Moneyball: B

I watched Moneyball last night at home via Amazon Video On Demand. I'm not a sports fan and consider baseball to be ridiculous and unwatchable, but Moneyball is not really about baseball. Like other sports movies I've recently watched, The Damned United and Invictus, Moneyball focuses less on the sport itself and more on the professional sports industry and culture.

I enjoy movies that make an effort to seem realistic and, to my non-sports fan perspective, Moneyball at least felt realistic so me. It's about the Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) who realizes that he can't compete with the other teams' player budgets, so he hires an Ivy-league economist who uses statistical analysis to hire affordable, unknown players. Admittedly, that description doesn't sound very compelling. What makes the movie interesting is Beane's struggle to implement his statistical approach against the passionate, traditional baseball management.

rant: deceptive packaging

What the heck?!? Food prices are going up and corporations are screwing-over their customers, but really? Shame on you Ernest and Gallo Winery.

follow-up: Target.com responds

A Target.com rep promptly reponded to my e-mail inquiry/complaint about The Map. Here is an excerpt:

. . . I'm sorry that you found The Map: for the journey away from homosexuality offensive. We didn't mean to upset you, or anyone, by offering this item.

This item is actually an Amazon.com item that we feature on Target.com. When you search for an item on Target.com, we'll also search Amazon.com's selection of books, music and movies so you can have quick access to those items too. We do filter out some of the Amazon.com titles from these searches, and I'll share your comments with the team that handles that process.

Thanks for getting in touch with us. I hope you'll visit Target.com again. . . .

I stand corrected in my prior assumption that Target.com would never allow another company select and describe its product offerings. It's very bizarre.

Target selling 'ex-gay' propaganda to gay teens!?!

Wow. My ex-gay alma mater, The Portland Fellowship, scored a major, mainstream distribution deal. Target.com is selling PF's controversial cure to gay teens, The Map:

Even more disturbing, Target.com doesn't make any mention that the publisher is a fundamentalist Christian organization that believes homosexual behavior is sinful, wrong, and unhealthy:

This is very surpising, especially for a store that certainly has many LGBT customers, boasts a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Business Council and "proudly supports" gay-positive organizations like Reaching Out LGBT MBA Conference. It seems at odds to appear gay-friendly while selling an essentially anti-gay product. Even worse, steathly promoting a product targeted at gay teens. I hope this is just some terrible oversight on Target.com's part.

---

UPDATE:

Unfortunately, Target.com also sells another publication by ex-gay activist Chad W. Thompson (see: ExGayWatch.com), Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach. However, unlike The Map, Loving Homosexuals' product description is a little more blantant and honest about its perspective opposing homosexuality.

under lawsuit threat, eHarmony to offer services to gays

Advocate.com reports that eHarmony.com (Wiki) has settled a lawsuit and will stop discriminating against gays and lesbians by March 2009. However, eHarmony reserves the right to include the disclaimer that "their compatibility-based matching system was developed solely on the basis of researched focused on married heterosexual couples" according to the article (because, you know, gays and lesbians are basically a different species of human). In a 2005 interview, eHarmony's founder defended his company's discrimination against gay and lesbian customers.

It's disappointing that eHarmony has only decided to cave-in to a lawsuit and still seems reluctant to provide services to gay and lesbians. For a company that originally touted its ultra-right wing Focus On The Family connections, I hoped it would have defended its anti-gay moral convictions or enthusiastically embraced its new found inclusive enlightenment. 'Because we have to' is probably worse than open, honest discrimination.

bad economy leads Christianists to idol worship

"He . . . made it into a molten calf; and they said, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.'"- Exodus 32:4 (NASB)

"At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands."- Acts 7:41 (NASB)

A supposed prophet endorsed by Pat Robertson's ministry, Cindy Jacobs, claims God spoke to her, "Cindy, the strongman over America doesn’t live in Washington, DC – the strongman lives in New York City! Call My people to pray for the economy." So, Jacobs called on fellow believers to meet and pray before, of all places, a giant Wall Street bull statue on Wednesday:

(See Wonkette for more pictures).

