My Little Town 2100

bye bye

2011-10-02T23:18:00.000-04:00

This blog is moving. Follow me now on Tumblr UNDER THE SAME NAME!

Be Outraged . . Very Outraged

2011-08-01T23:04:00.000-04:00

I just read this. I thought my poor, noninsured clients had it bad!

Access to Urgent Psychiatric Care Severely Limited

Even Patients With 'Excellent' Private Insurance Left Out in the Cold

By Fran Lowry

July 25, 2011 — A preliminary study has confirmed the authors' worst suspicions — that access to outpatient psychiatric care, even for privately insured patients who have been referred by emergency departments, is severely limited.

The study, available online, is also to be published as a letter to the editor in the August print edition of Annals of Emergency Medicine.

"As Massachusetts clinicians caring for patients with mental illness, we experience frequent difficulties obtaining psychiatric care for our patients," write J. Wesley Boyd, MD, PhD, from Cambridge Health Alliance and Children's Hospital Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues. "But how bad are things really?"

To find out, Dr. Boyd and his team posed as patients insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts PPO, the largest insurer in Massachusetts. They called every in-network mental health facility within a 10-mile radius of downtown Boston, claiming that they had been evaluated in an emergency department for depression and then discharged with instructions to get a psychiatric appointment within 2 weeks.

Only 8 of the 64 facilities listed by Blue Cross as preferred providers offered appointments, and of these, just 4 offered an appointment within the recommended 2-week time frame.

Twenty-three percent of the facilities never even bothered to call back, despite 2 telephone calls from the supposedly depressed patients.

Another common reason appointments were unavailable was that 23% of psychiatric providers required that the patient already be enrolled with a primary care physician affiliated with their psychiatric facility.

Money Loser

"We didn't think it would go too well, but we were really surprised at just how bad it was," Dr. Boyd told Medscape Medical News. "Given that we used what we thought was a very good private insurance, one that didn't require prior authorization, to be able to get only 8 appointments out of 64 and only 4 appointments within 2 weeks, it was pretty sad."

Dr. Boyd said that psychiatry is a money loser for institutions, and as a result, facilities do all they can to limit the amount of psychiatry services they offer.

"That's why they put in all these stipulations, like you can only be seen here if you have a primary care doctor within our system. If you're getting a titanium hip replacement, have you ever heard of there being a requirement that you must have your primary care doctor at the same facility where that surgeon is operating? No, because it's a huge money maker. They'll fly you in from out of state to get a titanium hip replacement," he said.

One step toward improving this situation would be to improve reimbursement for people who provide psychiatric services.

"I think one measure of the humanity of a society is how well it takes care of its most needy, and psychiatric patients often cannot advocate for themselves. They have gotten a short shrift. Managed care has hit psychiatry harder than any other discipline in medicine," he said.

Dr. Boyd also noted that separating psychiatric coverage from most insurance plans is another factor making it difficult for people to access care.

"We want to highlight the problem and alert people in hopes that psychiatry as a discipline will become better respected and therefore reimbursed better, which will open up access. The other message we want to stress is merely having insurance is no guarantee that you are going to have access to services," he said.

Shortage Specialty

Commenting on the study for Medscape Medical News, Carolyn B. Robinowitz, MD, a psychiatrist in private practice in Washington, DC, and a former president of the American Psychiatric Association, said the study highlights the lack of availability of psychiatric services in general.

"The article shows that we are a shortage specialty. There aren't enough of us, and we have to do some things to improve our accessibility and availability," she said.

"These numbers are disconcerting," Dr. Robinowitz agreed. "As these ACOs [accountable care organizations] and other systems are developed, the challenge is going to be try to use mental health providers, psychiatrists, social workers, and psychologists to work together so that the solo practitioner seeing patients is not quite so isolated," she added.

Dr. Robinowitz also said that currently there is no system in place in the United States for urgent care.

"This lack of a system probably feeds into the lack of availability. So it is probably a combination of economics, or poor reimbursement for psychiatric care, as well as a system problem.”

Dr. Boyd and Dr. Robinowitz have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Ann Emerg Med. Published online July 21, 2011. Text

Medscape Medical News © 2011 WebMD, LLC
Send comments and news tips to news@medscape.net.

(Oh, for those keeping track, Torchwood still sucks, as of Friday's episode. But if you are so inclined, the BBC published three new radio plays all stories pre-Children of Earth. You can find them in the "song" section of iTunes.)

