The Daily Sheet: February 1 - 14, 2009

[MissYouSoMuch]

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Share your Brokeback anniversary story

What started off as a Topic of the Week in December 2008 has morphed into a place where Forum members have opened up about their thoughts on the third anniversary of both Brokeback Mountain and The Ultimate Brokeback Forum. People have shared their own Brokeback Mountain experiences and talked about how this Forum was a much-needed refuge back then—and still is today. Friendships have been discovered and developed online and offline, via letters, phone calls, Skype and in-person gatherings of two to two hundred...and more. The journey continues as Brokies all over the world continue their struggles—and emerge triumphant. Over the next few months, many more people will mark the third anniversary of their initial viewing of the film. Whether your anniversary has already passed or is still far in the future, we want to hear your story. Come share with us on the thread Dave Cullen Forum - The 3rd Anniversary. As people’s lives change and people stay—move on—and arrive—this thread will stand as a testament to... ...how the Brokeback Mountain phenomenon has affected all of us ...how we have used this tragic story of the lives of Jack and Ennis as a source of power for change in our lives ...and how our community stands as proof that love is a force of nature.

Artist brings stories to life

From Dave: “Rick Chris is a great artist, who does some really fun work. He’s also been a great supporter of Brokeback, and this Forum, and does a wonderful job bringing the story to visual life. He has done many Brokeback paintings the last couple years, and keeps getting requests for more, but he said this in a recent e-mail to Dave: ‘Still keep getting requests for more images of Brokeback, though I’ve promised myself these last pieces will be my last artistic word on the subject.’ Check them out while you still can.” Rick’s latest is a 15" x 30" Brokeback Mountain painting on canvas board: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flock.” Rick writes: “I meant to have this painting finished for Christmas of 2008, but didn’t finish it in time. The painting combines the symbols of both Brokeback Mountain and Christmas. The painting alludes to the shepherds who were watching over their flock on Christmas Eve, noting that Jack and Ennis were, after all, shepherds. I know Jack and Ennis never spent a Christmas together on Brokeback Mountain, but wouldn’t it have been special for our boys if they had?” Another piece (already sold) is an acrylic of actor Jake Gyllenhaal: Visit Rick’s Web site here. See other items available for purchase here. Note: Images may not be safe for work.

Taking stock of your collectibles

“Collectors are the kind of people who are always in love. And we know that sometimes love can be a powerful, irrational thing. So much so that even in a recession, people are willing to pay big bucks for the Gibson guitar that will complete their series or a much-desired vintage of wine or a prized classic car. “‘What happens in a down economy, people tend to liquidate, but still people are out there buying it up,’ said Julian Ellison, the founder and chief executive of New York-based LiveAuctioneers.com. ‘Values have taken a dip, but the volume is still out there. People are out there bidding.’

“For instance, there’s a big market for items associated with the late Heath Ledger, who is nominated for an Oscar for his supporting turn in The Dark Knight. Two shirts he wore during Brokeback Mountain were picked up for $3,000 to $5,000, and they’re now worth $30,000 to $40,000, Ellison said.” Read more here.

The Amazing Race...Soulforce-style

From The Lynchburg News & Advance: “When ‘The Amazing Race’ premieres next month, Lynchburg will have something to root for. “Hill City resident Mel White, co-founder of the Christian gay-rights organization Soulforce, is running the race with his actor/director/screenwriter son, Mike. “‘It was the most glorious, fun time of my life,’ said Mel White, who is, at 68 years old, this season’s oldest contestant.” Writes Bilerico blogger Matt Comer: “When I was introduced to the group Soulforce as a sophomore in college, I was absolutely amazed and inspired by the genuine love and leadership its founder had. Mel White has got to be among our community’s most noted leaders in non-violence and direct action advocacy. “Well... now it’s time for Mel to ‘amaze’ us, along with his son, Mike White, a Hollywood writer and director, who is joining Mel on CBS’s ‘The Amazing Race.’ Word’s spreading fast around all the gossip blogs.

“The next season of ‘The Amazing Race’ will certainly be interesting. I’m so used to seeing Mel pray or preach or talk about oppression and the church. It’ll be a little weird seeing him race around the world. “Mike, who wrote School of Rock and Nacho Libre, announced the duo’s participation.” Read more here. Source: The Bilerico Project Come join the Forum’s discussion of “The Amazing Race” here.

Creating Change conference in Denver

“The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force sponsors and organizes The National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. 2009 marked the 21st gathering of this unique national conference. Creating Change (as it is affectionately known) is the nation’s pre-eminent political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBT social justice movement. Since 1988, Creating Change has been the opportunity for thousands of committed people to develop and hone their skills, celebrate victories, build community, and to be inspired by visionaries of our LGBT movement and other movements for justice and equality. “The primary goal of the Creating Change Conference is to build political power from the ground up to secure our overarching goal of full equality, social justice and dignity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the United States.” Event organizers expected 2,000 to 3,000 people to attend the conference, which was held at the Grand Hyatt Denver in Denver, Colo., January 28 – February 1, 2009. One blogger in attendance wrote: “Looking around for where I should go to get a shuttle I came to a dead halt and suddenly was fully ‘in the moment.’ There - stretched across a large railing facing everyone getting off the train was a banner from Creating Change welcoming us and announcing the conference. US! Right there! Proud as anything and big as life! “My mind went to the battles fought for so long by folks whose names are legend to most of us and the victory that is embodied in that one banner greeting every arrival at the Denver airport. “I was hugging that wonderful feeling to myself through the entire ride to the conference hotel and, after checking in, had the delightful experience of finally meeting Max - if you’re here at the conference, be sure to ask for him at the Concierge desk. Max and I have been talking on the phone for a while now and he will, in fact, be volunteering at the conference. “Anyway, after we exchanged hugs and I told him about the banner, he told me how wonderful it is for him to work at a hotel that is so accepting and inclusive of the lgbt population. And we talked about events that have come to Denver lately and how he felt when he saw the rainbow flags all up and down the main streets of the city.” Read more about the conference here. Source: The Bilerico Project

