This is what I wanted to read, but clearly is would not have gone over well.

So I read this:

Silence

Since I lost you, I am silence-haunted;
Sounds wave their little wings
A moment, then in weariness settle
On the flood that soundless swings.

Whether the people in the street
Like pattering ripples go by,
Or whether the theatre sighs and sighs
With a loud, hoarse sigh:

Or the wind shakes a ravel of light
Over the dead-black river,
Or last night's echoings
Make the daybreak shiver:

I feel the silence waiting
To sip them all up again,
In its last completeness drinking
Down the noise of men.

DH Lawrence

Academy Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow and husband Chris Martin, the bizarre-I-hate-the-corporate-world lead singer of Coldplay, welcomed a second child into their family this weekend when Gwynnie gave birth to a son in New York City.

They named him Moses. Moses Martin.

Moses joins sister, Apple Martin, as two of Hollywood's future f**ked up children. Good luck, Moses.






Kettle:
Like our good friend, Kathy Griffin says, "Mmmm...Gwyneth Paltrow....she just oozes sexuality" or "You want the media to leave your kid alone? Don't fucking name her Apple!"

A corrections officer in Massachusetts faces punishment after he showed Brokeback Mountain to the inmates at the state's largest prison.

According to prison officials, it was not the subject matter of the movie that was bothersome (i.e., the gay cowboy love affair), "it was the graphic nature of the sexually explicit scenes" that the prison had an issue with.

I have to say, its an interesting film choice to show to a captive group of men who have been serving time in prison.

I bet more than a few prisoners acted out the somewhat infamous tent scene after lights out.

In a return to their roots of never being able to stand and fight, the French government (Jacques Chirac) has decided to surrender to a mob of 20-year olds who don't want to work.

Equis, Monsieur Président!!

I'm not an American Idol fan. In its five seasons, I've watched maybe 26 minutes of the show. Combined. But you would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to hear about the show from friends and/or co-workers, on the radio, the Internet or even the bus ride into Port Authority in the morning.

So I've heard about Mandisa. I heard she was booted off the show last week. I've also read some theories as to why. In a nutshell, she pissed off the gays and the gays got their revenge.

Supposebly, Mandisa is a supporter of a big proponent of the "ex-gay" movement (i.e., that being gay is a choice and that gay "behavior" can be changed if one puts his or her mind to it). This all stems from comments Mandisa made on American Idol's Web site where she listed her "American Idol" as Beth Moore of Living Proof Ministries. Moore's Web site contains, among other things, links to "ex-gay" groups and other organizations that discourage homosexuality.

Regardless of whether Mandisa is a supporter of ex-gay groups (which is a bit of a reach since Mandisa hasn't signed on to everthing Beth Moore stands for), Mandisa is not a fan of the gays. As she told the Advocate.com when asked if she would perform at a gay event, "[b]ased on what I believe, I'm not an advocate for (being gay), so it's nothing I would take part in."

Whatever, Mandisa.

Some advice to future American Idol contenstants: piss us off and we'll send you home faster than you can say Justin Guarini.

(Hat tip The Malcontent)

Despite the miserable opening for Basic Instinct 2, Sharon Stone plans on not only starring in part 3 of the movie franchise but directing it as well.

Ms. Stone may want to rethink that decision, given morality's win over part 2.











The Kettle cannot wait for Amy Poehler to get on board with this!

I stumbled on this blog, its related website and this site as well, all allegedly dedicated to preventing women from dating men that cheat. Take a read through some of the descriptions left by the jilted women -- it brings new meaning to the phrase "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

Here are some more interesting, somewhat similar, sites:

A gender neutral site dedicated to the psychos we date.

Men and women looking to have affairs.

Break-up stories and other tales of relationships gone wrong.

If you hate men.

If you are against marriage.

A how-to in getting rid of your wife. Legally.

Its amazing the things you can find on the Internet.

Since April 15 is approaching quickly (or are we approaching it quickly? either way . . . ) I gathered all of my tax info together this past weekend, purchased Turbo Tax and sat at the table and attempted to make sense of the W2, 1099-INTs, 1091s, mortgage statements, tax bills, receipts and the charitable thank-yous. From this exercise, I conclude the following:

1) I pay too much. I admit it, I earn a very decent wage, but when I look at the amount of tax I pay to the federal government, New York and New Jersey (not to mention the Social Security tax and the Medicare tax and add on top of that my property taxes), it boggles my mind. I understand the necessity of taxes and I don't mind paying my fair share. But when I see the amount of money I pay to Washington, Trenton and Albany I can't help but think that the elected officials of both parties don't do enough to keep spending under control. This is not a partisan statement . . . Republicans are (almost) just as guilty as Democrats when it comes to pork barrel and cookie jar spending. Stop it! I'm more likely to vote for someone who makes tough decisions and stays true to fiscal responsibility than one who just tries to bring as much he bacon back to his/her home district as he/she can.

2) The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) sucks and Congress needs to fix it. It was meant to make sure millionaires didn't escape paying federal taxes by loading up on itemized deductions. While the tax brackets have changed significantly and the tax code has been amended numerous times, the AMT has stayed pretty much the same. The result -- the AMT now hits many people who make significantly less than the millionaires the AMT was meant to nab. I do well for myself, but the AMT has increased my tax bill significantly because such things as property tax and state income tax deductions are eliminated. Unfortunately I get hurt by living in a state where property taxes are completely out of whack and work in a state where the income tax is one of the highest in the land. True tax relief cannot be had without adjusting the AMT.

3) The capital gains tax and tax on dividends, as they are today, should be made permanent (if not lowered). I won't bore you with details on this one. Let's just say people shouldn't be penalized at a rate higher than their income tax bracket merely because an investment they have paid off.

4) Doing my taxes always reminds me why I'm a supply sider.

The gay-American has hit the news again, this time with word of a forthcoming book. Yes, ladies and gentleman, New Jersey's gay former governor James E. McGreevey whose 15 minute expired a year ago has a memoir coming out on September 19. The title? The Confession. Almost sounds like a John Grisham novel.

According to Star-Ledger sources "[t]he book will include details about McGreevey's gay sex life and his efforts to keep his homosexuality hidden through two marriages and a political career that took him from Woodbridge Town Hall to the Statehouse."

Yikes! Do we really need to know where Jim's lips have been?

Any idea when Golan Cipel's book hit the stores?

For those interested, Amazon.com has already (deeply) discounted the price.

(Hat tip DynamoBuzz)

Today is one of the best days of the year . . . opening day for Major League Baseball.

We can look forward to 162 games of fun before the Yankees win the World Series (hopefully) and the Boston Red Sox choke (likely).

(In case you can't tell, that is Derek Jeter in drag in the lower right side of the picture. David Wells, impersonating none other than Victoria Styles, is standing in the black dress)

Basic Instinct 2 made a humiliating 3.2 million dollars its opening weekend. Food for thought.