Walter Reed and Tea Party Wackos

2011-07-27T23:27:00.000-04:00

According to Wikipedia:
Major Walter Reed, M.D., (September 13, 1851 – November 22, 1902) was a U.S. Army physician who in 1900 led the team that postulated and confirmed the theory that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species, rather than by direct contact. This insight gave impetus to the new fields of epidemiology and biomedicine, and most immediately allowed the resumption and completion of work on the Panama Canal (1904–1914) by the United States. Reed followed work started by Carlos Finlay and directed by George Miller Sternberg ("first U.S. bacteriologist").

We closed the hospital that carries this man's name because the same hospital was allowed to deteriorate to the point where it could not be salvaged. I just heard on my local Fox News channel that its services will be incorporated into another hospital and the Dr. Reed's name added but still, is this what it comes down to in America? Are we so alien from our past that we fail to honor our real heroes in favor of remembering the name of all the "Real Housewives of New York"?

Walter Reed championed not only public health but the health of the warriors who kept this country and the world safe. His innovations and fights forced the government to provide proper care for our vets as well as the general public through things we take for granted, like street cleaning and water sanitization. Yet when his hospital namesake was allowed to grow mold and now to be sidelined, we say nothing. Another example of how our failure to appreciate history harms us all.
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I am bracing myself to stay in a job I hate to be the only family member with a check. Because the Congress cannot agree with the President, my dad and my husband may not get the social security pay they are due. Many of you don't believe it is going to be this bad, that the threat is REALLY that serious. HELLO TEA PARTY FOLK - You know what? The crystal ball I have to predict the outcome of my therapy clients doesn't work and I would bet yours doesn't either. Even so, I don't want to take a chance on your psychic powers or your legend growing in your own mind. My people need their checks. If they don't come, will you cover our bills and the increased cost on my credit cards?

Bye, Bye Torchwood

2011-07-25T23:34:00.000-04:00

I'm not saying that I won't watch Torchwood anymore but I won't be driving home from Friday night synagogue services at 70 mph to catch it. I don't care about the new characters, the old characters offer no new life, and the storyline drags. I have also ended my membership with Torchwood Forum. After several American members unnecessarily attacked my patriotism because I supported the views of many UK fans who felt the show was "too Americanized" references to how the US had to save the UK in WWII were thrown around. REALLY? I believe that you can criticize or love a program without believing you own the show or the show's productors/writers/directors owe you anything. However, other forum members felt the need to be nasty and make honest debate personal because I was harsh about the performance/presentation of professionals who should be used to reviews by now.

Now what? The second part of Doctor Who's season starts soon . . . .

Torchwood and Chimps

2011-07-16T17:59:00.000-04:00

Unlike my previous review, this week's Torchwood: Miracle Day was flawless. Although Jack is definitively not back (yet), Gwen is. This woman can save my universe anytime (as long as she is in leather, that is!). The verbal barbs, sexual innuendo, and dark humor were wonderful - Torchwood at its best. As for my criticisms of last week's episode, they would not have existed if they simply combined this and last week's episode together as a two hour premiere, as one explained the other (why did Jack look so bad? He was supposed to as his immune system is doing double time fighting off diseases, likely ones that his body knows nothing of from his days as a mortal. If you were in his shoes, you'd look bad too!).

I look forward to next week . . .

On a quick note: some folk from the Torchwood Forum I follow found my review last week objectionable and rude. I can't say I blame them nor that I care. Really! Russell Davies, Torchwood's creator, hardly gives a rats behind what I think and I doubt he will ever read what I wrote. Even if he did, in his business you'd better have thick skin or good drugs to survive and I would think he has one or the other by now. More importantly though, I don't see why others feel the need to defend him, as if the man couldn't defend himself? Even if the whole show collapsed, I'm sure it won't break him, in spirit nor finances, considering he already has several successful series under his belt. Trust me fans, my tiny column ain't hurting him (or the rest of the crew) as much as it is irritating you.
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I listened to this morning's broadcast of NPR's Weekend Edition and experienced a “driveway moment” with a story called, "'Project Nim' Traces Chimp's Human Life". This documentary is the sad story of the law of unintended stupidity where the kindly human scientist takes a chimp out of his home, has it raised amongst humans (the scientist’s graduate students), teaches it sign language in hopes of proving that chimps can learn to use language in the same way humans do, only to eventually doom the animal to live in a lonely life with other chimps he could not relate to. I use the words "unintended stupidity" quite deliberately, my dear readers. What was that scientist thinking? I remember as a kid watching shows like Wild Kingdom which featured the chimp documented in this story and other wild life (usually dolphins) for whom a gaggle of scientists were trying to human. I remember even then asking my father at the time, "Did the animals ask to be made human?" Later, as I watched the horrors accompanying the end of the Vietnam War, I wonder, "Why would the animals want to be human anyway?" If those animals could really "think like us" then likely they would agree with the words of the old blues standard, "The Monkey Speaks Its Mind":
The monkey speaks his mind