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Of course, the Bible is clear that God dislikes idolatry -- particularly of the bovine variety. So it's no surprise that today Wonkette reports on the repercussions of Wednesday's idolatry: "APOCALYPSE: ZOMBIES KILL FUNDIES, TAKE OVER WALL STREET BULL"

(via City Business Church)

update: censored Starbucks logo is a prostitute

Last month, I complained that Starbucks should not have censored the cartoon breasts in its retro-branding of their original logo. Well, apparently Starbucks was right to be concerned. At least one fringe Christianist group thinks even the censored version is inappropriate and has called for a boycot (sic):

. . . Starbucks has recently introduced a new version of their logo which features a topless mermaid with her legs spread, which has caused outrage from a nation wide Christian media watchdog organization. The Resistance . . . is boycotting Starbucks across the country saying their new logo is inappropriate.

“The Starbucks logo has a naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute,” explains Mark Dice, founder of the group. “Need I say more? It’s extremely poor taste, and the company might as well call themselves, Slutbucks.” . . .

Apparently, the fringe group, The Resistance, is led by Mark Dice (formerly known as John Conner) who has authored and is selling a 9-11/New World Order/AntiChrist conspiracy book. Although even with all of the media attention, Dice's group doesn’t seem to be making much money off the publicity stunt. His chipin.com fundraising widget shows that $7 has been raised — far from the $1,000 goal (but enough for a Starbucks venti vanilla soy latte).

Of course, like nearly all fringe right-wing website, their website also had an obligatory Ron Paul 2008 banner ad.

(Hat tip: City Business Church)

We didn't see these chairs in Hawaii

I'm sure we would have seen the chair of the Hawaiin people:

You know, it kind of makes sense though and I love as-seen-on-TV gadgets.

(From a message Scott forwarded to on April 30, 2008.)

bring back Starbucks' boobies!!!

Anyone who has visited the original Starbucks store at Seattle's Pike Place Market knows the surprise of seeing Starbucks' original, topless, logo:

Bifurcated Starbucks Siren, originally uploaded by majorbonnet.

So it was exciting to see Starbucks launch their Pike Place Roast last week with the old logo -- but it's not the old logo!!! It has been censored:

What can brown do for you?, originally uploaded by chrisphoto.

Are 'merican consumers so supposedly puritan that they can't handle the sight of historical boobies? The seemingly soul-less corporate giant seems to think so. There's an interesting blog about the various incarnations of the logo change.

Ironically, a friend mentioned that Pike Place Market prohibits corporate chain stores, so the corporate giant's original store probably would not be able to lease space unless it had been grandfathered-in. It's also one of the market's top tourist attractions now.

'ex-gay' group using Starbucks to promote message

I noticed yesterday that our local 'ex-gay' ministry, The Portland Fellowship, launched a new website to recruit churches. Prominently display on their website is their $5.00 Starbucks gift card offer which they are using to entice churches. It's odd and confusing to me that an ex-gay/anti-gay ministry would use the products and services of a gay-inclusive company (HRC: 100).

I may be making a big deal out of nothing, but I somehow doubt an image-conscious company like Starbucks would appreciate their brand being used to promote a controversial political/religious message. It seems to me that PF is using Starbucks' prestige to make its fringe, harmful ministry seem sane, reasonable, and mainstream -- like a grande, vanilla, soy latte.

gay supermarket vows from Chemistry.com

Chemistry.com's ad campaign previously took on eHarmony's gay exclusion policy. They are running more ads including one featuring a gay couple exchanging vows at a supermarket:

(See, Scott? It's totally romantic for gays to propose at a supermarket.)

