The Daily Sheet Feb. 1 to Feb. 16, 2008

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, February 2, 2008

. . . . . . Profile: Oceansbetween

My username comes from how I felt after seeing Brokeback Mountain. I didn’t find anyone right away who had been as affected. All the emotions and thoughts the film stirred up made it seem, for a while, as if there were “oceans between” me and everyone else in the world. I’m definitely more of an Ennis, an island, so that probably contributed as well. It took me a few months to summon the courage to register here, and even longer to begin posting.

* * * * *

Are you a morning person or night-owl, peacemaker or comfortable with confrontation, more of a sunbather or rock-climber, life-of-the-party or desiring a quiet cup of coffee with a few friends?
I’m definitely a peacemaker, but I’ll get in there and mix it up with anyone when the situation calls for it. Easy rock-climbing in the summer sun, especially near the water. I like to observe people at big parties, but it’s easier to get to know people in smaller groups. I enjoy hot apple cider sessions with friends on sleepy winter afternoons.

What’s the strangest food/food combination that you’ve ever eaten?
Sushi and hot chocolate. They don’t mix well at all.

What famous quote has inspired you?
One of my coworkers keeps this anonymous quote on her desk: “Some people are like Slinkys: They don’t really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.”

Currently listening to?
ELO’s Discovery LP.

Your perfect day?
Making candy. There’s something about the process that brings people together, and licking the bowls and spoons afterward can be a good segue into sharing deep thoughts.

If you could take a class on something that interests you, what would it be and why?
Costuming. I’d love to work backstage or behind the camera.

First job?
Restaurant hostess. It lasted for three Saturdays, until the previous employee decided to return. I’m sure the fact that she was related to one of the owners had nothing to do with my losing my job.

What was your most embarrassing experience or the strangest situation that you found yourself in?
Strange situation: Walking through Milan on my own, returning to my hotel, not knowing more than a few words of Italian. It was only a couple of miles in the early evening dusk, but it seemed risky to me. I started quickly, very nervous. Several people smiled and/or greeted me. I gradually slowed down and began to appreciate the city, all that I had been ignoring. I wound up spending almost two hours, and I learned a lot about myself.

If you were able to redo something in your life and do it differently, what would it be and why?
I would laugh more, because laughter tends to improve everything it touches: people’s moods, sticky situations, health problems, even political debates.

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
Dress for colder weather than you expect; you can always shed layers.

Other than your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life?
All the teachers I ever had, good and bad ones. They saw things in me that I didn’t know existed.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“Thank you.” (I’d just want to know that I did okay.)

What’s one thing that you just can’t stand, so you’re trying to help fix it?
Illiteracy, so I try to participate in “learn to read” programs.

What do you know for sure?
That the regrets for not trying will cut more deeply than the fallout from taking chances.

What brought you to the Forum?
The worry that I was crazy to be obsessed with all things Brokeback. Being here has proven that to be...true? false? LOL.

What do you appreciate the most about this site, what is the most important thing that you have learned as a result of being here?
I appreciate the depth of intelligence and the huge range of interests, ages and cultures. Among the things I’ve learned is that there’s no trouble or sorrow that cannot be lightened, if only for a moment.

How many times have you watched BBM?
More than 50.

What was your take-away message from BBM? What affected you the most?
Message: Life is short. Take chances.
Affected most by: Ennis’s expressions. A man who didn’t say much still got his point across: painfully vulnerable during the second night in the tent; lost and exposed as he cried in the alley; peaceful and open as he sent up a prayer of thanks.




Heath Honored at the SAG Awards

Heath Ledger was remembered at the SAG Awards on Sunday night most notably when highly respected actor, Daniel Day-Lewis, dedicated his Best Actor win for his role in There Will Be Blood to Heath. His heart-felt words: "For as long as I can remember, the thing that gave me a sense of wonderment, of renewal, the thing that teased me with the question 'How is such a thing possible,' and then dared you to go back into the arena one more time, has always been the work of other actors...who have given me the sense of regeneration and Heath Ledger gave that to me,"  Day-Lewis said. "In Monster’s Ball, that character that he created, it seemed to be almost like an unformed being, retreating from themselves, retreating from his father, from his life, even retreating from us, and yet we wanted to follow him, and yet we’re scared to follow him almost. It was unique." "In Brokeback Mountain, he was unique, he was perfect," said Day-Lewis, "That scene in the trailer at the end of the film is as moving as anything I think I've ever seen. And I’d like to dedicate this (best actor's award) to Heath Ledger."

The Screen Actors Guild also honored Heath during the In Memoriam photo dedication, which concluded with Heath as Ennis del Mar, a gripping big-screen finale. This reported in The Daily Telegraph. Ryan Gosling remembered Heath by wearing a black ribbon on his lapel, a quiet way to acknowledge the man gone far too soon. The ribbon was designed by Gosling’s sister Mandy, who accompanied him to the awards, this reported by Contact Music.

When It's More Than Just Sadness

By MichaelFlanagansf

Recently here we've had more than our share of grief here. Two wonderful people who we care for have been taken from us and all of us are very upset. But how do you know if it is more than just sadness, or if you or someone else you are communicating with is veering from sadness and grief into depression? Fortunately there are some good sources for information about this topic. Concerning depression, the American Psychiatric Association's Healthy Minds website says: Depression has a variety of symptoms, but the most common are a deep feeling of sadness or marked loss of interest or pleasure in activities. Other symptoms include: • Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains unrelated to dieting • Insomnia or oversleeping • Loss of energy or increased fatigue • Restlessness or irritability • Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt • Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions • Thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide

. . .

This information comes from Heathyminds.com/depression, from the general website Heathyminds.com Additionally, here are two web pages which provide information on depression Mayoclinic.com/depression and Helpguide.org/depression The good news is that there are many resources for people looking for help. Here are two websites that provide information on picking a mental health provider CNN.com/Health and Mayoclinic.com/mental health It is also important for anyone looking for mental health care to remember that they have a great resource in their primary care provider. Two other sources are their local hospital emergency rooms and employee assistance programs. Most large cities and counties have mental health services that can be accessed by phone and you can find them by calling information (or your local library reference desk) or 911 (or your local emergency number) to access these services. For a web directory of mental health care services in the U.S. you can look at the Mental Health Services Locator at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. Of the symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are the most serious. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide the time to act is now. Fortunately there are many resources you can use. Here are some web pages that can provide help: Mayo Clinic page on Suicide • Suicide Hotlines (U.S. and International) • National Suicide Prevention Hotline • Befrienders International • CNN site on suicide Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to mention the National Alliance on Mental Illness - a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with serious mental illness. At times like these it’s best to remember that we are not alone - and that there are people who care for us - so call a friend or check in with a family member. And if you are feeling stressed remember that there is a big beautiful world out there - take a walk, visit a garden or go to an art gallery. Remember that the world can be comforting as well as stressing - and take care of yourself. Also remember that mental health is just as important as physical health - and just as you would feel no shame in seeing a doctor if your back or arm hurt you should feel no shame in trying to remain mentally healthy. Difficult times bring out the best and worst in people. If someone seems to be in trouble don’t be afraid to reach out to them. We all care for one another here - that should be clear to even casual observers now. If we take care of each other and ourselves we will get through these difficult times together.

Heath's Family Remembers

. .

In People.com Mike Fleeman reports on messages that Heath's family released in an Australian newspaper. In heartwarming and personal remembrances of a deeply-loved son and treasured brother, Heath’s family remembers the man behind the celebrity: From Heath’s Mother Sally, “Our darling boy, special in so many ways to all of us. You knew you were so loved. You lived life with courage and daring and we are so grateful for the wonderful times we shared. We will be there for Matilda." His older sister Kate, whose nickname for Heath was "Roast," wrote: "I can hardly breathe when I try to write this. We were the ultimate in soul mates. I feel both my heart and life have been torn apart. I loved our special talks, our daily chats from wherever you were in the world. I especially loved all the precious time we spent together. We were so fortunate to have you as long as we did. You were so many things to so many people, but to me you were just my little brother. There will never, ever be another "Heath" and I think that in itself is the greatest tragedy. I will continue to talk with you everyday and love you just as if you were here. You will never leave my thoughts "Roast", ever.

From Heath’s Dad Kim, who called his son "Heatho" and "Beef": "My beautiful boy, so loving, so talented, so independent, so caring, so young . . . no more chess games mate . . . this is it, couldn't beat you anyway! My body aches for the sound of your voice, our chats, our laughs and our life and times together. Your truly varied artistic skills, insatiable desire to improve and eclectic abilities set you apart from any other person on the planet . . . it had only just started for you ... and for us to further enjoy. We were one, in soul and commitment. Just . . . Father and Son. I will love you forever, Dad." And in a statement released by the family, their grief and loss is palpable as they mourn the brother, the son that they adored: "You were the most amazing individual "old soul" in a young man's body. You so loved us, as we dearly loved you. As a close knit and very private family unit we have observed you so determined yet quietly traveling in your self-styled path in life, nothing would get in your way ... no mountain too tall, no river too wide. You dreamed your dreams and lived them with passion and intelligent commitment. We have been privileged to accompany you on a ride through life that has simply been amazing and through it all, we have loved each other beyond imagination. Your true legacy lives on in beautiful little Matilda, who will always remain in the greatest of care. Our hearts are broken.