And three monkeys sat in a coconut tree
Discussing things as they are said to be
Said one to other now listen, you two
"There's a certain rumour that just can't be true
That man descended from our noble race
Why, the very idea is a big disgrace, yea"
No monkey ever deserted his wife
Starved her baby and ruined her life

Yea, the monkey speaks his mind

And you've never known a mother monk
To leave her babies with others to bunk
And passed them on from one to another
'Til they scarcely knew which was their mother
Yea, the monkey speak his mind

And another thing you will never see

A monkey build a fence around a coconut tree
And let all the coconuts go to waste
Forbidding other monkeys to come and taste
Why, if I put a fence around this tree
Starvation would force you to steal from me

Yea, the monkey speaks his mind

Here's another thing a monkey won't do
Go out on a night and get all in a stew
Or use a gun or a club or a knife
And take another monkey's life
Yes, man descended, the worthless bum
But, brothers, from us he did not come

Yea, the monkey speaks his mind
Yea, now the monkey speaks his mind

By the way, the experiments ended with evidence that the chimp did not learn to communicate like humans. I would imagine this is true for all of these experiments - the creatures remained who they were - chimps, dolphins, etc - but now without the capacity to socialize (let alone survive) with their own kind. 'Cuz keep in mind folks, once the cameras are gone and the animal is too big and too wild to manage anymore, it's tossed back into the wild or some preserve like a some 45 year old former supermodel wondering for the rest of its days "what the fuck happened?"

I'm reminded of a d'var Torah, a commentary on this week's Torah portion Pinhas (Numbers 25:10 to 30:1). Rabbi Artson says, "People, animals, and scenery too often enter our worldview in terms of the function they can perform for us, rather than as 'others' with feelings and problems and dreams, as living creatures, or as magnificent natural treasures. Most of the time, we look but we really don't see." (see "The Bedside Torah: Wisdom, Visions, and Dreams" by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, p. 272). Shame on those scientists for not treasuring that chimp for being a chimp and shame on us for thinking that somehow we are superior to a chimps.

A Little of This & A Little of That

2011-07-09T14:54:00.002-04:00

Brief Review of 1st New Torchwood on Starz
For those of you who have been living under a scifi rock for the last two years, last night Russell Davies of Doctor Who elk has brought his latest TV guilty pleasure, "Torchwood" to the U.S. Fans have been waiting, speculating, and living on every Twitter and rumor until last night. Although spots like "Ain't It Cool News" have already offered the critics thoughts and I'm sure that the Torchwood Forum was flooded with responses during and immediately after the show's ending credits, I wanted to sleep on things before typing my two cents.

It wasn't a pleasant, satisfying sleep.

First, John Barrowman, as everyone's favorite leading man Captain Jack Harkness, looks like a drunk make up artist from "Desparate Housewives" tried to apply botox to his face. He looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger after his wife beat his ass with a cast iron skillet for cheating and fathering a child with the maid. And the make up artist's crackhead cousin must have done Mekhi Phifer's, the actor playing Rex Matherson, face and painted on hair (by the way, someone should have told Davies that CIA officers are bogged down with so much paperwork that to arrange in a Calidiff minute an agent's flight, weapons, and foreign police cooperation would take an act of Congress, not a simply phone call to a cute blonde assistant). Rhys and Gwen (Kai Owen and Eve Myles) however were fabulous (and where did they get such a cute, jolly baby?!). I loved Gwen's "I Am Woman, watch me shoot a missile launcher" but us older career mothers were wondering how she let Rhys take the baby back to the old Hub spot without even one nappy!