(Hat Tip: AfterElton.com, Queerty.com)

Starbucks' Sinister 'Phase Two' Operation

A news article from The Onion has come true. NWCN.com reports on the sinister nationwide plan:

How many baristas can be trained in three hours? What kind of "shot" will these baristas be making and what will they be doing with steaming "milk"? Fortunately, The Onion long ago forewarned us about Starbucks' nefarious activities:

Starbucks To Begin Sinister 'Phase Two' Of Operation

favorite super bowl ad

No, Scott and I did not watch the Super Bowl, but I did see the ads on YouTube. Here are my favorites:

IKEA Portland opening July 25

IKEA Portland
Originally uploaded by pdxsurreal.

Yes, I'm a dork. I'm really excited about Portland's IKEA opening which was announced today to be July 25! I've looked forward to this since the rumors of IKEA's arrival were confirmed in 2005.

I don't like crowds, so I doubt I'll attend the opening weekend . . . or will I???

(Hat tip: OregonLive.com)

Chemistry.com challenges eHarmony.com

In 2005, I noted a Fresh Air interview with eHarmony's conservative Christian founder, Neil Clark Warren, who attempted to explain why eHarmony refuses to serve gay and lesbian customers. Now, according to Pam's House Blend, an eHarmony competitor, Chemistry.com, has launched an ad campaign challenging eHarmony's 'no gays' position:

According to a WashingtonPost.com article, eHarmony is demanding that NBC and People remove the ads, but they have either refused or have not responded.

(Hat tip: Pam's House Blend)

NBA and others advertising on anti-gay website???

Just a week after the NBA's David Stern and several pro athletes, coaches, and owners expressed support of John Amaechi's coming out, I was surprised to see an NBA web ad running next to an anti-gay web ad for "It's Not Gay". I refreshed my browser and saw several mainstream companies advertising on the anti-gay American Family Association's "news" website OneNewsNow.com. Honestly, I have no idea how web ads are chosen to run and I suppose there could be cookies on OneNewsNow that customize web ads for my computer. Even so, it's a little disturbing to think some companies are diving into social, religion, political issues by supporting a website that regularly features anti-gay "news", commentary, and products.

I hope and assume that these companies' use an ad buyer that didn't realize the that OnesNewsNow is part of AFA. Here are some screenshots took:

What's really interesting are some of the other ads running such as for It's Not Gay and Islam Rising.

end of the music store business?

I accompanied Scott to Portland's Tower Records store during its going-out-of-business sale. The store seemed a little busier than usual, but the liquidation sale only offered a 10% discount so the store wasn't packed. Although Scott was a little excited about the potential bargains, the visit was bittersweet since he was saying goodbye to one of his favorite record shops. Before he discovered Classical Millenium, Tower was one of his favorite stores for classical music.

I'm not a big music consumer, in fact, I was more sorry when Tower closed its neighboring bookstore years ago, but I was also a little sad to see the store getting ready to close. I do remember Tower's original Portland store at the cheezy Eastport Plaza mall in the 1980s. I believe it was the first store I saw a compact disc.

Somewhat ironically, right after we left the store we went next door to buy something that is contributing to Tower's closure: an iPod. It was Sheena's birthday gift. Although Scott hates to hear me say it, I think this is the end of the music store business in general.

McBreakfast All Day? / Coffee People sells out, again

Although I may have to turn in my WalMart-hating, blue state, gay, liberal/progressive Democrat credentials, I will admit that I do like Egg McMuffins. However, McDonald's only serves breakfast in the morning which doesn't fit into my usual breakfast at 1:00 PM weekend schedule. However, according to Fox"News", McDs may actually give-in to customer demands and serve breakfast all day. Unfortunately, McDonald's corporate-speak is about as appetizing as nawing on a circuit board:

Speaking at the Bank of America 36th Annual Investment Conference in San Francisco, McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner said the company was implementing a new restaurant operating system that would finally make selling breakfast all day possible.

"It's not compatible with our current operating system," Skinner said about offering its breakfast menu all day. "But with this system, that could be possible."