Forum Donation In Memory of Jackie (Paintedshoes)

The forum is starting to gather contributions to donate, in Jaclyn Pascarella's name, to The Washington Ear, a program where volunteers read the Washington Post so that blind people can call in and hear the news. Jackie volunteered for this organization for years, and really loved the work she did there. Killersmom/Linda will be organizing this effort for us. We are not going to use PayPal, so there will be no confusion with other forum funds. Members can donate by check or money order made out to Dave Cullen Forums, earmarking it as a donation in Jackie's name for the Washington Ear. All donations are welcome, no amount is too small. You can pm killersmom for her contact information, then mail your contribution directly to her. When the time frame for donating has ended (Feb. 16th), the amount received will be donated toThe Washington Ear from the forum in Jackie's name.   All personal information of those donating will be kept private, and a card will be sent to the family indicating the forum names of those donating. Thank you Killersmom!

. .

Gearing up for Super Tuesday -- Democrat's Views Change the Focus of Gay Voters

SUPER TUESDAY, February 5th, is quickly approaching with over 20 states holding primaries or caucuses on that day where people can cast their votes for hopeful Democratic and Republican candidates. Join us on the Primary Season Thread and tell us your thoughts on the campaigns thus far; and remember to vote! With the primary season in full swing, voters interested in issues impacting the gay community are actually talking more about the war in Iraq and health care than gay marriage or hate-crimes legislation, this because the leading Democratic candidates, Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as John Edwards who recently withdrew from the race, all have similar positions in support of key topics impacting gays. Both candidates support same-sex civil unions (although neither back gay marriage), both have promised to help in the fight to repeal the militaries “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy,  and each would push for federal anti-discrimination laws specific to gay individuals.

. .

The Republican candidates hold opposing positions from the Democrats on these issues.  "Mike Huckabee, has not repudiated his suggestion, made in 1992, that people with AIDS be isolated from the general population. He and the other leading candidates — Senator John McCain of Arizona, and Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor — are opposed to same-sex civil unions and any compromise that would allow gays to serve openly in the military," as reported by Andrew Jacobs of the New York Times. “I think there’s also a lot of excitement over having someone other than George Bush in the White House,” said Matthew W. Carlin, president of the Stonewall Democratic Club. “And there’s a feeling that people could be happy with any of the Democrats.”

Super Bowl XLll

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Will the Giants upset the Patriots? It’s time for the big game, so let us know who's going to win and why. Do you have a small wager on the game? What do you think the point spread will be? Come on over to the Sports thread and post your predictions – Giants or Patriots?  And don't miss out on the fabulous Super Bowl recipes being exchanged on the Recipes and Cooks Corner thread - When Pigs Fly Appetizer?? When the games over – don't forget to tell us your favorite commercial. The Super Bowl can be seen on Fox at 6:15pm Eastern time, with the pre-game show starting at 3:00pm.

A printable version of TDS Tributes to Heath and Jackie are Available

Thanks to the efforts of BayCityJohn, anyone who is interested in a printable copy of the tributes to Heath and Jackie can download the pdf file as a keepsake: TDS Saturday Jan 26: All About Heath. File size is 3.16 MB TDS Special: Our Jackie (Paintedshoes).  File size is 3.64 MB TDS Saturday extra: Alberta Folks Remember.  File size is 1.3 MB Thank you BayCityJohn!

. Jackie’s Thread Being Memorialized for Her Family Nax is tackling the labor intensive process of capturing Jackie’s Friends thread and converting the inspired messages, pictures, stories and poems into a Word document that will be printed and bound for Jackie’s family. This process has already begun, and will include posts made prior to Jan. 31st. The thread, Jackie's Friends, remains open and welcoming to all who would like to join us there. Much thanks Nax!

Forum Post of the Day

Posted by Mouk in the Photo Captioning 3 Fun thread:

"I am in Alberta, went to Campsite 2 this afternoon, left a small tribute where the tent was, on behalf of all of us."

Quote of the Day:

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we
have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

~ Albert Pike ~

Photo Captions of the Day

From Photo Captioning 3 Fun

I'm Jackie, Heath. Welcome to the Diner . . .

By TwistandShout

Jack: You'll like it up here. Even the snow ain't cold.                     Heath: And God doesn't mind me hangin' out with you? I mean,                                 you bein' fictional and all. Nah. We're both spirits of the heart, now. Besides, it's purdy laid back up here. And you don't hafta talk in an American accent just because you're with me.                      Well, I'm comfortable with it.                      Wyoming kinda gave me my voice.

By HR

Contributors: KittyHawk, BayCityJohn, Michaelflanagansf, HR, TwistandShout, Oceansbetween,
Tellyouwhat, gnash, LoveEmBoys, Huntinbuddy, Mouk, Killersmom, Twtplanner. 

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.


Heath Ledger & Jaclyn Pascarella Memorial Service 
Denver, February 9, 2008

March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl

Today's edition formatted and proofed by gnash

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page.
When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email.

Previous issues of The Daily Sheet.

Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

. . . . Michelle Williams' Poignant Remarks About Heath

Michelle Williams released a statement regarding Heath's death saying, "My heart is broken.” Echoing the sentiments Heath made in an earlier interview about his legacy living on in his daughter, Michelle said, “I am the mother of the most tender-hearted, high-spirited, beautiful little girl who is the spitting image of her father. All that I can cling to is his presence inside her that reveals itself every day. His family and I watch Matilda as she whispers to trees, hugs animals, and takes steps two at a time, and we know that he is with us still," Williams said. "She will be brought up in the best memories of him," this from Comcast.net/entertainment. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that "Michelle Williams and her daughter are expected to attend a private family funeral for Ledger in his hometown of Perth. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal, Ledger's co-star from Brokeback Mountain and godfather to Matilda, is also expected to attend." Filming of Michelle Williams' next movie, Blue Valentine, has been postponed indefinitely while she takes a leave of absence to mourn Heath's death. The movie, about a “young couple struggling with their marriage," is to star Michelle Williams and Ryan Gossling; filming was to have begun Feb. 25th. Michelle had just finished filming her latest movie, "Mammuth," in Sweden when she heard about Heath’s death, this reported by Sarah Hall of Comcast.net Entertainment.

. .

. . Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday, today Feb. 5th, has 24 states holding primaries or caucuses - with 52 percent of all Democratic Party delegates and 41 percent of the total Republican Party delegates at stake with this vote. Wikipedia The Washington Post reports that a Democratic candidate will need 2,025 delegates to win the nomination (there are 4,049 Democratic delegates overall), and a Republican candidate will need 1,191 (with 2,381 Republican delegates overall). In order to win their party's nomination, candidates must win a majority of delegates, who will then cast votes at the summer nominating conventions. Since neither race has a clear front-runner, candidates are now concentrating on gathering the most delegates, even if they don't win states outright. Delegate totals as of 2/2/08: Democrats Senator Clinton 259 delegates Senator Obama 190 delegates Republican Senator McCain 93 delegates Mitt Romney 77 delegates Huckabee 40 delegates From Washington Post Stay tuned Tuesday night and visit the Primary Season Thread as the returns come in. Also check out Dave's blog with recent posts from his work as a precinct captain.

Author Patterson - releases book on BBM,
Article Exploring Heath’s role in the Film.

Elegy for Heath Ledger: His Imperishable Achievement in Brokeback Mountain, an article by Eric Patterson, takes an in-depth look at the "most impressive elements of Heath Ledger's rich and subtle performance as Ennis del Mar."

An excerpt from the article:

There isn't time for such extensive analytical discussion, though of course it should and will come eventually. It isn't necessary now; all one really needs to do is to watch Brokeback once more and feel his extraordinary performance. Of course, one of the effects of the endless parodies and "jokes" about the film ever since its release has been to prevent appreciation of it, to seek to neutralize its beauty and power by burying it in ridicule. Can one imagine such continuous abuse being directed at a film about any other minority group, at, say, Schindler's List or Do the Right Thing? But for those who aren't poisoned with hatred of men who love men, and who can watch the film with open hearts, it speaks for itself.

You can read the full article HERE Patterson's recently published book On Brokeback Mountain: Meditations about Masculinity, Fear, and Love in the Story and the Film compares the story and the film, in addition to discussing the social history of gay men in America, masculinity, friendship, and sexual relationships between men. The book also explores homophobia, literature depicting homoerotic rural life, Western tradition, and the tragic romantic love story. On Brokeback Mountain was released on Jan.16th and is available at our Amazon bookstore. Patterson is associate professor of American studies and American literature at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Stay tuned for a full TDS review of this book, coming soon.

Click here to purchase On Brokeback Mountain.

Sony and Warner Brothers Pay Tribute to Heath These full-page remembrances of Heath appeared in the Jan. 25th issue of Variety.

Sony Tribute

From Warner Brothers

Order Jan. 29th Variety With Our Ad To order the back issue of the January 29th issue of Daily Variety with our forum's ad: Call 1-866-MY VARIETY (U.S.)   1-866-698-2743  OR:  1-515-247-2993 (Outside of U.S.) Hours:  8 am-10 pm central M-F;  8:30 am - 5 pm Sat;  9:30 am - 2:30 pm Sun

DC Forum says thank you

. . Speaking Up When it Counts Crossing the Line of Decency in the Death of a Great Man

With the recent death of Heath Ledger, media sources reported on, and speculated about, the many facets of Heath's life, but new heights of disrespect were reached when Fox News personality John Gibson responded to the death of Heath Ledger, as described here by ThinkProgress.org: "Opening his radio show with funeral music yesterday, Fox News host John Gibson callously mocked the death of actor Heath Ledger, calling him a 'weirdo' with a 'serious drug problem." "Playing an audio clip of the iconic quote, 'I wish I knew how to quit you' from Ledger’s gay romance movie Brokeback Mountain, Gibson disdainfully quipped, 'Well, he found out how to quit you.' Laughing, Gibson then played another clip from Brokeback Mountain in which Ledger said, 'We’re dead,' followed by his own, mocking 'We’re dead' before playing the clip again. Throughout the course of the show, Gibson continued to bring up Ledger’s death while discussing current events, jokingly claiming that current events may have caused him to commit suicide."   Julie Bogart writes in an article for ReligionandSpirituality.com concerning Gibson's remarks , they represent “irresponsible journalism combined with homophobic attacks beyond the bounds of human charity or decency.” In response to the out-cry from his mean-spirited statements, Huffingtonpost.com reports that "Gibson 'apologized' for his distasteful comments on Heath Ledger's death. Though he first defended his statements on his radio show saying there is 'no point in passing up a good joke,' he said, and repeated his Brokeback Mountain joke saying, 'I'm not giving that up' — he eventually caved to pressure to apologize and did so on his television show."