There were more things blown up in that episode than one would find in Grand Theft Auto. And 50 minutes is too brief for us Americans who are used to our cable channels giving us a full hour for the enormous bill we pay each month. Also,the bad guys so far are too run of the mill(heinous pedophiles so 20th Century). Additionally, either my hearing is going bad, my room speakers need upgrading, or the sound mixing at Starz sucks - after spending the first 10 minutes of the show fiddling with the speaker system, pulling a chair closer to the TV, and cleaning my ears with Wax Away, I just plain gave up, deciding it was way the sound was mixed and not me. I don't have these problems while watching Spartacus.

In the end, I guess this first show was okay if you had never watched the series before. The story has potential and there were a handful of the witty lines British sci-fi is famous for. But "Torchwood: Miracle Day" has a long way to go. Blowing up a shit load of stuff is nice but I can get that in any American action movie or old episode of MacGyver. I expect a great deal more from my friends "from across the pond" and what I am expecting has nothing to do with CG or explosions. Lastly, Mr. Davies failed those fans out there who miss the old cast by only referencing them in passing (did you catch the name Jack used when he sneaked into the hospital's morgue?). I can imagine Davies maybe sick of those fans and some have been downright obnoxious at times. However, they have a legitimate love for Suzie, Owen, Tosh, and, of course, Ianto. And not actively courting their affections at the expense of possibly getting a new audience is short sighted, very risky, and destroys the continuity of the series.

I'll give it two more episodes . . .
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"Did you hear about the teacher who . . ."
Wow, did you hear the story about the Atlanta school system's principles and teacher falsifying the standardize test scores of their students. Teachers actually went on individual sheets and erased answers, entering the correct ones to raise kids scores. There was also a report indicating that on the whole, charter school do no better than public schools in teacher our kids. In all fairness, it also "found more nuanced evidence that the charters that work best are those serving lower-income students, especially in urban areas" (Christian Science Monitor-online addition, By Amanda Paulson, Staff writer / June 29, 2010). Wonder why that is? Could it be that the good but economically challenged parents make the decision to move their children to the best teaching environment they can since likely they cannot afford to move to the suburbs nor pay for private school?

It's a hot mess but just the latest and largest in a series of reports on how "No Child Left Behind" has done little more than show us what we already know about the nation's public school system. It leads everyone to throw up their hands and curse the educations gods, screaming, "What are we to do?"

There is a simple answer with a complex implementation process that a government can influence but not fix nore mandate - it starts with eliminiating the idea that it is anyone's responsibility to teach your child other than you. Schools, coaches, and others are only responsible for adding the technical aspects of learning that we parents don't have (sorry folks but my alegbra is rusty and I can't remember all the different parts of a sentence) not the take over when we drop them off at the front door. And this goes beyond simply training the child to sit down, shut up and do what the teacher tells them - parents should send their kids to preschool ready to learn (meaning at least knowing their ABCs, 123s, colors, and to recognize their name in writing). Parents should do homework with their children, read to them nightly at least until junior high school, take them to museums and other cultural activities, as well as talk with them about current events.

Ah, but that is my mistake now isn't it - using the word, "parents". Another interesting story I heard this week is the increase rate of single moms in their 20s, along with the good new that there is a drop in the pregnancy rate for teens (NewsTimes.com - JEFF KAROUB, Associated Press,
Updated 11:52 a.m., Wednesday, July 6, 2011). I'd say "yeah!" however I am not sure I should. Aren't you suppose to get smarter as you get older? Although I don't think shotgun weddings worked in the past, why can't folk just wait until they have a stable financial and emotional life before they entering into this difficult task? Are woman so desparate in their 20s to have a child (and fearful that they won't), that they feel they must have children now or loose whatever possibility exists for motherhood? What's going on here?

I watched my single father try to raise me and I caught glimpses on more than one occasion of his head in his hands like the snapshot of LBJ during the Vietnam War. I was a good kid, as kids go, but I was challenging as all children are. Childrearing ain't for pussies and is best when there are at least two sane people dedicated to it (it matters not their gender, as much as their dedicated time) and to one another. If we are going to have better schools, we have to have better parenting and two good parents to boot.

So, how about the government ending the fight against gay marriage, a red herring when our divorce rate amongst straight couples has remained relatively unchained for the last 40 years. Why doesn't the government speak to our responsibilies as grown ups - if you birth 'em, your raise 'em and you raise 'em together.
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And speaking of gay marriage . . . .
I have been caught by "The Real L Word", said to say. This show is so bad for my self-esteem it isn't funny. Not only are those grrls impossbily more stylish than I am, they are more stylish than I was when I was their age! And haven't we queer folk moved beyond just hanging in the latest trendy club? Doesn't anyone go to feminist rallies anymore? Not that I'm hating but these bitches are getting more pussy than all the dick and clit I've kissed in my life. Lastly, WHAT'S WITH THE EXCESSIVE DRINKING?" Aren't the rates of alcohol and drug addiction in the queer community high enough?