The so-called flexible operating platform will make McDonald's food preparation processes more transparent to customers and "offer more variety with greater ease," Skinner said.

"Restaurant operating system"? Mmm-mmm good! Now, if only they can do something about the excessive calories and indigestion their operating system produces.

(Hat tip: FARK.com)

Coffee People Sells Out to Starbucks

In what was inevitable, Coffee People has finally sold out to Starbucks. In the 90s, I was a loyal Coffee People customer. Coffee People tried to distinguish itself from Starbucks by promising to keep its pricing lower than the 'other big espresso shops' and discouraging use of the ridiculous venti, grande, tall terminology. The Coffee People I frequented was decorated with large photos of bean farmers and promoted its social responsibility long before Starbucks was forced to answer such criticism.

In 1999, the couple that founded and operated Coffee People sold it to an out-of-state corporation, Diedrich Coffee. The hope was that Coffee People could retain its identity and survive by merging with the second largest coffee chain. However, Coffee People seemed to struggle since the 90s. The memorable stores at Lloyd Center, NW 23rd, and Hawthorne have all since closed, so it was inevitable that Starbucks would swoop in and finish the job.

Not that I think Starbucks is a horrible company. In fact, it deserves credit for leading the espresso trend (lifestyle?) and although it's still a corporation -- it could be much worse. What I dislike about Starbucks is its tactics of targeting local stores and it's limited menu. No, I won't forgive Starbucks for closing my favorite ma and pa breakfast/lunch counter and or taking Irish Creme syrup off their menu. But I will probably go in and order my usual 16 ounce, non-fat, Irish Cr..er..vanilla latte. Why? Because I'm a consumer whore like everyone else.

IKEA coming to Portland!

image stolen from ikea.com

I know I shouldn't be this excited. Afterall, it's just a furniture store that sells cheap furniture. But it's been rumored for so long now.

Metroblogging posted today's PDC press release.

re-thinking Shari's discrimination suit

Back in April, I heard that a jury awarded a gay employee $122K in his discrimination lawsuit against one of Oregon's largest private employers, Shari's Restaurant. According to an article I read somewhere, the employee, Kevin Turner, was harassed by his co-workers "because he failed to display traditional male behavior". Oregon laws do not specifically prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or sexual identity. However, the Oregon Court of Appeals' 1998 decision in Tanner v. OHSU included sexual orientation in Oregon's laws against sex discrimination (see: HRC, BRO). So employers probably cannot discriminate against GLBT employees. Interestingly, the lawsuit was not based on state law prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination, but on federal law against gender discrimination. According to a blog entry on the employment law website Employment Law Information Network, Turner's lawsuit was based on "the theory that sexual stereotyping—discrimination because a person’s conduct or appearance does not fit that traditionally expecte for their gender—is a type of sex discrimination under [Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964]". When I first heard about the jury award, not very many details were available. I assumed that the case was based on Shari's management condoning harassment of GLBT employees. This assumption was based, in part, on my bias that suburban and rural employers are more likely to discriminate against GLBTs. I also thought Turner v. Shari's was an opportunity to demonstrate why Oregon needs laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination against GLBT employees. In addition, as a frequent Shari's customer, I felt responsible that I could be supporting an anti-gay business. However, now that more information about Turner v. Shari's is available, I'm re-thinking my assumptions about the case. According to an article on The Advocate's website, Turner's case was not a clear example of gay discrimination. Rather, the case is complicated because Turner's complaint resulted from Shari's investigation regarding a female co-worker's complaint against Turner. A female co-worker claimed that Turner grabbed her breasts. However, Turner says he touched the woman accidentally during a moment of horseplay. The complications of the case may be fancy lawyering of the case by Shari's lawyers, but it seems there may have been other motives to Turner's complaint. Although the jury agreed that he was discriminated against based on gender, the same jury did not agree that Shari's retaliated against him. So there seems to be more going on than a simply case of gay discrimination.