james nunn | blog

You’ll understand the line at about 4:00 minutes.

Two exciting pieces of news emanating from across the lake (Pacific Ocean).

First, QANTAS Airways is being sold, however the company has stated that it will remain Australian-owned, and the management structure will not be changed as a result. This is good news, as QANTAS is still one of the few airlines in the world that actually makes a profit. The change is a result of a takeover bid that was launched a couple of weeks back by a consortium, in which the Texas Pacific Group will be a part owner. It’s like my two homes are merging together.

Second, it appears that convenience – not to mention practicality – has hit wine bottles. Australia’s Hardy Wine Company is launching a new bottle called the “shuttle” that will include a single plastic wine glass as part of the bottle.

“It’s portable (and) it means you only need to buy one product to enjoy a glass of wine,” Miriam Leenders, Hardy Wine Company Global Marketing Manager, told Reuters. She said the product would be perfect for outdoor events where glass was not permitted for safety reasons.

The “Shuttle” is set for distribution in Australia in 2007.

Drinking outside – how civilized!

It appears that Reichen and Lance have split!

According to Out in Hollywood, “Page Six first reported the troubles Bass and Lehmkuhl were having due to the former Marine’s insistence on Bass dropping his straight friends and not having a full-time job.” The article also suggests that Reichen “forced” Lance to come out to help with his book sales. I’m appalled … and salivating (for all the wrong reasons)

Bosley and Colby’s cousins (Caleb and Skylar) recently visited, and it seems they quickly claimed their spot in the house.

Here is a good spot by Keith Olbermann (Oct. 25) discussing the recent uproar over the attack by Rush Limbaugh over Michael J. Fox’s advert for a Senatorial candidate in Missouri.

And here is an interview with Michael J. Fox with Katie Couric (Oct. 27).

Two things from these videos. Rush Limbaugh should have taken his (illegal) medications, and – as Al Franken once said – Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot!

I was flipping through blogs and found this link to an advertising campaign promoting the use of condoms amongst catholics, and seeking to have the Pope overturn the current ban on condom use. I thought this was very progressive.

The main focus is on the reduction of new HIV infections through the promotion of safe sex (yes Virginia, there are some that are not fatigued by this concept).

… think popcorn people!

I am really enjoying the drama that is surrounding the Mark Foley resignation and subsequent rolling of the heads. It’s always enjoyable to watch people squirm when sexual stuff is involved. Clearly, Foley is in need of treatment for his sexual addiction, as well as his alcoholism (not to mention some good counseling to deal with all that grief from the triggered memories of being abused as a child). Of course, as my Sex and Addiction professor would say, he most likely was abused when he was about 16, as most sex addicts who focus on younger people, do so with people around the age they were themselves abused.

Naturally there is a lot of peripheral fallout with this discovery. It amazes me that something so simple can have so many unrelated issues thrown up as a kind of smoke screen around the problem. As I was listening to All Things Considered on Wednesday afternoon, there was some commentary by Marc Acito, a gay guy who had something to say about this very thing. To Marc, I say, “here here!”

Years ago, I recall seeing this show called “Seven Up”, which was part of a series that was to continue being made every seven years. Today I was reminded of this series by an advert that I heard on NPR/KERA, promoting the latest in the series: 49 Up.

According to WikiPedia, this is

a popular documentary film series that follows the lives of fourteen British people from the age of seven through adulthood. The fourteen people chosen are of different races, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. Every seven years, the director, Michael Apted, films new material from as many of the 14 as agree to participate.

I’ve seen most of the series over the years, though haven’t seen the the one prior to this latest release (42 Up has been added to our Netflix queue). I really liked the concept of this series, and thought it was rather adventurous when I first heard about it, but I’m glad that Apted has managed to make it this far.

I’m looking forward to seeing what these people have been up to over the last fourteen years of their life. Worth checking out.