"Still, his apology seemed forced, and relatively half-hearted: 'Those who knew him say he was a good actor and a loving dad. And what happened to him was terrible, but was evidently an accident. Once again, to anyone offended by my comments, I'm sorry. But I'm also sorry that Heath Ledger is no longer alive and with us." A review of on-line responses to the comments made by Gibson, shows that respondents overwhelmingly denounce his statements and irreverent attitude. A sampling of such reactions can be found at Tailrank.com. We can voice our thoughts about John Gibson's offensive remarks to Fox News or make our statement by giving our time and attention to a reputable newscaster.

Maker of Snap-Front Shirts Worn in BBM, Dies

As reported by Amy Haimerl in Google Groups Jack B. Weil, Vice President of Rockmount Western Wear, passed away on January 22nd from cancer. Jack B. is credited with helping to bring snap-front Western shirts to Hollywood where they were embraced and used to outfit Ronald Reagan, James Garner, Elvis, Clark Gable and John Travolta’s Urban Cowboy character. But most famously, these Rockmount shirts were worn in Brokeback Mountain by Jack Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger, symbols immortalizing Jack and Ennis's unspoken love for each other. Jack B.’s father, and founder of Rockmount Western Wear, Jack A. (or Papa Jack), age 106, continues on as CEO of the company. He explained about the snap-front shirt: "I always said snaps were safer for a rider on a horse," Jack A. told Cowboys & Indians magazine in June 2006. "If a buttonhole got caught on a bull's horn, a rider could get dragged. Not so with a snap shirt, which could come right off."

Forum Donation In Memory of Jackie (Paintedshoes)

Contributions can be made to Jackie's favorite organization, The Washington Ear, by check or money order made out to Dave Cullen Forums, earmarking the donation in Jackie's name. Killersmom/Linda will be organizing this effort for us. You can PM killersmom for her contact information, then mail your contribution directly to her. When the time frame for donating has ended (Feb. 16th), the amount received will be donated toThe Washington Ear from the forum in Jackie's name.  All donations are welcome, no amount is too small. The Washington Ear has volunteers read the Washington Post so that visually impaired people can call in and hear the news.   All personal information of those donating will be kept private, and a card will be sent to the family indicating the forum names of those donating. Thank you Killersmom!

. .

Fun Question of the Week

Where do we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's," from, and what do "P" and "Q" stand for? Let us know the answer on the response thread.

A printable version of TDS Tributes to Heath and Jackie are Available

Thanks to the efforts of San Francisco John, formally BayCityJohn, anyone who is interested in a printable copy of the tributes to Heath and Jackie can download the pdf file as a keepsake: TDS Saturday Jan 26: All About Heath. File size is 3.16 MB TDS Special: Our Jackie (Paintedshoes).  File size is 3.64 MB TDS Saturday extra: Alberta Folks Remember.  File size is 1.3 MB Thank you San Francisco John!

Forum Post of the Day

Posted by DaveinPhilly in the Gay and Christian in the World of Today thread: Part of the appeal to a "gay homeland" like all ghettos is the fantasy of safety. I'd suggest that in communities that are less (or not at all accepting) the gay man or woman longs for a safe haven, though even in places like San Francisco in the 70's there was a tendency to ghettoise into a closed community. Real integration is the answer no ifs ands or buts but it does come with risks. Just like coming out, there are unexpected consequences -one of which just might be real self-acceptance. This works no matter what sort of community we're talking about.

Quote of the Day:

i still feel sad and it's rainy out the last few days, but i will look for rainbows.

~ gnash ~

The beautiful rainbow gnash then found!

Photo Captions of the Day

From Photo Captioning 3 Fun
By Ministering Angel

It's true, you are no longer here
but because of you, so many of us are freed from our lonely trailers,
freed to make the step into our real lives and not just to endure the lives that fate has imposed on us.
You were, and still are, a free spirit, inspiring and courageous.
Thank you, Heath. We are lucky to have known you. You will always be here with us.

 

Contributors: KittyHawk, BayCityJohn, Alma, Tellyouwhat, DaveinPhilly, gnash, Ministering Angel

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.


Heath Ledger & Jaclyn Pascarella Memorial Service 
Denver, February 9, 2008

March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: denim girl, gnash, whiplash

Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com

Today's edition formatted and proofed by whiplash

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page.
When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email.

Previous issues of The Daily Sheet.

Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, February 9, 2008

. . . . . . . . Profile: Huntinbuddy

Hi, I'm huntinbuddy (Charlie) and I have lived nearly all my life in Missouri. I grew up in a rural area of the state, a middle class, normal childhood, attending public schools and continued my education with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri in 1980. Upon graduation, I worked for a multinational company that shipped me everywhere but east Egypt it seemed over the next two years doing internal audits at various operating locations. Getting tired of this rather quickly, I told them where to stick it, and returned to Missouri, worked various odd jobs for a couple years, and then took employment with a small firm in 1985 which has been bought out three different times, and now once again, I essentially work for yet another multinational company. While the ownership has changed, I have stayed with the same job for 23 years. Now, however, I am the network administrator over several locations within the Midwest, and with it being the digital age, most of my traveling is over a phone line or satellite dish to do whatever job needs to be done.  Physical cables and new or replacement routers, etc. are all handled by outside contractors; all I do is keep it running and surprisingly little travel is required. I have been to most every state in the lower 48, as well as most provinces in Canada, many of the Caribbean islands, several countries in Europe as well as the Far East.  For the past 20 years, my favorite state to vacation in has been Wyoming, although I have not been there since the fall of 2005 (see photo above), just a few months before our favorite movie was released, even though it wasn't actually filmed there. I do a lot of programming work on the side, and it seems more and more web site design work for different clients. This activity, while time consuming, I do enjoy, and it provides me with the income to buy toys or travel or whatever I wish to do. Other hobbies I enjoy at home are gardening, woodworking and biking. In Wyoming, in addition to hiking many of the backcountry trails within Grand Teton and Yellowstone, I have also climbed to the top of Grand Teton; the last time, 10 years ago this fall. Speaking of years, I will be 50, the last day of January, 2008.

* * * * *

Are you a morning person or night-owl, peace-maker or comfortable with confrontation, more of a sun-bather or rock-climber, life -of-the-party or desiring a quiet cup of coffee with a few friends? I am a morning person; a peacemaker who loves to rock climb, but prefers a quite cup of coffee with a small group. What's the strangest food/food combination that you've ever eaten? Surprisingly, that would be chicken soup, however, chicken soup as served in the rural Luzon region of the Philippines.  It was served in a bowl, but I noticed the stock pot included the head as well as the feet.  Meat is a precious commodity there, and they use the whole chicken! Currently listening to or what is my favorite music? I'm an old rocker who likes many of the obscure, progressive groups from the 70's.  Music is one of my passions, and I play sax, flute, guitar, and dabble with keyboards.  I have over 800 Cd's ranging from AC/DC to ZZ Top.  However, in that collection you will find classical, country, new age, even disco.  But primarily old classic rock. Currently reading? I wish I had more time to read for pleasure.  Much like good film, good writing is an art form to be enjoyed.  But since you asked, Designing Componets with C++ STL: A New Approach to Programming. Biggest challenge? To be more organized in my personal paperwork. Nothing is more frustrating than to dig through a pile of paper a foot high looking for that one item I need immediately. Your perfect day? Sleeping until 7 or 8 am, a gourmet breakfast with a fine wine, followed by a day hike to Lake Solitude in Grand Teton National Park. What's your indulgence? Good food, good wine,  and lots of it...surprised I'm not overweight! Last major purchase? This top-of-the-line Dell laptop computer three years ago, and followed six months later by the best Canon SLR digital camera on the market at the time.  A great combination to have. First job? Mowing lawns and doing general lawn work as a child for those who didn't want to do it themselves.  From an IRS standpoint, working after school my second year of high school for a building construction firm. Other than BBM, what movie has impacted you the most?  Why? I tend to look at film as an art form which can at many times not just entertain, but depict life on the deepest of levels. Others which fall into that category for me are Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ordinary People, and Schlinder's List.  There are many others, but these few come to mind. If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Why are good people, even small children, struck down with terminal diseases such as cancer?  And don't give me that crap that it is because mankind is a fallen race, and has sinned, and deserves this; or I'm testing your faith. Young children before the age of accountability do not know sin.  And if the answer is they were needed more importantly in heaven, then why were they sent here to begin with? Other than your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? That would be a toss up between a couple of high school teachers who taught me to think for myself. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome, you finished the race. Your mansion is over there, and your family, friends and pets who finished before you are all waiting to see you. What's your inspiration? With proper motivation, nothing in this life is impossible to accomplish. What do you know for sure? Life is not easy, and frequently difficult. What brought you to the Forum? I had seen the movie a couple of times, and just could not get it out of my mind, day or night; could barely sleep! Was just a wreck at work, and needed to find out if I was alone in this or if others felt this way; basically just wanted to talk about it. I believe it was a Goggle search that brought me here two years ago; just four days after seeing BBM for the first time. I made a post here on my two year anniversary of seeing the film What do you appreciate the most about this site, what is the most important thing that you have learned as a result of being here? There are so many people here from all over the world, from different backgrounds, with different experiences who all have something to offer. It has provided the solace we rightly deserve for being deeply moved by this film. Are you more like Jack or Ennis?  Why? Oh, I'm an Ennis all the way, because I chose a long time ago to stand it rather than fix it. Your favorite threads? How Brokeback Affected Me, Gay and Christian in the World of Today, Life Through the Lens -- Sharing of Photo Talent, Photo Captioning Fun 3, The Daily Sheet, and the Forum Reunion threads. How many times have you watched BBM? During it's three month run at my local theaters, probably a dozen times or better; and then couldn't wait to get the DVD, but haven't watched it more than 4 or 5 times.  It's just too painful. Who is the one person that you would most want to see BBM and why? Any homophobic person who thinks that love between two people of the same sex is not possible. If they still hate after seeing the film, they truly are dangerous and should be locked up. Your favorite BBM scene? Many here write the SNIT, or the reunion scene; and these are very good, some of my favorites also; however, the scene that puts it all together for me is the final meeting of Jack and Ennis at the lake and what happens there. I see a broken Ennis, who knows and says he "can't stand it anymore," and a partner who has stood by him and loved him for 20 years albeit a long distance relationship, comforts him; yet the scene ends with Ennis continuing to stand it. It is one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen in a film. And really, from there on until the credits roll, it is just one punch in the gut after another....the phone call, the Twist home, the daughter dropping by, the shirts, the closet. It leaves me and I'm sure many others with the undeniable fact that Ennis lived out the rest of his days as a broken, lonely soul because he chose to stand it rather than fix it. What was your take-away message from BBM?  What affected you the most? I saw this film as an opportunity to learn about love, loss, hate, fear, prejudice, loyalty, betrayal, denial and perhaps other things we all as humans experience in life. I think the single most important lesson is that we all have to make choices in this life. And these choices have to be done with the most honest and truthful heart as possible, because the choices we make affect not only ourselves , but other people around us.