So, if anyone knows Whitney's private email address, let her know that I can help her forget that stupid bitch, Sara!
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The Real, Current Ten Commandments

2011-04-20T17:36:00.000-04:00

I saw this on Tikkun and felt it was worth republishing. I also plan to hang it on the wall in my office as I hope to continue to work in this fashion for whatever years I have left to serve the underprivaleged.

«What is Worth Saving?

Ten Real-World Commandments for Americans by Jim Burkloby: Craig Wiesner on April 19th, 2011 | No Comments »
Image Courtesy Glen Edelson http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenirah/
I’m a big fan of Jim Burlo’s “Musings,” often posting them here at Tikkun Daily with his permission. This one reminded me of the Environmental and Social Responsibility Amendment (ESRA) to the Constitution that Tikkun/NSP has been promoting and which once again got introduced in Congress. Check out Jim Burklo’s more individual/personal set of commandments.

1) Thou shalt not separate social from personal responsibility: thou art thine own keeper, and the keeper of thy brothers and sisters, too.

2) Thou shalt provide all children with basic survival needs for health, food, shelter, and safety even if it means bending the rules.

3) Thou shalt honor thy aged fathers and mothers by guaranteeing them comprehensive health care and a livable minimum pension and by paying their caretakers a living wage.

4) Thou shalt strive as a manager to assure, by extraordinary means if necessary, that thy low-wage workers are compensated enough to care for their families.

5) Thou shalt first follow the divine law of love rather than always obeying current laws regarding immigrants, especially as regards the welfare of their children.

6) Thou shalt not bear false witness by waving the American flag while dismantling the support system for America’s most vulnerable citizens.

7) Thou shalt not emphasize the need for individual charity at the expense of the imperative for establishing social justice.

8 ) Thou shalt consider always the possible impacts on low-income families of all public policy and private business decisions.

9) Thou shalt vote with a social conscience and strongly urge all thy neighbors to do the same.

10) Thou shalt vote for justice both with thy ballot and with thy pocketbook, supporting only those businesses that treat their workers fairly.

I wrote these “10 Commandments” after reading THE MORAL UNDERGROUND: How Ordinary Americans Subvert an Unfair Economy by Lisa Dobson, professor of sociology at Boston College. I was moved to tears by the stories she recorded of everyday people trying their best to do right by their kids, their low-wage employees, their patients, and their students – even if it means bending workplace rules or breaking unjust laws. Millions of Americans are put into the impossible moral position of choosing between playing by the rules and following their consciences. When a box-store manager sees that one of her low-paid employees doesn’t make enough money to buy her daughter a prom dress, is pilfering one from the store and giving it to the worker the Christian thing to do? When a clinic worker sees that the child of an undocumented immigrant won’t get antibiotics unless the worker writes the prescription under another insured patient’s name, what’s the proper action to take? The book is a chronicle of the disastrous consequences of the triumph of the “Personal Responsibility Crusade” which obscures the systematic oppression of low-income and vulnerable people in America (p 31). If one’s station in life is solely the result of one’s own good or bad choices, then bosses can wash their hands of responsibility for the well-being of their workers and their workers’ families. But if we understand that personal and social responsibility are one and the same, there is no way to ignore the consequences of a system that does not protect the most vulnerable people.

These “commandments” are also inspired by the concept of civil initiative, as expressed by the late Jim Corbett, co-founder of the Sanctuary Movement, who wrote GOATWALKING and SANCTUARY FOR ALL LIFE. It differs from civil disobedience in that it is focused on establishing law by exercising it from the grassroots upward. By behaving in a just way, being clear and open about what we do and how we do it, everyday citizens model a practical structure of public policy that more closely mirrors the law of love.

The public debate about the federal budget is an opportunity to reflect on our values as a nation. Do we follow the law of love, or the way of greed? Do we want a vigorous free-market system buttressed by a strong social safety net? Or are we opting for untrammeled social Darwinism, where the “fittest” survive and the weaker ones fend for themselves? We need to make explicit our values and the moral and spiritual roots from which these values spring.

JIM BURKLO

What? I'm bisexual? Damn, I forgot.