TV: ‘The Trials of Ted Haggard’

“Ted Haggard liked and trusted Alexandra Pelosi. The once-powerful evangelical leader had become friendly with the HBO filmmaker when she was making a documentary about evangelicals in 2005, even taking Pelosi and her husband camping at one point and teaching them how to shoot rifles. So when Pelosi called Haggard after he was ousted from his church following a gay sex scandal, he was delighted to hear from her. She visited frequently, often filming the disgraced pastor with her hand-held camera, footage she said she wouldn’t use unless he was comfortable with it. Haggard was less than thrilled a year later when Pelosi told him she had made a movie about his exile. ‘We were enjoying our privacy,’ he said. ‘As the months were passing, we were increasingly able to go to Wal-Mart without being watched. So I told Alexandra that we were not going to be comfortable with it and that I was not happy because I thought she had violated her word.’ Pelosi initially shelved the movie. But she was unrepentant about making it.” The documentary will broadcast on the following channels: HBO2e 302 Tue, Feb 3 1:30 PM Trials of Ted Haggard HBO2w 303 Tue, Feb 3 4:30 PM Trials of Ted Haggard Read more here. Source: The Los Angeles Times

Entering Wyoming: Owl Canyon Road

FindingBrokeback offers another in its continuing series of articles highlighting Wyoming places with important Brokeback connections.

“I remember vividly that driving on Owl Canyon Road in Colorado down over the state line one afternoon and thinking about Jack Twist’s father, the expression ‘stud duck,’ which I had heard somewhere, came to me as the right way to succinctly describe that hard little man, and a curve in the road became the curve that killed Ennis’s parents.” - Annie Proulx Annie Proulx sometimes used Owl Canyon Road as a shortcut while driving between her former home in Centennial, WY, and her favorite organic food store in Fort Collins, CO. An aficionado of fresh produce, she eschewed the big-box supermarkets of Laramie and made the trip weekly during the mid-1990s. Even as her truck plodded deliberately over unpaved portions of Owl Canyon Road, her imagination was forever in high gear.

Unbending Owl Canyon Road

The Curve

The combination of Proulx’s racing mind and the understated setting of Owl Canyon gave birth to John Twist’s memorable nickname “stud duck,” a classic moniker cherished by all who have read the short story. Quick to recognize genius, Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana refused to do away with her description in their film. Unable to apply it to Jack’s father, they did the next best thing and skillfully appended “stud duck” to Jack’s father-in-law, L.D. But Owl Canyon Road offers another Brokeback gem: the curve. Approached from the east, this rather unusual road goes for more than seven miles without making so much as a slight bend before it takes a precipitous 90° turn. No ordinary curve, this is the curve that orphaned Ennis del Mar. Visitors to this spot can feel a bit of the pain of Ennis’s loss, or possibly celebrate the genius of Proulx’s inspiration, or both. Only she could somehow make this lonely turn on a dirt road into a life-altering part of a life-altering story. For more information, see: Owl Canyon Road. As always, for Brokeback travel and production information, visit FindingBrokeback.com.

What’s Cooking: Broccoli Salad

From the Forum’s Recipe & Cook’s Corner I took this to a party on July 4th and got lots of compliments. Then I made another batch for home and polished it off too!!! Prep time 20 minutes Ingredients: 2 cups broccoli florets (raw) 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (I use Vidalia- not as strong as red) 1 tablespoon sunflower seed kernels 2 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled (microwave does this great, very little fat left) Dressing: 1/4 cup light mayo 1 teaspoon olive oil 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 tablespoons splenda

Mix salad ingredients together in a large bowl. Whisk dressing ingredients together in small bowl, pour over salad and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, overnight is even better!!! Makes 2 servings. I multiplied by 10 to make a huge batch!! Per serving--Calories: 212, Fat: 17g (ouch, that’s a little high), Protein: 3g, Carbs: 12g, Fiber: 3g, cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 483mg.

Find and share recipes here.

Around the Forum

What good book have you read lately? - Where the books White Oleander and New Moon are discussed, among many others. Awards Aftermath - Part 2 - takes a look at Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, and thoughts about Crash. Media coverage: how are we seen? - offers a Canadian sports article that stimulated public debate about whether "effeminate" is the same as "gay", and whether either of these is a bad thing. Symbolism and Imagery in BBM - involves a discussion on the image of water and the issue of Ennis’s sexuality.

FanFiction Buzz

Bus Stop (AU/AU) A story written by bcatjr (who also authored Ride the Wind) where "Jack is an ad agency rep and Ennis is a city bus driver. Both have lives that are unsatisfactory. They form a bond of friendship over time as they come to terms with the choices they are forced to make." You'll find this story HERE.