Heath

A statement released by the Medical Examiner's office concluded that Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications, this reported in CNN.com/entertainment. Heath Ledger's father, Kim Ledger, on behalf of the Ledger family released a statement after the New York City medical examiner's findings were made public: "While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage. "Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.

"We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle) as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful." Family and celebrity friends attended a memorial service for Heath on Feb. 2nd, on the lot of Sony studios in Los Angeles. In attendance were Sienna Miller, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Shannyn Sossamon, and director of "I'm Not There," Todd Haynes , among many others. Prior to the Feb. 2nd service, a more intimate memorial service was attended by immediate family and close friends, including former girlfriend Naomi Watts, at Los Angeles’ Westwood Village Memorial Park, reports People.com. A final private memorial to Heath will be held in his hometown of Perth, Australia before he is laid to rest at Karakatta Cemetery; this from Aceshowbiz.com.

February is Heart Month

Here are Some Heart Smart Tips Dr. Michael Miller of the University of Maryland Medical Center offers some heart-healthy tips:    The most heart healthy foods to nibble on are raw vegetables, particularly broccoli and cauliflower because of their high fiber content. Hummus, which contains good monounsaturated fats, is one of the best choices for dip. Laughter really is the best medicine! One recent study from the University of Maryland demonstrated that laughing reduces stress and during mealtime, laughing reduces the surge in blood sugar levels - these possible reasons why people who laugh more often are being found to have reduced heart disease. The more colorful the vegetable, the more heart-protective antioxidants contained within. Steaming is better than using the microwave for preserving nutrients. However, over-steaming or boiling will remove many of these heart-healthy elements. The best sources of antioxidants are leafy greens like kale and spinach (not iceberg lettuce), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, red bell peppers, carrots and squash. Fruits high in antioxidants include pink grapefruit, berries, oranges, plums, grapes, apricots, peaches, and blueberries. Chocolate is also high in antioxidants. Read more at ezinearticles.com.

. . . .

Documentary Nominated for Awards

. for the Bible tells me so continues to garner critical acclaim - a documentary film that looks at the experiences of five American, Christian families - including that of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt - to see how they handled the realization that one of their children is gay or lesbian. GLAAD announced the nominees for the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards and for the Bible tells me so was nominated for Best Documentary film. The GLAAD Media awards “honor everything from print journalism to cinema, and celebrate fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation,” explains Monika Bartyzel of Cimematical.com. for the Bible tells me so was also nominated in the Best Spiritual Documentary category for the 2008 Beliefnet Film Awards which honor the best spiritual movies and performances of the last year; this in Beliefnet.com.

With support from Silent Witness for the Bible tells me so has also met with some opposition. In January moviegoers in York PA were greeted with signs and shouts of protest by the Rev. Jim Grove and a group of 8 to 10 protesters. However there was also a shield protecting the patrons from Grove's group. Ten members of the Silent Witnesses of Central PA held rainbow umbrellas to form a buffer between Grove and the theater entrance. This group, Silent Witness, is a gay and straight alliance that aims to provide a non-confrontational barrier between protesters and counter-protesters; event attendees often can't see the protesters because the umbrellas block them from sight; this reported in the York Daily Record.

...............Super Tuesday's Results

Super Tuesday’s primary results gave Republican Sen. John McCain a big victory in the Republican delegate race over Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee. Republican Party – 1,191 delegates are needed for the party nomination McCain         611 (Super Tue.)     707 (overall)    Huckabee     155                         195 Romney        205                         294 As of Feb.7th, Mitt Romney withdrew from the race. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are neck and neck with Tuesday’s delegate count. Democratic Party – 2025 delegates are needed for the party nomination Clinton         794 (Super Tue.)     1055 (overall)    Obama         796                         998 Delegate count from WashingtonPost.com. There are decrepancies in the delegate count among reporting news organizations. Tell us your thoughts as the Republican field narrows and the Democratic field remains wide open on the Primary Season Thread.

With Valentines Day Right Around the Corner
Your help is needed.

Tell us how you would complete this statement:  Love is ____________________

 or

Tell us how you and your special someone are spending Valentine's Day

PM Stilllearning with your ideas.

Forum Donation In Memory of Jackie (Paintedshoes)

Contributions can be made to Jackie's favorite organization, The Washington Ear, by check or money order made out to Dave Cullen Forums, earmarking the donation in Jackie's name. Killersmom/Linda will be organizing this effort for us. You can PM killersmom for her contact information, then mail your contribution directly to her. When the time frame for donating has ended (Feb. 16th), the amount received will be donated to The Washington Ear from the forum in Jackie's name.  All donations are welcome, no amount is too small. The Washington Ear has volunteers read the Washington Post so that visually impaired people can call in and hear the news.   All personal information of those donating will be kept private, and a card will be sent to the family indicating the forum names of those donating.

.

In Dave's mailbox this week a note from Rick Chris: "(There is) a painting that I was working on when I heard of Heath's passing. I thought of just stopping work on it but I was encouraged to keep going. And going I did, I put a ton of detail into the piece. I also decided to make the piece not only as a tribute to Heath but to BBM fans. It's a Christmas scene of a movie house showing Brokeback Mountain, just like when the movie originally was released.  I made the scene very idealistic." This beautiful winter scene can be seen HERE

Still Need a Copy of Variety?

Although Variety has no more copies of "our issue," with its Thank You to Heath, you still have one more chance to get your copy - the forum has extra issues and there will be a lottery drawing for who will be able to purchase one. You can find out all the details HERE or by contacting LoveEmBoys.

Forum Post of the Day

Our forum friend from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,  Zuraffo, made this insightful post in the How the Dave Cullen Forum Has Affected Me thread - here's an excerpt from his post: "Brokeback mountain seemed to bring out every beautiful emotions and thoughts for the people who can appreciate the movie. One of the common things I noticed is that people started to want to express themselves after the encounter with Brokeback. I can't explain. There is something so pure about the movie, so cleansing that it makes you want to be a better person. For people who understand it, in any case. The forum provided a gathering place for people like us, where kindred spirits cheered each other on." You can read the complete post and join the discussion by visiting the How the DC Forum Has Affected Me thread.

Quote of the Day:

"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people
or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life."

~ Geoffrey F. Abert ~

Photo Caption of the Day

From Photo Captioning Fun 3 by Doodler and CANSTANDIT

Suicide? Drug overdose? Mary Kate Olsen... Not on your fuckin' life! Them media stiffs ain't never no good......

Contributors: KittyHawk, whiplash, Huntinbuddy, Doodler, canstandit,and Zuraffo

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.


Heath Ledger & Jaclyn Pascarella Memorial Service 
Denver, February 9, 2008

March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl

Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com

Today's edition formatted and proofed by gnash

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page.
When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email.

Previous issues of The Daily Sheet.

Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, February 9, 2008

. . . . . . . . Profile: Huntinbuddy

Hi, I'm huntinbuddy (Charlie) and I have lived nearly all my life in Missouri. I grew up in a rural area of the state, a middle class, normal childhood, attending public schools and continued my education with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri in 1980. Upon graduation, I worked for a multinational company that shipped me everywhere but east Egypt it seemed over the next two years doing internal audits at various operating locations. Getting tired of this rather quickly, I told them where to stick it, and returned to Missouri, worked various odd jobs for a couple years, and then took employment with a small firm in 1985 which has been bought out three different times, and now once again, I essentially work for yet another multinational company. While the ownership has changed, I have stayed with the same job for 23 years. Now, however, I am the network administrator over several locations within the Midwest, and with it being the digital age, most of my traveling is over a phone line or satellite dish to do whatever job needs to be done.  Physical cables and new or replacement routers, etc. are all handled by outside contractors; all I do is keep it running and surprisingly little travel is required. I have been to most every state in the lower 48, as well as most provinces in Canada, many of the Caribbean islands, several countries in Europe as well as the Far East.  For the past 20 years, my favorite state to vacation in has been Wyoming, although I have not been there since the fall of 2005 (see photo above), just a few months before our favorite movie was released, even though it wasn't actually filmed there. I do a lot of programming work on the side, and it seems more and more web site design work for different clients. This activity, while time consuming, I do enjoy, and it provides me with the income to buy toys or travel or whatever I wish to do. Other hobbies I enjoy at home are gardening, woodworking and biking. In Wyoming, in addition to hiking many of the backcountry trails within Grand Teton and Yellowstone, I have also climbed to the top of Grand Teton; the last time, 10 years ago this fall. Speaking of years, I will be 50, the last day of January, 2008.

* * * * *

Are you a morning person or night-owl, peace-maker or comfortable with confrontation, more of a sun-bather or rock-climber, life -of-the-party or desiring a quiet cup of coffee with a few friends? I am a morning person; a peacemaker who loves to rock climb, but prefers a quite cup of coffee with a small group. What's the strangest food/food combination that you've ever eaten? Surprisingly, that would be chicken soup, however, chicken soup as served in the rural Luzon region of the Philippines.  It was served in a bowl, but I noticed the stock pot included the head as well as the feet.  Meat is a precious commodity there, and they use the whole chicken! Currently listening to or what is my favorite music? I'm an old rocker who likes many of the obscure, progressive groups from the 70's.  Music is one of my passions, and I play sax, flute, guitar, and dabble with keyboards.  I have over 800 Cd's ranging from AC/DC to ZZ Top.  However, in that collection you will find classical, country, new age, even disco.  But primarily old classic rock. Currently reading? I wish I had more time to read for pleasure.  Much like good film, good writing is an art form to be enjoyed.  But since you asked, Designing Componets with C++ STL: A New Approach to Programming. Biggest challenge? To be more organized in my personal paperwork. Nothing is more frustrating than to dig through a pile of paper a foot high looking for that one item I need immediately. Your perfect day? Sleeping until 7 or 8 am, a gourmet breakfast with a fine wine, followed by a day hike to Lake Solitude in Grand Teton National Park. What's your indulgence? Good food, good wine,  and lots of it...surprised I'm not overweight! Last major purchase? This top-of-the-line Dell laptop computer three years ago, and followed six months later by the best Canon SLR digital camera on the market at the time.  A great combination to have. First job? Mowing lawns and doing general lawn work as a child for those who didn't want to do it themselves.  From an IRS standpoint, working after school my second year of high school for a building construction firm. Other than BBM, what movie has impacted you the most?  Why? I tend to look at film as an art form which can at many times not just entertain, but depict life on the deepest of levels. Others which fall into that category for me are Amadeus, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Ordinary People, and Schlinder's List.  There are many others, but these few come to mind. If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Why are good people, even small children, struck down with terminal diseases such as cancer?  And don't give me that crap that it is because mankind is a fallen race, and has sinned, and deserves this; or I'm testing your faith. Young children before the age of accountability do not know sin.  And if the answer is they were needed more importantly in heaven, then why were they sent here to begin with? Other than your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? That would be a toss up between a couple of high school teachers who taught me to think for myself. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome, you finished the race. Your mansion is over there, and your family, friends and pets who finished before you are all waiting to see you. What's your inspiration? With proper motivation, nothing in this life is impossible to accomplish. What do you know for sure? Life is not easy, and frequently difficult. What brought you to the Forum? I had seen the movie a couple of times, and just could not get it out of my mind, day or night; could barely sleep! Was just a wreck at work, and needed to find out if I was alone in this or if others felt this way; basically just wanted to talk about it. I believe it was a Goggle search that brought me here two years ago; just four days after seeing BBM for the first time. I made a post here on my two year anniversary of seeing the film What do you appreciate the most about this site, what is the most important thing that you have learned as a result of being here? There are so many people here from all over the world, from different backgrounds, with different experiences who all have something to offer. It has provided the solace we rightly deserve for being deeply moved by this film. Are you more like Jack or Ennis?  Why? Oh, I'm an Ennis all the way, because I chose a long time ago to stand it rather than fix it. Your favorite threads? How Brokeback Affected Me, Gay and Christian in the World of Today, Life Through the Lens -- Sharing of Photo Talent, Photo Captioning Fun 3, The Daily Sheet, and the Forum Reunion threads. How many times have you watched BBM? During it's three month run at my local theaters, probably a dozen times or better; and then couldn't wait to get the DVD, but haven't watched it more than 4 or 5 times.  It's just too painful. Who is the one person that you would most want to see BBM and why? Any homophobic person who thinks that love between two people of the same sex is not possible. If they still hate after seeing the film, they truly are dangerous and should be locked up. Your favorite BBM scene? Many here write the SNIT, or the reunion scene; and these are very good, some of my favorites also; however, the scene that puts it all together for me is the final meeting of Jack and Ennis at the lake and what happens there. I see a broken Ennis, who knows and says he "can't stand it anymore," and a partner who has stood by him and loved him for 20 years albeit a long distance relationship, comforts him; yet the scene ends with Ennis continuing to stand it. It is one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen in a film. And really, from there on until the credits roll, it is just one punch in the gut after another....the phone call, the Twist home, the daughter dropping by, the shirts, the closet. It leaves me and I'm sure many others with the undeniable fact that Ennis lived out the rest of his days as a broken, lonely soul because he chose to stand it rather than fix it. What was your take-away message from BBM?  What affected you the most? I saw this film as an opportunity to learn about love, loss, hate, fear, prejudice, loyalty, betrayal, denial and perhaps other things we all as humans experience in life. I think the single most important lesson is that we all have to make choices in this life. And these choices have to be done with the most honest and truthful heart as possible, because the choices we make affect not only ourselves , but other people around us.

Heath

A statement released by the Medical Examiner's office concluded that Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications, this reported in CNN.com/entertainment. Heath Ledger's father, Kim Ledger, on behalf of the Ledger family released a statement after the New York City medical examiner's findings were made public: "While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage. "Our family enjoyed an extremely happy two week visit with Heath just prior to the New Year. Those recent precious days will stay with us forever. We as a family feel privileged to have some of his amazing magic moments captured in film. To most of the world Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise. To those who knew him personally, Heath was a consummate artist whose passions also included photography, music, chess and directing. We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.

"We treasure our beautiful granddaughter Matilda (to our dear Michelle) as well as an unbelievably wonderful network of close friends, forever, around the world. Families rarely experience the uplifting, warm and massive outpouring of grief and support as have we, from every corner of the planet. This has deeply and profoundly touched our hearts and lives. We are eternally grateful." Family and celebrity friends attended a memorial service for Heath on Feb. 2nd, on the lot of Sony studios in Los Angeles. In attendance were Sienna Miller, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Shannyn Sossamon, and director of "I'm Not There," Todd Haynes , among many others. Prior to the Feb. 2nd service, a more intimate memorial service was attended by immediate family and close friends, including former girlfriend Naomi Watts, at Los Angeles’ Westwood Village Memorial Park, reports People.com. A final private memorial to Heath will be held in his hometown of Perth, Australia before he is laid to rest at Karakatta Cemetery; this from Aceshowbiz.com.

February is Heart Month

Here are Some Heart Smart Tips Dr. Michael Miller of the University of Maryland Medical Center offers some heart-healthy tips:    The most heart healthy foods to nibble on are raw vegetables, particularly broccoli and cauliflower because of their high fiber content. Hummus, which contains good monounsaturated fats, is one of the best choices for dip. Laughter really is the best medicine! One recent study from the University of Maryland demonstrated that laughing reduces stress and during mealtime, laughing reduces the surge in blood sugar levels - these possible reasons why people who laugh more often are being found to have reduced heart disease. The more colorful the vegetable, the more heart-protective antioxidants contained within. Steaming is better than using the microwave for preserving nutrients. However, over-steaming or boiling will remove many of these heart-healthy elements. The best sources of antioxidants are leafy greens like kale and spinach (not iceberg lettuce), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, red bell peppers, carrots and squash. Fruits high in antioxidants include pink grapefruit, berries, oranges, plums, grapes, apricots, peaches, and blueberries. Chocolate is also high in antioxidants. Read more at ezinearticles.com.

. . . .

Documentary Nominated for Awards

. for the Bible tells me so continues to garner critical acclaim - a documentary film that looks at the experiences of five American, Christian families - including that of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt - to see how they handled the realization that one of their children is gay or lesbian. GLAAD announced the nominees for the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards and for the Bible tells me so was nominated for Best Documentary film. The GLAAD Media awards “honor everything from print journalism to cinema, and celebrate fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation,” explains Monika Bartyzel of Cimematical.com. for the Bible tells me so was also nominated in the Best Spiritual Documentary category for the 2008 Beliefnet Film Awards which honor the best spiritual movies and performances of the last year; this in Beliefnet.com.

With support from Silent Witness for the Bible tells me so has also met with some opposition. In January moviegoers in York PA were greeted with signs and shouts of protest by the Rev. Jim Grove and a group of 8 to 10 protesters. However there was also a shield protecting the patrons from Grove's group. Ten members of the Silent Witnesses of Central PA held rainbow umbrellas to form a buffer between Grove and the theater entrance. This group, Silent Witness, is a gay and straight alliance that aims to provide a non-confrontational barrier between protesters and counter-protesters; event attendees often can't see the protesters because the umbrellas block them from sight; this reported in the York Daily Record.