2011-04-17T14:29:00.000-04:00

Saw this and thought to reprint it.

Bi radical
Love, rage and pride« Short text in Bi WomenWords, binary and biphobia, or: why “bi” is binary but “FTM” is not »The myth of myth-busting: normalcy discourse and bisexual politics
(Why criticize?)

In a recent blog post, The Suburban Bi dedicated a paragraph to what she referred to as the “obligatory myth-busting post that pretty much every blog on bisexuality provides”. And indeed, it seems near-impossible to encounter any English-language text about bisexuality without seeing these same myths countered in this same way. I thought I would take this oppostunity to explore what this mythbusting and these myths mean, politically, and for us as a community.

Quoth The Suburban Bi:

•Existence. Yes – we do.
•Monogamy. Yes – we can.
•Fidelity. Yes – we can. And – we do.
•HIV & AIDS. No – it’s not all our fault.
•Confusion. No – we’re really not.
•Indecision. No – that’s not what fluidity means.
•Greed. Yes, we can have just one piece of cake.
•Pants. Yes – we’re as capable as anyone else of keeping our various bits in them.
•Choice. No – we cannot choose to be straight; we cannot choose to be gay; we did not choose our sexual orientation in some thoughtlessly frivolous moment of rapacious abandon. Who does?
Let’s walk through some of those, shall we? No, we’re not promiscuous. No, we don’t sleep around. No, we’re not infectious. No, we don’t choose to be the way we are (SRSLY, why would anyone choose that?). Yes, we’re normal. No, we don’t threaten your sexual identification. Yes, we are just like you. No, you are not in danger of being like us. No, we don’t threaten your beliefs, your society or your safety.

Needless to say, all this is aimed towards the ubiquitous (all-existing, all-domineering) Straight White Middle Class. The one we don’t threaten, yes?

No myths, no busting
“I want to have adventures and take enourmous risks and be everything they say we are.”

- Dorothy Allison, lesbian activist

Bisexuality is stereotyped as a subversive, hypersexual agent of change and social chaos – precisely because it threatens the current social structure. Each stereotype reflects a section of social anxiety which bisexuality threatens, thus exposing the subversive and revolutionary potential of bisexuality in changing and opposing said structure, culture, society and system.

Let’s walk through them again, a little bit more slowly this time:

•Existence: society always loves to eradicate those who present a threat. The attempt to eliminate bisexuality’s existence is the attempt to eliminate the revolutionary potential that it holds.
•Monogamy: along with heterosexism, is patriarchy’s favourite way of keeping us organized in neat little docile units. Of controling us. Of disconnecting us from each other, of maintaining capitalism and keeping resistance to a bare minimum.
•Fidelity: I love the metaphor of the bisexual as the traitor. We do. We betray monogamy, we betray patriarchy, we betray the government through our refusal to obey to government-sactioned coupled-arrangements, we betray our countries with non-binary, open-boundary possibilities. We betray war. We betray sex and we betray gender. We betray the “LGBT” (GGGG) community for normalizing and promoting the assimilation of our communities. We are traitors to anything that confines us, and anything that stands in our way.•HIV and AIDS: the “queer” disease which so physically embodies the straight population’s fear of being infected by our queerness. Bisexuality distabilizes the clean-cut border between the diseased queers and the healthy hets. And if queerness is a contagious disease, then I am all too happy to be a carrier.
•Confusion: that is, instability. That is, doubt. That is, an agent of change: We doubt. We distabilize. We change.
•Indescision: a refusal to fit neatly into boundaries dictated by society. A refusal of the very categories we are instructed to choose between. A collapse of binarism, of separation, of isolation. A call to diversity, solidarity and love.
•Greed: this is Western society’s fear of sexuality. Of anything not heterosexual-cisgender-coupled-monogamous-vanilla-missionary-position-intercourse-in-bed. Bisexuality is hypersexualized under the presumption that sex is bad, that wanting too much of it is bad, that wanting any of it is bad, that wanting people of more than one gender is bad. That wanting more than one person is bad. Bisexuality means sexual revolution. It means sexual independence for women. It means exploring and enjoying our bodies, our sexualities, our various genders and our sexual interactions, no matter who we are, no matter who our partners. In a society based on sexual fear and a culture of rape, taking our sexualities into our own hands is a revolunationary act.
•Pants: it’s often said that “a bisexual is the kind of person who can reach down someone’s pants and be happy with whatever they find”. Could this be fear of sex and gender liberation? Could this give space to more than just two sets of sexed bodies?
•Choice: yes! Because we lead awesome, exciting, fabulous, shiny, liberating, revolutionary queer lives full of love, rage, solidarity, pride, struggle, friendship, pain and joy. If you had the option, wouldn’t you choose it?