Post of the Day

michaelflanagansf posts on the The Mayor of Castro Street book thread:    “There are a few things that are particularly interesting to me, in this story and how it unfolded. One is that Harvey Milk was probably not the reason for the assassination - the true beef that Dan White had was with George Moscone. In an article that was of particular interest, it pointed out that both Dan White and George Moscone were from particular San Francisco traditions of Catholicism - White from the Irish hardscrabble tradition and Moscone from a more expansive tradition - a tradition of the same sort of tradition as the Catholic men and women who worked on the civil rights movement. He was involved in expanding government and making it more inclusive because he believed that it was the right thing to do. In this way he is from a school of thought influenced by people like Dorothy Day.”

Harvey Milk & George Moscone

Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so?
Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live.
Before they know it, time runs out.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~

Life Through The Lens 3
By PatSinnott

Signature Personality

Which Forum member’s signature line includes these words? “the shirts hanging on a nail shudder slightly in the draft.” Let us know the answer on the Respond to The Daily Sheet thread. Last week: “If you’re going to redo the kitchen, I woud recommend crown molding...” is the signature line of Stars Go Blue.

Contributors: DontwanttosayGB, PatSinnott, michaelflanagansf, BayCityJohn, KittyHawk, littledarlin

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.

NYC Brokie Dinner/Gathering
February 13, 2009

Isle of Wight Gathering
March 7, 2009

4th Annual Brokie Reunion - Arizona Spring Fling
April 17-19, 2009

Man Dance Company
San Francisco - July 10-12, 2009

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.

Editor: MissYouSoMuch

Editors emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning

Formatters/Researchers: denim girl, gnash

Forum Footnotes section produced by Stilllearning

Today’s edition was formatted by denim girl

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to tds@davecullen.com.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, click the “Notify” button at the top or bottom of the page.
When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail.

The Daily Sheet Archives
Respond to The Daily Sheet

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, February 7, 2009

20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Nominees

Among the nominees for Outstanding Film–Limited Release are: “The Edge of Heaven,” “Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom,” “Save Me,” “Shelter” and “XXY.” The nominees for Outstanding Drama Series include: “Brothers & Sisters,” “The L Word,” “South of Nowhere,” “Torchwood” and “True Blood.” Outstanding Documentary selections include: “Chris & Don: A Love Story,” “Freeheld,” “A Jihad for Love,” “Saving Marriage” and “Sex Change Hospital.” Outstanding Reality Programs nominated are: “America’s Next Top Model,” “I Want to Work for Diddy,” “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” “Shirts & Skins” and “Transamerican Love Story.” Special recognition will be given to “The Laramie Project, 10 Years Later - The Lasting Legacy of Matthew Shepard.” Read more here.

‘Milk’ Ad Looks Familiar

“In case you missed it, here’s a rather unusual Milk ad that ran in...The New York Times. “The ad was a ‘thank you’ to director Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, and cast and crew of Milk on behalf of four GLBT nonprofit organizations: the Hetrick-Martin Institute (home of the Harvey Milk High School), Larkin Street Youth Services (aiding San Francisco’s homeless youth), the San Francisco LGBT Community Center and the Point Foundation (the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBT students of merit in all fields of study). “Focus Features placed the ad in The Times, where it is sure to be seen by Academy voters (Milk has been nominated for eight Oscars, including best picture). Don’t Brokeback me, people!!!!” Read more here. Source: kenneth in the (212)

Inauguration Videos



Bishop Gene Robinson delivers prayer at Sunday concert

Read the full text of the prayer here.

Dr. Joseph Lowery delivers benediction

Want Better Quality YouTube?

Add &fmt=18 to the URL. Like this...:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWWAnitUCw4&fmt=18

Try it. You’ll like it.

Get to Carnegie Hall through YouTube!

“There’s an old joke — Henny Youngman-old — concerning a concert violinist on his first visit to New York City. He’s lost and late for a rehearsal, so he stops to ask a police officer, ‘How do I get to Carnegie Hall?’ The cop responds, ‘Practice, practice, practice.’ “In this increasingly cyber-based culture, there’s now an even easier way to get to Carnegie Hall. “The forward-thinking billionaires at YouTube have put together a unique musical project that partners aspiring musicians with Grammy- and Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). The so-named YouTube Symphony Orchestra will eventually take the stage at Carnegie Hall with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas at the podium.” ... “Orchestral experts (unspecified) will whittle down the field ‘American Idol’-style. Then YouTube users select the winners in March.” ... “In April, winners then head to New York for a workshop with Thomas, who is music director for the San Francisco Symphony.” Read more here. Watch the intro video here. Visit the symphony’s YouTube site here. Source: Lawrence Journal World & News

Online Music Collaboration “Kompoz is a social workspace for musicians and songwriters. Got an idea for a song? Record a track. Upload it. Then invite others to add drums, bass, vocals or anything else! Learn more “Record with GarageBand, Pro Tools, etc. Upload your tracks. Invite others to collaborate on your song idea.” Here’s a song from the site: The Final Journey. Visit Kompoz here.

“On the day that you were born...” What was the #1 song on ... the approximate date you were conceived? the day you were born? the day you graduated from high school? The Web site “#1 Song on This Date” lets you look up and listen to Billboard’s #1 song on a specific date in history, select a month to the left. Try it out here.

Entering Wyoming: Proulx’s Hometown

FindingBrokeback offers another in its continuing series of articles
highlighting Wyoming places with important Brokeback connections.