...............Super Tuesday's Results

Super Tuesday’s primary results gave Republican Sen. John McCain a big victory in the Republican delegate race over Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee. Republican Party – 1,191 delegates are needed for the party nomination McCain         611 (Super Tue.)     707 (overall)    Huckabee     155                         195 Romney        205                         294 As of Feb.7th, Mitt Romney suspended his campaign for the presidency. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are neck and neck with Tuesday’s delegate count. Democratic Party – 2025 delegates are needed for the party nomination Clinton         794 (Super Tue.)     1055 (overall)    Obama         796                         998 Delegate count from WashingtonPost.com. There are decrepancies in the delegate count among reporting news organizations. Tell us your thoughts as the Republican field narrows and the Democratic field remains wide open on the Primary Season Thread.

With Valentines Day Right Around the Corner
Your help is needed.

Tell us how you would complete this statement:  Love is ____________________

 or

Tell us how you and your special someone are spending Valentine's Day

PM Stilllearning with your ideas.

Forum Donation In Memory of Jackie (Paintedshoes)

Contributions can be made to Jackie's favorite organization, The Washington Ear, by check or money order made out to Dave Cullen Forums, earmarking the donation in Jackie's name. Killersmom/Linda will be organizing this effort for us. You can PM killersmom for her contact information, then mail your contribution directly to her. When the time frame for donating has ended (Feb. 16th), the amount received will be donated to The Washington Ear from the forum in Jackie's name.  All donations are welcome, no amount is too small. The Washington Ear has volunteers read the Washington Post so that visually impaired people can call in and hear the news.   All personal information of those donating will be kept private, and a card will be sent to the family indicating the forum names of those donating.

.

In Dave's mailbox this week a note from Rick Chris: "(There is) a painting that I was working on when I heard of Heath's passing. I thought of just stopping work on it but I was encouraged to keep going. And going I did, I put a ton of detail into the piece. I also decided to make the piece not only as a tribute to Heath but to BBM fans. It's a Christmas scene of a movie house showing Brokeback Mountain, just like when the movie originally was released.  I made the scene very idealistic." This beautiful winter scene can be seen HERE

Still Need a Copy of Variety?

Although Variety has no more copies of "our issue," with its Thank You to Heath, you still have one more chance to get your copy - the forum has extra issues and there will be a lottery drawing for who will be able to purchase one. You can find out all the details HERE or by contacting LoveEmBoys.

Forum Post of the Day

Our forum friend from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,  Zuraffo, made this insightful post in the How the Dave Cullen Forum Has Affected Me thread - here's an excerpt from his post: "Brokeback mountain seemed to bring out every beautiful emotions and thoughts for the people who can appreciate the movie. One of the common things I noticed is that people started to want to express themselves after the encounter with Brokeback. I can't explain. There is something so pure about the movie, so cleansing that it makes you want to be a better person. For people who understand it, in any case. The forum provided a gathering place for people like us, where kindred spirits cheered each other on." You can read the complete post and join the discussion by visiting the How the DC Forum Has Affected Me thread.

Quote of the Day:

"When you take charge of your life, there is no longer need to ask permission of other people
or society at large. When you ask permission, you give someone veto power over your life."

~ Geoffrey F. Abert ~

Photo Caption of the Day

From Photo Captioning Fun 3 by Doodler and CANSTANDIT

Suicide? Drug overdose? Mary Kate Olsen... Not on your fuckin' life! Them media stiffs ain't never no good......

Contributors: KittyHawk, whiplash, Huntinbuddy, Doodler, canstandit,and Zuraffo

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.


Heath Ledger & Jaclyn Pascarella Memorial Service 
Denver, February 9, 2008

March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl

Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com

Today's edition formatted and proofed by gnash

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page.
When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email.

Previous issues of The Daily Sheet.

Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

. . . Heath Celebrated

A hometown memorial service for Heath was held at a chapel in Perth Austrailia where “more than 500 family members, friends, celebrities and dignitaries remembered Heath during a music and memory-filled ceremony with Cate Blanchett delivering one of the eulogies and video montages honoring Heath were shown." As mourners exited the service, the Beatles' "Come Together" was played,” this from Natalie Finn of Comcast.net/entertainment.   Heath’s immediate family and Michelle Williams then left for a private funeral service at Fremantle Cemetery where Heath’s cremated remains were brought to their final resting place. “During the service, Williams read Shakespeare's Sonnet 18,  'Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day.'

A small group then visited one of Heath’s favorite places, a wake at the Indiana Tea House on Cottesloe Beach. Family and friends reminisced about Heath, bringing the day to a close with a swim in the Indian Ocean.  “After the mass dip, friends and family gathered on the shore, arms linked, to watch the sun go down."

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER



SUN-MON FEBRUARY 24-25

Brokeback Mountain

The Castro Theatre
429 Castro Street,
San Francisco, CA 94114

castrotheatre.com

Sunday: (12:30p), 3:10p, 6p, 9p; Monday: 6p, 9p

In Honor of Black History Month - A Look Back at Alvin Ailey In honor of Black History Month we would like to honor Alvin Ailey - dancer, choreographer, actor, director, business owner - an African American gay man "recognized for his lasting impact on the American arts landscape," describes Liz Highleyman of Lavender magazine.. Ailey was born in Rogers, Texas in 1931. He moved to Los Angeles, after graduating from high school and developed a love for dance after seeing a performance by the Lester Horton Dance Theatre. Ailey liked Horton’s "highly theatrical style of modern dance and his obvious interest in Native American culture and dances," say MyHero.com. Ailey performed at LA nightclubs and eventually joined Horton’s dance company, of which he became director after Horton's death. A year later, Ailey moved to New York City for his Broadway debut in Truman Capote's House of Flowers. In New York he studied ballet, modern dance and acting. Over the next ten years, Ailey appeared on and off Broadway and on film as a dancer, choreographer, actor, and director. His work was well-received, but jobs for black dancers were still scarce, explains Texas-Online.com.

To offer more opportunities to talented black artists, Ailey started his own company: The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) in 1958; Ailey's choreography for Blues Suite, was a financial and critical success, and helped launch his dance company. In 1962 the far-reaching appeal of the dance company was recognized when the US State Department began sponsoring AAADT on international tours. Ailey integrated the company in 1963, explaining, "I’ve always felt that I wanted to celebrate differences in people. I didn’t want all the same bodies, or all the same color, in my company...I want my dancers to feel that they were not just black dancers, that they were part of society,"  this from MyHero.com.  

In 1965, Ailey left dancing to concentrate on choreography and running his company. His dance group was the resident company of the Brooklyn Academy of Music for three seasons starting in 1969. It became the first American dance company to tour the USSR in fifty years, reports Texas-online.com.

Ailey choreographed Leonard Bernstein's Mass, which was the debut performance of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Samuel Barber's opera, Antony and Cleopatra, which was the inaugural production of the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Theater. AAADT's production Revelations is the company’s best known and most popular piece. "Masekela Langage may be the best example of a dance expressing Ailey’s social commitment and political consciousness. Unlike most popular Ailey dances, Masekela Language is not slick, fast-paced and smooth. It is raw, rough, almost unfinished, just like the building of the South African townships," this from  MyHero.com. Alvin Ailey received honorary doctorates from Princeton University, Bard College, and Adelphi University. In 1979, he was awarded the Spingarin Medal of the NAACP.    Alvin Ailey died on Dec. 1, 1989, at the age of 58. In Ailey’s memory, a stretch of New York's West 61st Street was renamed “Alvin Ailey Way,” but his greatest legacy is AAADT, which has performed for more than 20 million people in some 70 countries and continues to thrive today.

. . . February is Heart Month Here are Some Heart Smart Tips

The Mayo Clinic discusses foods to lower your cholesterol and protect your heart: Oatmeal and oat bran - Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad" cholesterol. Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, brussel sprouts, apples, pears, psyllium, barley and prunes. Soluble fiber, including oat bran or cold cereal made with oatmeal or oat bran, appears to reduce the absorption of cholesterol in your intestines. Fish and foods with omega-3 fatty acids are associated with a lower rate of heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish as well as flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil and soybean oil.

Omega-3 fatty acids are noted for their triglyceride-lowering effect, but they also help the heart in other ways such as reducing blood pressure and the risk of blood clots. In people who have already had heart attacks, fish oil — or omega-3 fatty acids — significantly reduces the risk of sudden death. Doctors recommend eating at least two servings of fish a week. The highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids are in mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon. However, to maintain the heart-healthy benefits of fish, baking or grilling is recommended. Walnuts and Almonds can help reduce blood cholesterol and keep blood vessels healthy and elastic, but only a few, they are high in calories. Read more at Mayoclinic.com about healthy life styles and cholesterol.  LoweringCholesterol.com has information on foods and cholesterol.

Brokeback Mountain
A Romantic Favorite

Moviefone has come out with its Top 25 Most Romantic Movies of all time and coming in at #12 is Brokeback Mountain, outranking An Officer and a Gentleman at #14 and The Notebook at #24. In its own top 10 list of Favorite Romantic movies, GrrizChannel has Brokeback Mountain at #2 on their list of Valentine’s Day love stories. And in Postcrest.com, Sarah Riley’s article When it comes to romance in the movies, some on-screen couples have it and some don't, our guys were listed in the “among the best” category for onscreen chemistry: "Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger: Brokeback Mountain was groundbreaking on so many levels. For many people, it was the first love story where gender didn't really matter because these guys carry the story beyond stereotypes."

Some Valentine's Day History One legend about the history of Valentine's Day is that Saint Valentine was a priest in third century Rome. When the Emperor decided that single men made better soldiers, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, believing this decree to be unjust, continued to marry young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, he was jailed. While in prison, Valentine fell in love with a young girl who visited him and before his death, he wrote her a letter signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression we still use today; this from History.com.

