A Salute to Service

 

Happy Veterans Day from Betty Hutton and the Walsh twins!

Happy Veterans Day!

   My hat off to all the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces -- like my (maybe gay) Uncle Kenny and Dad, seen here hamming it up (Walsh-style) during the Korean War on a USO tour visit with Betty Hutton, fresh off her Golden Globe nomination for "Annie Get Your Gun."

The twins in Fukuoka, Japan

The twins in Korea

Uncle Kenny, February 1951

My dad

Page 1 Consider (03/13)

It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me: Another group of musicians was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (who proofread that name?!) last night at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, including all-time (212) favorites the Ronettes and R.E.M. Sadly, even on this huge occasion artists never seem to put aside their differences for a night (the Ronettes pretended Phil Spector never existed, last year Debbie Harry got into a cat fight with ex-guitarist Frank Infante, and years ago Michelle Phillips continued 20 years of not speaking to her ex-husband John, even as the Mamas and the Papas performed together on stage). Even so, I cannot wait for the television broadcast of the event as I cannot wait to see Ronnie Spector join her sister Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley in belting out "Be My Baby" one more time. (NYT) Patti Smith summed the honor nicely in this NYT op-ed.

Gayborhood Watch: I don't think we have to worry too much about the Castro losing its "gay ghetto" label with these two on the loose. (AP)

First-Class Dick: The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday he considers homosexuality to be immoral and the military should not condone it by allowing gay personnel to serve openly. Marine Gen. Peter Pace likened homosexuality to adultery, which he said was also immoral. Well, let's see here. Homosexuals are in the service and married servicemembers do commit adultery. Any other questions, dickhead? (AP)

Male Bond-ing: Now that Daniel Craig has proven himself Bond worthy (CAUTION), who would you like to see play his next love interest? Women needn't apply. (AfterElton)

Felix al-Ungar: This headline confused me: Gay Arabs Begin to Organize. Why wouldn't they -- aren't they like the rest of us gays? (AP)

Wedding Bell Blues: A Web site was launched Monday that features 10 couples attesting to how same-sex marriage bans have stifled their families and relationships. The American Civil Liberties Union along with the Emmy-winning production company Public Interest launched 10Couples.org , containing streaming video and a call to action. The couples claim, among other things, that not being married has caused them to continue having sex, not get fat, and not hate one another. (Advocate)

Not So Sly: Thank you, Sylvester Stallone, for reconfirming my belief that whenever I see someone who is abnormally muscular they are using steroids. I've spent so many years going to the gym religiously only to basically remain looking like, well, myself. Lawyers for Stallone, the 60-year-old star of the "Rocky" and "Rambo" movie franchises, represented him in a Sydney court on Tuesday where he faces a charge of importing a banned substance. (AP)

Beefcake Watch: Evidently the average man wants to watch sports, politics, strippers, car chases and crashes, have sex and go to sleep. ABC has figured out that women prefer to watch shows about sex: couples who talk about sex, then have sex, lots of it, and then talk about sex some more to each other and to their best friends. (NYT)

Fashion Distraction: Genre magazine's style blogger, Sean Krebbs, is back, this time with what he calls "an insider's guide to Sydney, Australia." If you asked me, though, I'd say his mind is way more focused on Brazil. (Genre)

It Never Ends: Have you been following the not-so-exciting scandal about the eight U.S. attorneys who were unceremoniously fired without cause? Try to take one guess who is behind this one. (WP)

No Shirt, No Shoes, No ...: An Internet cafe owner in Casablanca asked two men to leave his place of business because he objected to their looking at jihadist Web sites. How did they respond? One of the men ran ... the other one blew himself up. (NYT)

RIP: Betty Hutton, the actress and singer who brought a brassy vitality to Hollywood musicals such as "Annie Get Your Gun," has died in Palm Springs, Calif., at age 86. Betty holds a special place in my heart -- and on my living room wall -- because of this photo taken of her visiting U.S. troops in Korea back in early '50s. That's my dad on the right and his twin brother, Kenny, on the left. When Hollywood came calling, naturally the charming Walsh twins were the first people they introduced them to. Perhaps my dad's making her laugh somewhere again now ... (AP)