Saratoga, Wyo. “No one in Saratoga knows her name, not the woman who runs the gallery, the man who runs the print shop, the women at the Valley Women’s Christian meeting or the men in Shively’s Hardware store.” So wrote an L.A. Times reporter in a now-famous article in which Annie Proulx is quoted as saying about Brokeback Mountain: “I wish I’d never written it.” Annie Proulx may harbor some regrets, and it seems appropriate to consider what those might be. But as to the other residents of Saratoga, Wyoming, they certainly do know her name and they take pride in the fact that Proulx is their neighbor. Last summer we visited the town and asked “about ten different people” there about their famous neighbor. All but a few knew exactly who Annie Proulx is, what she has written, that she owned a choice parcel of riverfront property nearby, and that she had built herself an extraordinary, expensive home there. Their enthusiasm was palpable. It was also visible. In celebration of the town’s emerging artistic identity, the citizens of Saratoga have established a “Writers Park” on the town’s principal street. A park sign quotes several literary interpreters of the western landscape, life, and lore. Most prominently featured there is their neighbor, Annie Proulx. Writers Park, Saratoga, Wyo. The sign features an excerpt from “A Lonely Coast,” one of the Close Range stories. Although it was written about Casper, her words could easily describe Saratoga, which lies at the base of Sheep Rock. Sign in Saratoga “Writers Park” Annie Proulx’s presence here is just part of the town’s eclectic history. Once this location on the North Platte River served as a stopping point on the Cherokee Trail. Albert Bierstadt painted the area during his travels into western Wyoming. The town was later famed for its warm therapeutic mineral spring, its name having been borrowed from Saratoga Springs, New York. Today Saratoga, Wyoming’s, principal attraction is its lovely landscape. Wyoming humor is very much alive in Saratoga. Perhaps Annie Proulx has been listening to Jack Twist’s ghost. She has recently said that she intends to escape the cold winters of Saratoga. She’ll be spending them in New Mexico, “where it’s warm, you know.” Sheep Rock, near Saratoga, Wyo. For more information, see: Annie Proulx’s hometown. As always, for Brokeback travel and production information, visit FindingBrokeback.com.

What’s Cooking: 3-minute Chocolate Mug Cake

From the Forum’s Recipe & Cook’s Corner Ingredients: 1 coffee mug 4 tablespoons flour (plain, not self-rising) 4 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons baking cocoa 1 egg 3 tablespoons milk 3 tablespoons oil 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) Small splash of vanilla Some nuts (optional) Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 2.5 minutes on high. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! Find and share recipes here.

Fun Question of the Week

This Week’s Question: In a 1965 episode of The Flintstones, what little green alien from the planet Zetox is assigned to serve prehistoric "dumb-dumbs" Fred and Barney? Let us know the answer on the response thread. Last Week’s Question and Answer: What is the difference between whiskey, bourbon and scotch? Both scotch and bourbon are kinds of whiskey. Scotch is made in Scotland (based on the standards of the Scotch Whisky Order of 1990). Scotch is a barley-based distilled beverage that is barrel aged. Bourbon is made in the US. It is a distilled and aged whiskey made primarily from Corn and is named for Bourbon County, Kentucky.

Pet Picture of the Week

Posted by PatSinnott in The Pets Thread and Pet Pics



~ Minnie ~

Post of the Day

In the How Brokeback Affected Me thread, wisdom and insight permeate this post by michaelflanagansf - (an excerpt): “I believe that it's important to find the things that make life worth living for you and to realize that they may not be the same for you as they are for everyone else. And that, for me, is one of the messages of Brokeback. The notion that 'if you can't fix it you have to stand it' has never worked for me. I've always thought that it is worthwhile and good to struggle and to succeed in life - and I've always thought that it's important to try to think yourself out of a problem - whether through finding books that give you options or going to counselors who can help you reflect on your life and change it in ways that are positive and to let patterns go that are self-defeating. “I suppose what I am seeing in my own life is that I have moved from the initial obsession and euphoria of Brokeback that moved me out of my own life back into who I am and what I want. And I believe that has happened to many people here - we are moving back towards the life we lived before. For me it has been a wonderful experience - I've done things here that I want to do and have made friends that I believe will last a lifetime. But of course that's a lot to get from a movie. What could be better? As someone who was happy with my life before the film it seems to have been the best possible outcome.”

“I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge - myth is more potent
than history - dreams are more powerful than facts - hope always triumphs
over experience - laughter is the cure for grief - love is stronger than death.”

~ Robert Fulghum ~

Life Through The Lens 3



By Trigger Hippie




By Janjo

Contributors: Janjo, KittyHawk, PatSinnott, Trigger Hippie, michaelflanagansf, BayCityJohn, neatfreak

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.

NYC Brokie Dinner/Gathering
February 13, 2009

Isle of Wight Gathering
March 7, 2009

4th Annual Brokie Reunion - Arizona Spring Fling
April 17-19, 2009

Man Dance Company
San Francisco - July 10-12, 2009

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 emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning

Formatters/Researchers: denim girl, gnash

Forum Footnotes section produced by Stilllearning

Today’s edition was formatted by gnash.

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.
If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to tds@davecullen.com.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, click the “Notify” button at the top or bottom of the page.
When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail.

The Daily Sheet Archives
Respond to The Daily Sheet

[MissYouSoMuch]

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Last chance for input: Donation in honor of Heath

We need your help to decide how to donate Forum funds in honor of Heath Ledger.

Give us your input here.