Cupid is one of the most famous of Valentine symbols – “He is known as a mischievous, winged child armed with bow and arrows. The arrows signify desires and emotions of love, and Cupid aims those arrows at Gods and Humans, causing them to fall deeply in love. Cupid has always played a role in the celebrations of love and lovers. In ancient Greece he was known as Eros, the young son of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. To the Roman's he was Cupid, and his mother was Venus,” this we learn from TheHolidaySpot.com

. . . . Valentine's Day - What Makes You Feel Loved?

In his book The 5 Love Languages, author Gary Chapman describes what he believes are the 5 ways in which people feel loved:   Words of Affirmation – as simple as “you look great in that color” or “I admire your take on that situation.” Quality Time – focusing your energy on your loved ones. Doing activities together, and being an active listener, not trying to solve everyone’s problems, but just listening. Receiving gifts – for some, gifts represent symbols that express love. The gift doesn’t need to be expensive, just specially selected for the one you love. Acts of Service – doing for your loved one out of love and kindness, not obligation - be it cleaning out the garage or cutting the grass. Physical Touch – a hug, a kiss good-bye, a hand on the shoulder, or the making of love -  taking time to find out what kind of touch your loved one likes. What makes those special people in your life feel loved?  The answer might help you come up with the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

A Valentine to BBM and Jack and Ennis
By Lyle (Mooska)

Love, American Style





       "Lo-o-ove!"                                      "Love!"                                        "Love!"         




"Love, American Style"



"Truer than the...                                                                                                                       

       Red,                                       White,                                  and Blue..."




"Love, American Style"




"That's me and you."



"And on a star spangled night my love"
(My love come to me)




"You can rest your head on my shoulder."




"Out by the dawn's early light, my love"




"I will defend your right to try."




"Love American Style"




"That's me and you..."

Last Call: Forum Donation In Memory of Jackie (Paintedshoes)

Contributions can be made to Jackie's favorite organization, The Washington Ear, by check or money order made out to Dave Cullen Forums, earmarking the donation in Jackie's name. Killersmom/Linda will be organizing this effort for us. You can PM killersmom for her contact information, then mail your contribution directly to her. When the time frame for donating has ended (Feb. 16th), the amount received will be donated to The Washington Ear from the forum in Jackie's name.  All donations are welcome, no amount is too small. The Washington Ear has volunteers read the Washington Post so that visually impaired people can call in and hear the news.   All personal information of those donating will be kept private, and a card will be sent to the family indicating the forum names of those donating.

.

Fun Question of the Week

This weeks Question:  If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"? Let us know the answer on the response thread. Were you surprised? Last Week: Where do we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's," from, and what do "P" and "Q" stand for? One answer: in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them, "Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down."   LoveEmBoys, tfferg, and Goaboydc have suggested some interesting variations to this the answer on the response thread.

Forum Post of the Day

Sandy posted in the Symbolism and Imagery in BBM thread: "Heath Ledger brought Ennis del Mar to life in a rare act of acting. Whatever his method, whatever techniques, Ennis del Mar appears to us as a person because Heath Ledger willed it to be so (no doubt with some prompting from Ang Lee). We see a real person in Ennis because Heath Ledger acted in such a way that the reality of his own person was made transparent through the character of Ennis. In the language of semiotics (forgive me), he made Ennis into an icon, which is to say a sign that is transparent to the thing it stands for. As excellent as Seymor Hoffman's enactment of Truman Capote was, it was an enactment, but not a creation to be compared with Ledger's Ennis."

Quotes of the Day:

"We all want to fall in love. Why? Because that experience makes us feel completely alive. Where every sense is heightened, every emotion is magnified, our everyday reality is shattered and we are flying into the heavens. It may only last a moment, an hour, an afternoon. But that doesn't diminish its value. Because we are left with memories that we treasure for the rest of our lives." "Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart."    ~ Authors Unknown ~

From Photo Captioning 3 Fun
By gnash

                     



                         



                                               

 

Contributors: KittyHawk, gnash, Lyle (Mooska), Roco, San Francisco John, Whiplash

 

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.



March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl

Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com

Today's edition formatted and proofed by whiplash

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, press the "Notify" button at the top of the page.
When a new TDS is posted, you will be notified by email.

Previous issues of The Daily Sheet.

Response thread for The Daily Sheet.

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Profile: Testadura

It is widely rumored in LeBar that Testadura bears a striking resemblance to Grace Kelly.

Hi, Testadura here. I’m sure some non-Italian speakers are wondering what the heck that user-name means – well, it means hardheaded and to quote Melissa Etheridge, yes, I am.  So now you know – I’m a steadfast soul or a stubborn *itch – depending on whether you be friend or foe.  I live in the Philly area with a funny, smart, sexy man who – according to the inside of this gold band on my finger - I married over 13 years ago. We share our space (or is it the other way around?) with two dogs who daily try to set some sort of canine record for napping and eating.  Go for it, guys!  Good to have a goal. My hobbies are spending way too much time here on DC, gourmet cooking, swimming endless laps and cranking out Brokeback Mountain fanfic at a painfully slow pace. I’m a scientist at a mid-sized pharmaceutical company. They pay me to attend meetings, ride herd on young, smart-assed biologists and make decisions that the FDA will later hold me solely responsible for. As we say in the pharma biz – Quality Control: come for the money, stay for the sex. Then we laugh and laugh until harsh, over-cooked coffee shoots out our noses - later we weep quietly into our crumpled lab coats. Are you a morning person or night-owl? Oh gawd, I’m such a night-owl that I wish I could live my whole life between the hours of 6 PM to 4 AM. Add to that my aversion for direct sunlight and the fact that I look fabulous in black and red, I’m sure people would think I was a vampire if I didn’t love garlic so much. What famous quote has inspired you? You expect the “Queen of Quotations” to pick just one?! Sigh.  If I must… I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.  Galileo Galilei Currently listening to?  Still listening to “Magic” by Bruce Springsteen.  I can’t seem to move on – it’s so powerful and wonderful.  (Okay, so I say that about all of his albums – it’s always true.) Currently reading? I tend to read more than one book at a time. (Yes, I love to start things – but I do usually finish them... well, if those things are books.)  I’m reading Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott and Kingdom of Fear: Loathsome Secrets of a Star-Crossed Child in the Final Days of the American Century by Hunter S. Thompson. Biggest challenge? Finishing this profile without revealing what a geek I am.  It’s too late?  Ooops. Your perfect day? That day I spent on the Riviera with Cary Grant. Oh wait that wasn’t me – it was Grace Kelly. I get us confused constantly… see - she was beautiful, elegant and famous and I’m from Philadelphia. Seriously – my perfect day is one spent by the sea with my man. What’s your indulgence? Sarcasm, lingerie and fine wine. Not necessarily in that order. Last major purchase? I’m in the process of buying an “Endless Pool.” Basically I’m paying a boatload of money to be a human salmon. First job? I was a lab tech – if you don’t have any idea of what that involves it’s a lot like Igor in that movie “Young Frankenstein” minus the hump and attractive co-workers. If you could ask God one question, what would it be? Why are so many of your so-called followers violent, narrow-minded, self-righteous schmucks?  And could you do something about it?  (Okay that’s two questions – sue me.) Other than your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? Salvatore Ferragamo and my husband. But mainly the later – I’m daily inspired by living with someone who’s so comfortable in his own skin, so principled and yet open-minded. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “Thank Me you’re finally here – all these dogs of yours have been driving me nuts. Oh and I’ve put on 30 pounds since your mom got here.” What's one thing that you just can't stand, so you're trying to help fix it? I’ve recently renewed my commitment to Amnesty International and I’m working to help pass the International Violence Against Women Act. No joke here – truly. If you’re interested – read about it: www.amnestyusa.org What do you know for sure? I know for sure that hope is stronger than despair, humor is better than hostility and nothing is fool proof because fools are so ingenious. What do you appreciate the most about this site, what is the most important thing that you have learned as a result of being here? I love the diverse community and the ample opportunity to debate and analyze. The most important thing I learned is that almost everybody is hiding a pain as deep as Jack’s and a secret as big as Ennis’s. Your favorite threads? You’ll find me lurking a lot of places but invariably posting in the Slash threads: LeBar and the Slash Discussion and Recommendations thread. Through them I found my way back to writing slash after a hiatus for several years. How many times have you watched BBM? How many weeks has it been since it came out? It’s not been quite that “bad” (or good) really but I couldn’t possibly count – I re-watch it whenever I’m preparing to write pivotal chapters of my fic. What was your take-away message from BBM? What affected you the most? That life is worth the pain and love is worth the risk.  And you should hold on to both because we rarely get a second chance at either. I thought it was the most wonderful depiction ever that love is a universal constant – beneath whatever skin we’re in – the heart beats the same.

One Man's Impact

In the beautifully crafted article, Heartbreak mountain, columnist Harry Eyres of FT.com takes a very poignant look at heartbreak – from the deeply-felt lose of Heath Ledger to his brilliant portrayal of the piercing heartbreak experienced by Ennis del Mar.

"Cold, callous and cynical are adjectives often applied to those who break hearts;  But Ennis Del Mar is not one of those cold heartbreakers..... What makes him both irresistible and devastating is the depth of baffled tenderness in him; the love that he can only fitfully express in his relationship with Jack Twist but that shines through at the end of the film in his relationship with his daughter Alma Jr." Eyres reflects on the complexities of Ennis, and how Heath brought them to life, "Ennis is one of those people who, for all sorts of reasons, are opaque to themselves. This is what Heath Ledger so marvelously conveys, in his slow-burning, laconic performance: a man struggling over the course of a whole life to come to terms, not so much with his sexuality ....as with his tremendous need for love and, ultimately, with his ability to give love."