This entry was posted on December 12, 2010 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Bisexuality with tags anarchafeminism, anarchism, bifeminism, bisexual anarchism, bisexual epistemology, bisexual feminism, bisexual movement, bisexual politics, bisexual stereotypes, bisexuality, feminism, gggg, radical bisexual politics, radical queer politics, sex positivism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Charlie Sheen is Sane but ABC is Crazy

2011-03-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

I can't believe 20/20 has gone this far down. I remember when you all did real stories. But then again that was when Barbara Walters was still on. Now you allow this nonactor take over your programming instead of airing a show that legitimately is fighting for a place on ABC's roster. Those of us from Detroit is highly offensvie. Here we are fighting for our recovery and you are giving free air time for someone who denies his. For shame!

Kibbud Ha-briyot - Responding to G-d's Image in Every Person

2011-02-12T11:08:00.000-05:00

There is an old saying "If one person says you're a donkey, you can laugh at them. If two people say you are a donkey, give it some serious thought. If three people tell you you are a donkey, go buy a saddle." This is especially true for persons in leadership. Often we get wrapped up in our visions for the future or ideas to resolve the problems of the present, that we never take stock of those around us who may see angles or consequences our ambitions blind us to. Please view the video from Rabbi Sacks who says more and does so more elegantly than I could ever hope to.

SMART GOVERNORS, STUPID CITIZENS

2011-02-02T23:49:00.000-05:00

I was just listening to the criticism levied against the new Governor of California, Jerry Brown. They all came down to a whiny “why me?” Really? Why not you? You, Mr. and Ms. Six Pack are the ones who wanted all the middle class services in the world without paying for ‘em – thinking somebody had a magical money tree in the back of the state house or there was mysterious huge waste in public service programs (if there were, it certainly wasn’t hitting this public service worker’s pocket book nor did it decrease my taxes – I pay the same amount as you do, Mr./Ms. I-Work-In-Private-Industry).

Now they are saying on CNN this morning (Christina Romans, I believe) that governors are resorting to “creative methods” of raising revenue (lending advertising logos to highways is my personal favorite) and reducing government costs. The typical favorite is reducing funding to public schools, prisons, and Medicaid. These three are the easiest cuts in the universe because the folks involved don’t or can’t vote and the ones that do don’t realize that they need these services. Even the parents of students in public schools are so blind or lazy to recognize the cuts will negatively impact their kids (they often think the teachers are paid too much as it is because they think “I could do that job”, to quote someone at the last PTO meeting I went to).

So here we go. We let our kids grow up to be stupid so that all they can do to get money is crime or to avoid the mental imprisonment of their poverty, they turn to drugs. Then we will lock them in a box for months or years at a time where they will do nothing but learn to be better criminals and become embittered. Then we will let them out with no skills or hope and likely an increase in health problems. Then we will let them get close to either dying or crippling before we will give them health care. Does this sound smart to you?

Cute but equally stupid are the “creative methods” of raising revenue. Guess how much longer it is going to take for you to get your traffic report as the broadcaster has to include the cacophony of commercial endorsements with each highway announcement. So much for “traffic and weather on the 8s”.

Folks who are lucky enough to have jobs and a decent life – please grow up and realize that you are a banana peel away from your fellow citizens who rely on public education, need help paying for medical care, or are in trouble with the law (how many of you will drink this Superbowl weekend? And how many of you will know for sure that you are not below the legal limit before getting into your car?). We as a nation have to stop feeding into the Tea Bagger’s arrogance that the problem is someone else’s and not all of ours. We have to stop thinking that it we aren’t responsible for our brothers/sisters.

Too bad selfishness isn’t in the list of the 10 really good ideas, then at least I’d get some “amens” from the Christian Right.