Give a Hardcover Copy of Beyond Brokeback for Valentine’s Day

Our book, Beyond Brokeback, a labor of love by and for Forum members and Brokies everywhere, continues to sell about twenty copies a month, mostly in paperback. The book will be in print in softcover for at least two more years, but...the hardcover version will not be available after February 28, so this is your last chance to get a hardcover copy. Please order through Amazon, and the Forum gets an additional 7% at no cost to you. And we’d love it if you remember to go through the Forum anytime you order from Amazon. Just follow the link to Amazon at the bottom of the Forum pages and purchase anything at all—a DVD or a book or a refrigerator—and we’ll get a commission, at no cost to you. You don’t have to order anything related to what first got you there. You can learn more about the book and its origins here.

Courage Campaign: Nix Proposition 8

This Forum can do a great job when we pull together for a cause—and we should be doing something about California’s Proposition 8. The Courage Campaign is a grassroots organization helping empower Californians. They’ve posted a video and a petition to sign and send to express opposition to Ken Starr’s suit to invalidate all those marriages that took place last fall. More than 55,000 people have already signed the letter. Will you? “The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days. We, the undersigned, ask that the Court invalidate Prop 8 and recognize the marriage rights of these 18,000 couples -- and all loving, committed couples in California -- under our state’s constitution.

“As Americans who believe in the rule of law and fundamental civil rights, we know that Ken Starr and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund’s shameful attempt to nullify these unions will not be vindicated in the eyes of history. We know that, ultimately, love will prevail, no matter how hard they try to fight it.” Watch the video and add your name here.

Soho Hotel Weekend Film Club to show “Brokeback Mountain”

“A ‘club’ in name only, hotel guests and members of the public can dine in REFUEL, the hotel’s restaurant & bar and then see the ‘film of the week.’ The movie will vary from a classic to a latest release.” Sunday, 15 February: “Brokeback Mountain” 15:30 to midnight The Soho Hotel 4 Richmond Mews, London W1D 3DH 0207 559 3000 Champagne Afternoon Tea OR a three-course lunch or dinner, and the movie. Costs £35.00 per person. Read more here.

LGBT History Month

“Taking place in February each year, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) History Month celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. “Throughout February 2009, there will be a number of events taking place to highlight LGBT history and raise awareness, including exhibitions in Merton libraries and Merton Civic Centre, an LGBT Film Festival, and workshops looking at LGBT representation in contemporary fiction and poetry, the Polari language of the 1950s and 60s and the long revolution in LGBT history.” LGBT Film Festival event: “Brokeback Mountain” “Set against the sweeping vistas of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, this film tells the story of two young men - a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy - who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love.” Merton Civic Centre Morden 24 February 2009 18:30:00 Free Read more here.

Count Basie Theatre: Willie & the Wheel; Rufus solo, acoustic

“If ever the words ‘living legend’ were more than just public relations bluster, the application would be to Willie Hugh Nelson. The iconic Texan is the creative genius behind historic recordings like ‘Crazy,’ ‘Hello Walls,’ ‘Red Headed Stranger,’ and ‘Stardust.’ His career has spanned six decades. His catalog boasts more than 200 albums. He’s earned every conceivable award and honor to be bestowed a person in his profession. He has also amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor and activist. Willie will be appearing with Asleep at the Wheel.”

Willie Nelson’s ‘‘Willie & the Wheel’’ Tour Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 8:00 PM Tickets: $150, $98, $78, $48

Rufus Wainwright Thursday, February 12, 2009, 8:30 PM Tickets: $49.50, $35.00, $29.50, $19.50

“Rufus Wainwright is one of the most interesting singer/songwriters of his generation. Rolling Stone called his 1998 debut one of the Best Albums of the Year, and named him Best New Artist of the Year. He has recorded five albums of original music, several EPs, and contributed to numerous soundtracks (Brokeback Mountain, Moulin Rouge, Shrek) and compilations (Live at the World Café). His latest, Release the Stars, debuted at #23 and went Gold. ... This is a special, solo acoustic evening.” Read more here.

Gay Valentine’s Day in Dallas

“Although they are often overlooked by mainstream celebrations of love and commitment, gay couples in Dallas have a variety of ways to paint the town red on Valentine’s Day. One way that couples can celebrate this annual romantic holiday is by making it a night on the town in the Oaklawn/Cedar Springs area, which is known as the Dallas Gay Mecca for the entire LGBT community. Very gay friendly, this prideful enclave has restaurants, entertainment and a colorful nightlife sure to cater to any couple’s mood. “If you’re really at a loss for what to do on this occasion, stay in! Create a home cooked meal, complete with wine and your lover’s favorite bouquet, and end the night sharing chocolate covered strawberries while watching your favorite gay film. Suggestions: “Fire,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Better than Chocolate,” “Saving Face” and “Like a Brother.” If all else fails, get away from home and escape to a night of luxury, room service and pampering at one of Dallas’ upscale hotels and restaurants. Suggestions: Hotel ZaZa, Palomar and Warick Melrose, which are all known to be gay-friendly.” Read more here.

What’s Cooking: Sloppy Joes with coleslaw

From the Forum’s Recipe & Cook’s Corner For Superbowl Sunday, richchan made “some all-American comfort food from my childhood. It may sound like an unlikely combination, but it’s delicious! Not the kind of food you’d want to eat all the time, but, for the Superbowl, why not?” Classic coleslaw: 1/2 head cabbage small 1 each carrot small 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped 2 each scallions (optional) finely chopped 1 each celery seed sprinkling, light 1 each salt sprinkling, to taste 1 each black pepper grindings, to taste 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 3 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons half and half Remove outer leaves of cabbage, core, and shred in 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide shreds with knife. Peel and trim carrot. Grate on coarse side of grater. Combine with cabbage. Sprinkle celery seed, salt, black pepper, and granulated sugar over cabbage mixture, tossing with fork to combine. Sprinkle vinegar over mixture and toss again to mix. Add mayonnaise and toss to mix. Add half and half and toss to mix. Turn slaw into covered storage container and refrigerate at least an hour or up to six hours before serving. Sloppy Joes: 1 pound lean ground beef 1/4 cup chopped onion 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard 3/4 cup ketchup 3 teaspoons brown sugar salt to taste ground black pepper to taste In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids. Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Bon Appetit! Find and share recipes here.