After detailing the depth of Heath's performance through the heartbreak of Ennis, Eyres concludes, "If only Heath Ledger had not had to break our hearts again, in a room in Manhattan, not a film-set or a stage."  We too, wish beyond measure, it wasn't so.

Denver Memorial Service for Jackie and Heath

On Feb. 9, in Denver, Colorado an inspiring service was held to commemorate the lives of Heath Ledger and Jaclyn Pascarella ("paintedshoes"). The memorial, conducted by RodneyWY, recognized Heath for his "courage and vision to accept and embrace this role (of Ennis del Mar)," among his many other gifts to this world. Jackie was celebrated as one who "carried the Brokeback message into our lives through her loving presence online, at gatherings nationwide, and through many personal correspondences."  Musical selections for the service included “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach and “At The River" by Copland, along with the sharing of poems and remembrances for these two beloved people. Following the service there was a group dinner and a special screening of Brokeback Mountain. Front-Ranger saying of the healing event, "I'm sure our combined energies contributed to a very moving and joyful experience! I was touched by the beautiful rituals, music, the homily, readings, poetry, food, flowers, and the peaceful environment of the church, but most of all I was moved to tears by the Brokies who assembled together and the wonderful feeling of love that coursed through me throughout the entire ceremony. Our friend Rodney brought healing to all of us and at the end we were all able and willing to sit together in cozy armchairs and watch Brokeback Mountain together, not in sorrow but in peace, happiness, and fellowship." Marge_Innavera, who attended the memorial affirms, "She (Front-Ranger) was right about the BBM screening at the church -- it was actually a very healing experience to watch it with other Brokies."

To see  pictures from the service, including the program from the memorial, visit the Memorial Celebration for Heath and Jackie thread.

Guess Who Else is Going to Lunch with Jake?

Our very own DontwanttosayGB and BBMISwear are the winners of a lunch with Jake Gyllenhaal and a visit to the set of the movie that he'll be filming in Connecticut this Spring!

Our winners

CharityFolks.com tells us, "Actor Jake Gyllenhaal has generously decided to auction a second chance to visit the set of one of his upcoming movies AND have lunch with him, with proceeds benefiting the ACLU of Southern California! The winner of this auction lot will visit Gyllenhaal on the set of his latest film in Connecticut, at a mutually agreeable date from the end of March through April 2008." DontwanttosayGB explains, "it's a couple of months away and I have a lot to think about, I will be talking with 'Jake's people' next week so hopefully I'll get more details then - that is very surreal, even to just type (that)." From those who are a bit jealous to those who are swooning at the news, we all whole-heartedly congratulate DontwanttosayGB and BBMISwear - we could not be happier for you (unless it were us  ).

Planning strategy for "the lunch"

Our winners have promised to fill us in on all the details (as if they'd have a choice), so after they rub elbows with Jake, we'll let everyone know all out this "opportunity of a life time."

Inspiration in South Africa
By KittyHawk

Chuckyv is a talented artist living in South Africa. He's one of our newer members, joining the Forum last month. He has created a booklet with the entire Proulx's Brokeback Mountain hand lettered and illustrated with pen and ink. Here are a couple of small samples from the booklet. Thank you, chuckyv, for sharing your talent with us. And welcome to the Forum.

Chuckyv tells us a little about his artistic side and how he was inspired to use his talents in honoring Brokeback Mountain: "I studied a degree in Fine Art at the University of Natal, South Africa, and followed that with a one- year course in book illustration, and graphic design. I found that black and white ink work seemed to work well for me, and focused on that area. As well as being easily reproduced, B&W work ensures that the composition of the image as well as the line-work, is the focus.

I only read Annie Proulx's short story Brokeback Mountain after I had seen the movie, and felt that it would be a perfect vehicle as an attempt at short story illustration. The downside to reading the story after seeing the movie, was that I could not ,as much as I tried, visualize Jack & Ennis in any other way, but as Jake Gyllenhaal & Heath Ledger. It was a wonderful way, too, for me to pay a personal tribute to the movie, which deeply moved me. While there is nothing original in my artwork, being copied from photographs, I learned a huge amount about image interpretation. I am so glad to have been able to share this with fellow BBM enthusiasts."

USmagazine.com tells us that Michelle Williams has returned to New York City from Australia, and on Monday was shooting some scenes from an upcoming movie Mammoth, which stars Michelle and Gael Garcia Bernal as a New York couple facing a crisis. We wish you the best Michelle.

Michelle

Brokeback Mountain Showing: Del Mar Theatre Santa Cruz Tonight

The Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz is showing Brokeback Mountain tonight, Saturday (02/16) at midnight!
Visit the theater's web site at thenick.com for more information.

Goings on Down Under

In Economist.com we learn that Sydney's city council has a revitalization project planned for Oxford Street, a celebrated local for Sydney’s gay community for many years. "The street has recently suffered from assaults on gays, a rise in other crime and an influx of rowdy night clubbers. In a bid to restore the street’s easygoing character, the council has proposed a design for revitalizing a largely deserted square and turning two historic buildings into an upmarket shopping centre and a tourist hotel." On March 1st the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival will be celebrated on Oxford street.

Asia-Pacific LGBT Issues Discussed at Conference

Justin Ellis of fridae.com reports on the Rainbow Conversations Conference held in Melbourne, Australia, as part of the Midsumma Festival, where a wide range of LGBT issues were explored and discussed. Former New Zealand MP Georgina Beyer, the world's first openly transsexual Member of Parliament (1999), gave an impassioned speech about the value of civil unions and the New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act. However concern was expressed that upcoming elections could issue in a conservative government that might undo progress that has been made for LGTB individuals.

At the Asia Pacific Law session it was noted that many Asian Commonwealth countries (77%) "criminalize consensual same-sex acts among adults, and stressed that the laws violate the human rights of privacy, equality, human dignity and life, and furthermore that these laws present a major obstacle to effective HIV outreach programs." Sri Lanka was noted to be experiencing a backlash against the efforts to repeal such legislation in that country. The topic centering around the influence of the Christian church and how Christian beliefs continue to impede progress of LGBT human rights in many Asian countries, was discussed by delegates, with difficulties in Indonesia high-lighted on this front. "Recent gay bashings in Sydney and the vilification in Australia of high profile out public figures by politicians were evidence that sexual minorities still needed to work together' to combat abuse and prejudice against LGBT people throughout the Asia Pacific," commented Anton Enus, Master of Ceremonies at the conference.

Important Announcement

The Forum regrets that the Messages to Matilda  project will not be completed. "I especially want to let our volunteers know how much their stepping forward to contribute their efforts to this project was greatly appreciated. I also want to thank those members who posted their drafts. We had 31 talented proof readers, editors, writers, scanners, and artists ready to contribute their talents. That's a tribute to the generosity of the members here," from KittyHawk.

Please see the Messages to Matilda Thread for details.

Painting by Rick Chris

From Dave's mailbox: Author and artist Rick Chris tells us about a scene that appears in his Beef Matson story, A Person of Trust. "When I wrote the original chapter, I included a section inspired by guys I knew in the local gay rodeo association who had lost their partners to AIDS.  Later, after I saw Brokeback Mountain, I rewrote that section and included some illustrations so that the section read like an alternative (and much happier) ending to the movie."

To find this selected section located in Chapter 11 and to view more captivating pictures,
click HERE and scroll down to the red box that says “story insight,” and enjoy.

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER



Brokeback Mountain

The Castro Theatre
429 Castro Street,
San Francisco, CA 94114

castrotheatre.com

Feb. 24th, Sunday: (12:30p), 3:10p, 6p, 9p; Feb. 25th, Monday: 6p, 9p

Forum Post of the Day
Rosewood posted in the Ennis' and Jack's Relationship, II thread:

"I am in a mood to spout poetry, or at least to share it with someone. In fact, for reasons that I can't quite intellectualize, I am getting through this dark time by reading poetry; bits of Shakespeare and/or anyone else that catches my peripatetic eye. Somehow I am being comforted. But I must say that I will NEVER be the same person I was before." "If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than it was because he was he and I was I."       ~ Montaigne ~ "The romantic in me, hell, the whole of me, would love to think that this is how Jack and Ennis felt all along, but just couldn't elucidate. In fact, I'm sure that's how they felt. I'm sure this is how a lot of us feel about Heath Ledger as well."

Quote of the Day:

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit."

~ Albert Schweitzer ~

From Farewell to Heath
Posted by Roco

No words are needed.

 

Contributors: KittyHawk, Testadura, BBMISwear, DontwanttosayGB, Freetraveller, Marge_Innavera, Tfferg, Roco, Rosewood, Chuckyv

 

Calendar of Events
 

If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads
and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you.

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE TO HEATH LEDGER at the CASTRO
Sun-Mon February 24-25
The Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
Sunday: (12:30p), 3:10p, 6p, 9p; Monday: 6p, 9p

March Madness in San Francisco
March 14th - 16th 2008

BBQ: Wyoming Roundup
June 1-7, 2008.
   
June 20 - 22nd - Oxford 08. 
Brokies in the UK

Brokeback Mountain Screening in LA
August 4, 2008 at 7:30 P.M.


Let us know of any events you'd like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum

Editors: Ellen (tellyouwhat), Dawn (Stilllearning)

Columnists: Jim Bond, michaelflanagansf, Marge_Innavera

Proofreader/Researchers: whiplash, gnash, denim girl

Today's edition produced by Dawn (Stilllearning) email: Dawn@davecullen.com

Today's edition formatted and proofed by denim girl

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