Around the Forum

The Orchid Hothouse - Where care of the Zygopetalum Blue Blazes, Dendrobium Rainbow dance, and the Oncidium are being discussed. Fan Fair - 3 - Complete the survey letting us know "what you've done" - Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty? Slept on an overnight train? Gone skinny-dipping? Presidential transition/Inauguration 2009 and beyond - Where the US economy is being discussed, in conjunction with Obama's proposed stimulus package. BEYOND BROKEBACK ~ The Impact of a Film - Learn more about our forum's book, its effect on so many of our members, and how to get your copy.

Signature Personality

Which Forum member’s signature line includes these words?

"Come on, Ennis, you just shot my airplane out a the sky--give me somethin a go on.
This ain't no little thing that's happenin here."


Let us know the answer on the Respond to The Daily Sheet thread.

Last week: "the shirts hanging on a nail shudder slightly in the draft" is the signature line of Andy, as well as one of Nikki's.
Our hats are off to chapeaugris and dejavu for knowing this one.

FanFiction Buzz

BFF ~ Best Friends Forever (AU/AU) Written by Sienna, this is a story of high school-aged Jack and Ennis who become friends in their senior year and deal with new and confusing feeling for each other as well as reactions from family and friends. BFF is now completed and can be found HERE.

Post of the Day

Desecra posts on the Ignorant Straight Girl Wants Answers from Gay Men thread: "I think it's interesting that a lot of straight, male crossdressers seem to have supportive female partners.... Sexual attraction isn't maybe as simple as it seems - there's a feeling that straight women SHOULD be attracted to the masculine, but often feminine features are acceptable or even attractive."

"The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto
others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant
toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves.
We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves."

~ Eric Hoffer ~

Life Through The Lens 3

Berlin graffiti in Kreuzberg - posted by ingmarnicebbmt



Zernez Switzerland - posted by dahlia

Contributors: richchan, Desecra, KittyHawk, ingmarnicebbm, tBayCityJohn, dahlia

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.

NYC Brokie Dinner/Gathering
February 13, 2009

Isle of Wight Gathering
March 7, 2009

4th Annual Brokie Reunion - Arizona Spring Fling
April 17-19, 2009

Man Dance Company
San Francisco - July 10-12, 2009

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

Editor: MissYouSoMuch

Editors emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning

Formatters/Researchers: denim girl, gnash

Forum Footnotes section produced by Stilllearning

Today’s edition was formatted by denim girl

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to tds@davecullen.com.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, click the “Notify” button at the top or bottom of the page.
When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail.

The Daily Sheet Archives
Respond to The Daily Sheet

[Stilllearning]

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Questionnaire for bi/gay heterosexually-married men

New Forum member Merle Yost is a licensed psychotherapist in Oakland, Calif.. On his Web site is a questionnaire that he has written to assist in his research for an upcoming book on bi and gay men who are or were heterosexually married. “Many years ago, more than I sometimes want to admit, when I was an intern, I posted an ad in a throw away local newspaper for a coming out group for gay men. I was overwhelmed the bi and gay heterosexually married men that were looking for help in dealing with their feelings that most desperately wanted to go away. “The power to change sexual orientation is not within the ability of a psychotherapist or even an individual. Coming to terms with who you are is the challenge. Some of these men leave their wives and many do not. Each must choose the path they can live with. “There are many bi and gay men in marriages and heterosexual relationships. Craig’s List is heavily populated by them in the Men4Men categories. The gay community has been dramatically impacted by formerly married men. I have heard estimates as high as 80% of the AIDS generation has died and the men that were heterosexually married, missed the initial onslaught of the epidemic. So I believe there is a disproportionate number of them in the current gay community.

“‘Brokeback Mountain’ was a watershed event for many of these men, because they saw their story and for the first time, many felt they were not alone. “This part of my website is an attempt to share some of the knowledge that I have gained over the years working with this population, in hopes of making the journey easier for the men who are trying to come to terms with themselves now. “I hope that you will take the time to fill out the questionnaire. It will help to provide more insight into this population. The article I have written is largely a 12-page outline of the book I have always wanted to write on the subject. Perhaps I will someday, but for now, I hope that you find it helpful.” Fill out the questionnaire here. Read more about Merle here.

Heath Ledger’s gentle way

“The late Heath Ledger’s stunning, almost unrecognizable turn as the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’ shouldn’t have come as a surprise. “It was far from the first time he had transformed himself for a role, whether drastically, as the scruffy skateboarding impresario in ‘Lords of Dogtown,’ or subtly, as the repressed, gay cowboy in ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ Here, the recollections of some who worked with the supporting actor nominee add detail to a picture of a complex man and challenging artist whose creative fire and generosity of spirit lifted those around him. “‘His energy and enthusiasm for life will never cease to inspire me,’ said Ledger’s longtime friend and business partner Matt Amato. ‘A friend of mine said after Heath died that we must continue in Heath’s ‘gentle way.’ Those words sounded perfect to me -- Heath’s gentle way.’” ... “Next, a more delicate transformation earned Ledger his first Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. Beyond his rich emotional life as Ennis Del Mar in ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ his subtle technical choices in the film were the fine strokes that completed the painting. His clenched jaw, tight shoulders and habitual mumbling spoke of a man stoically refusing to express his true self. It was only with his secret lover that Ennis could allow his muscles to relax, his voice to come out clearly.

“In 2005, Ledger joined Amato in the Los Angeles-based arts collective the Masses to hone the skills to direct films, starting with music videos. A rapidly developing visual style is apparent in the handful of his videos released so far, for artists such as Ben Harper. His steep growth curve can be seen in two pieces he directed for rapper and childhood friend Nfa: The first, ‘Seduction Is Evil,’ is a fairly straightforward presentation, possibly inspired by ‘Chicago’; the second, ‘Cause N Effect,’ is something much freer, abstract and striking. Two more are complete and awaiting release: one of Australian singer Grace Woodroofe covering David Bowie’s ‘Quicksand’ and an animated clip Ledger designed and storyboarded for Modest Mouse, completed after his death. “‘Both these new videos reflect Heath’s talents as a visionary artist. Someday, there will be an exhibit of his stunning photographs,’ said Amato in an e-mail exchange. ‘What Heath brought to us at the Masses was his pure creative energy, chessboards and surfboards.’” Read more here.

Time to retire the Joker?

“Heath Ledger’s flawless acting, and tragic passing, immortalized his portrayal of the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” But should Ledger’s killer clown be the last Joker to grace the big screen? “That’s what the fanboys over at a new site called The Ultimate Joker are arguing. They’ve launched a petition calling for studios to withdraw the character for good from any future Batman movies, a somewhat strange request given all the actors who have stepped into the Joker’s murderous shoes on screens large and small. “‘We truly believe Ledger’s performance as Joker is the best an actor could ever do,’ the site’s team leader, Fer Barbella, told Wired.com in an e-mail interview. “‘Any other performance will be below expectations for sure, so we want to forever keep Ledger’s Joker as the one,’ added Barbella, who launched The Ultimate Joker site last week with his colleague Nico Pimentel.”

Read more here. Source: Wired.com

White knot for gay marriage—why not?

“Add Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl to the list of straight celebrities coming out to support gay marriage. “The singer is one of the first in Hollywood to start wearing a white ribbon as a show of same-sex solidarity. “‘Anybody know about whiteknot.org?’ Grohl asked on the red carpet at last night’s MusiCares benefit and tribute to Neil Diamond. ‘You know what that’s about? It’s I believe in love and I believe in equality and I believe in marriage equality.’ “Rock on, Mr. Grohl!” Read more here. Source: E!Online Visit White Knot here.

UK’s top twelve film kisses

In the lead up to Valentine’s Day, a new survey has revealed that Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s classic kiss in 1980s film “Dirty Dancing” is the UK’s favourite all-time screen smooch. Pushing silver-screen greats aside, Richard Gere and Julia Roberts polled second with their puckering up in “Pretty Woman” and Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet clinched third with “Titanic.” Only two Hollywood classics now feature in the top ten – “Gone with the Wind” at number five and “Casablanca” at six. Muscling in are a new breed of entries including – cartoon romance “Shrek” and gay western “Brokeback Mountain” (no. 11).

Patrick Swayze / Jennifer Grey – “Dirty Dancing” (1987) Richard Gere / Julia Roberts – “Pretty Woman” (1990) Leonardo Di Caprio / Kate Winslet – “Titanic” (1997) Renee Zellweger / Colin Firth – “Bridget Jones’ Diary” (2001) Clark Gable / Vivien Leigh – “Gone With The Wind” (1939) Humphrey Bogart / Ingrid Bergman – “Casablanca” (1942) Tobey Maguire / Kirsten Dunst – “Spider-Man” (2002) Hugh Grant / Martine McCutcheon – “Love Actually” (2003) Tom Hanks / Meg Ryan – “Sleepless in Seattle” (2000) Shrek / Princess Fiona – “Shrek” (2001) Heath Ledger / Jake Gyllenhall – “Brokeback Mountain” (2006) Hugh Grant / Andy McDowell – “Four Weddings & a Funeral” (1994) Read more here. Source: Click Liverpool

Remembering actor James Whitmore

Actor James Whitmore speaks at a fundraising concert for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, in Los Angeles on December 10, 2007.

“Hollywood actor James Whitmore died of lung cancer at his home in Malibu, Calif., his son, Steve, said. He was 87. “James Whitmore, a New York native and World War II veteran, reportedly was diagnosed with the disease in November. “‘He was surrounded by what he considered to be the most important in his life, which was his family,’ Steve Whitmore told the Los Angeles Times. ‘He was loved and admired for his work as an actor, but he was loved and admired for being a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather to all those who knew him and loved him.’ “James Whitmore was known for his roles in the films ‘Battleground,’ ‘The Asphalt Jungle,’ ‘Them!,’ ‘Kiss Me Kate,’ ‘Oklahoma!,’ ‘Planet of the Apes,’ ‘Tora! Tora! Tora!,’ ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘The Majestic,’ as well as for his work in a series of one-man stage shows in which he portrayed Will Rogers, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt, the Times noted. “He won a Tony Award in 1948 for outstanding performance by a newcomer in the Broadway production of ‘Command Decision,’ and took home an Emmy in 2000 for his guest appearance on ‘The Practice.’ He also starred in three TV series throughout his career -- ‘The Law and Mr. Jones,’ ‘My Friend Tony’ and ‘Temperatures Rising.’” Read more here. Source: United Press International, Inc.

Entering Wyoming: Matthew Shepard Memorial

FindingBrokeback offers another in its continuing series of articles
highlighting Wyoming places with important Brokeback connections.




Unofficial Matthew Shepard Memorial
Laramie, Wyo.

Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain, which appeared in The New Yorker magazine in 1997, was a brilliant work of fiction. Tragically, it was also something of a prophecy. Almost exactly a year later, 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was beaten and left to die in an infamous act of hatred. On October 6, 1998, Matthew Wayne Shepard met Aaron McKinney, 22, and Russell Henderson, 21, in a Laramie bar. Contemplating robbery, the two led Shepard to believe they were gay. Matthew followed McKinney and Henderson into their truck. Inside, McKinney pulled out a gun and demanded Shepard’s wallet, then hit him with the gun. They then drove to an isolated spot southeast of town, Henderson behind the wheel, as Matthew begged for his life. McKinney struck him repeatedly as Henderson watched and laughed. The two tied Shepard’s beaten body to a fence. They then robbed him of his wallet containing $20, and shoes, continued to beat him, and left him to die. Matthew Shepard For over 18 hours Shepard bled profusely in near-freezing temperatures until a cyclist happened to discover him the following day. A police officer who responded to the 911 call would later testify, “Though his face was caked in blood, his face was clean where streaks of tears had washed the blood away.” The 5’ 2”, 102-pound Shepard never emerged from his coma and died five days later, the morning after America’s celebration of National Coming Out Day. A wave of global grief and outrage ensued. There was a nationwide memorial service in Washington, D.C., hosted by Ellen DeGeneres; Moisés Kaufman wrote the award-winning play “The Laramie Project,” which later became an HBO film. Among many moving artistic tributes were Melissa Etheridge’s Scarecrow, Tom McCormack’s Stigmata, and Elton John’s “American Triangle.” The Matthew Shepard Act, legislation proposed to expand the Federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation, enjoyed popular support but was opposed by the Administration. It failed to become law. Matthew Shepard Murder Site in 1997 How did the people of Laramie respond to this, the most significant event in the town’s history? Despite expressions of outrage at the time of the tragedy, there has since been stubborn resistance to efforts to erect a suitable memorial there. Although the University of Wyoming recently dedicated a campus bench to Shepard’s memory, its small plaque says nothing about who Matthew Shepard was, how he died, or why he died. Residents of the neighborhood where the murder occurred were not so moved. Their reaction was to have local street names changed in order to confuse pilgrims to the murder site. “The welling prairie … the grieving plain.” But dignity is an unrelenting thing. After neighbors removed the fence, the cross upon which Shepard died, visitors constructed a modest, unofficial memorial near the site of the murder. Those who continue to come to this place do so to reflect, pray, and sometimes to leave tokens of tribute to a precious life destroyed by hate. For more information, see: Matthew Shepard Memorial. As always, for Brokeback travel and production information, visit FindingBrokeback.com.

What’s Cooking: Cilantro dip

From the Forum’s Recipe & Cook’s Corner Great dip using coriander (cilantro) 3 cloves of garlic - crushed 1 teaspoon of salt 6 tablespoons of Tahini (sesame seed paste) if you can’t get this, smooth peanut butter will do 1 half liter of plain yogurt bunch of chopped coriander leaves (note: all the flavour is in the leaves, so discard the stems) Combine above and leave in the refrigerator overnight.

Find and share recipes here.

Fun Question of the Week

This Week’s Question: Although the federal government does not recognize it as such, why do some people classify Jell-O as an animal product? Let us know the answer on the response thread. Last Week’s Question and Answer: In a 1965 episode of The Flintstones, what little green alien from the planet Zetox is assigned to serve prehistoric "dumb-dumbs" Fred and Barney? Yes, Ennis Del Mark, you're right, it's the Great Gazoo!

Post of the Day

In the thread, Mourning Someone Who Has Died tfferg posted: "At least 108 people have perished in bushfires in rural areas and small towns in Victoria, Australia. The toll is expected to rise much more as there are many areas that are still inaccessible because of some 30 fires still burning in tens of thousands of hectares and roads cut. Whole towns have been completely destroyed. Survivors speak of being in places that were not in imminent danger, but fireballs engulfed them without warning in the space of two minutes. "In addition to the grief of the survivors, many many wonderful volunteer firefighters and relief workers are in need of support, being badly traumatized by what they have seen and experienced."

Picture of the Day

Posted by brianr ~ The beauty of a caring spirit amid the destruction of the Australian fires









"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects,
always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

~ 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 8 ~

Life Through The Lens 3

Cottesloe, Australia posted by cinimini




North coast of Yehliu, Taiwan, posted by jnov




Rottnest Island, Australia posted by Mule

Contributors: KittyHawk, BayCityJohn, Nax, Mule, cinimini, jnov, brianr, tfferg, Lyle(Mooska)

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.

Isle of Wight Gathering
March 7, 2009

4th Annual Brokie Reunion - Arizona Spring Fling
April 17-19, 2009

Man Dance Company
San Francisco - July 10-12, 2009

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 emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning

Formatters/Researchers: denim girl, gnash

Forum Footnotes section produced by Stilllearning

Today’s edition was formatted by gnash.

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.
If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to tds@davecullen.com.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, click the “Notify” button at the top or bottom of the page.
When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail.

The Daily Sheet Archives
Respond to The Daily Sheet