JEWISH PARENTING OR THE ART OF THE NUDGE

2011-01-29T12:54:00.000-05:00

I just finished listening to Rabbi John Sack’s, the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain (yeah, I know, strange that the Brits have a chief rabbi but that’s for another blog) dvar torah, a commentary or thoughts on the portions of the Torah. This week’s Torah portion talked about how G-d, as an introduction to the 603 laws in addition to the 10 Commandments well-known to most, starts things off by discussing laws regarding slavery. Slavery was a common practice in the ancient world, albeit it took much different shape than what we knew during the European colonial period (another point best left for another blog). That G-d raised it first is not surprising since the Israelites had just left such a fate and the possibility they would themselves use it now that they were free people would not be a unrealistic assumption – we often immolate our oppressors thinking that by doing so we prove that we are the better person. Why G-d didn’t prohibit slavery outright is the mystery the learned Rabbi explored. Sak’s contention, as those of many others, is that G-d knew such prohibition would fall on deaf ears and that instead G-d choose to place huge prohibitions on the practice in hopes that we would later see the error of our ways and “choose the good.” It’s like taxing tobacco products, placing them behind a counter, and forcing people to produce identification to purchase it all the while placing smoking cessation products prominently nearby. In other words, make it easier to choose good and difficult to choose evil – nudge people into good behavior. Don’t control people, make it easy them to choose wisely.

I have a friend with four children. She has taken an authoritarian parental approach with each one and has been even harsher with her last two who are about to graduate from high school. She directs in the most harsh and nagging way possible everything about their lives from what they wear to school to how they talk to their friends. Her philosophy is that her home is a dictatorship and whoever lives there is under her rule. The older two children (only one of whom is out of the home), who are in their mid and early thirties, have grown into angry, hate-filled, unhappy individuals who not only bitch and moan regularly about their childhoods (long after most of us have simply moved on or stopped speaking to the offending parent) but also make consistent attempts at controlling her now that her health and mobility is not what it once was. One controlling event has led to another.

Child rearing includes rules set by adults who are in charge of the household. However, autocratic rule, particularly as children get older, tends to backfire. My friend laments that her children are constantly defying her and act disrespectfully. She also complains that her grandchildren are often barred from her (likely because their parents don’t want their rule overruled). She does not understand why her children act thusly. Others around her do, even those who comment that her two youngest are so polite. My friend fails to hear the slight contempt hidden behind such comments). When you rule so absolutely and without respect for the developmental age nor the abilities of a child, the child resents you. “Rule by the nudge not by the nag” another friend of mine used to say. If you want your kids to eat healthy food, don’t take them to McDonald’s and if you do, have them review the nutritional sign and then ask themselves, “how do you choose bad food when there is good food at home?” Encourage your kids to think about their behavior not obey you simply because you said so and allegedly you know best. Don’t we want our children to choose not to be slaves or to own slaves or do we just want them to obey some bearded man sitting on a cloud who hasn’t burned a bush in 4000 years? Don’t we want our kids to adopt the good and not just follow it like blind mice?

Maybe if my friend did more nudging and less commanding she wouldn’t have to worry each year if anyone was coming over for Passover.

Miracle Day - January 8, 2011 by Adam Borders (Contributing Writer - Bi Social Network)

2011-01-23T21:08:00.000-05:00

SPOILER ALERT: Reproduced from the Bi Social Network

Imagine if you will, that lying in the hospital is a member of your family—perhaps elderly, ready to pass on after a long and full life. They may be facing this transition with dignity; they may be facing it with fear. In another part of the world, a prisoner is facing the same fate, a transition from life into the mystery of death. At some point we all learn that everybody dies. Dying is a natural part of life—but what if a day went by when no one died? When loved ones in the hospital didn’t “pass on” or when a prisoner on death row is lethally injected and . . . nothing happens. What if one day stretched to two? Three? A sudden cessation of death throughout the world could only attract the attention of favorite bisexual superhero–Captain Jack Harkness. Returning to Earth to reunite with Gwen Cooper and a new Torchwood team, Captain Jack must face a new threat: Miracle Day.
Russell T. Davies, creator, writer and Producer of Torchwood; has teased the plot of the upcoming, International, return of Torchwood with the above information while at TCA Press Tour. He has also revealed that Torchwood: The New World has been renamed Torchwood: Miracle Day.

In addition to a new title, more and more developments surrounding Miracle Day have begun to surface. Mekhi Phifer (ER; Dawn of the Dead) has joined the cast as CIA agent Rex Matheson; along with Arlene Tur (Eat, Pray, Love) as surgeon Vera Juarez and Bill Pullman (Independence Day; Lost Highway) as a Murderer/Pedophile cum celebrity after his release from prison. As previously reported, original cast members John Barrowman, Eve Myles and Kai Owen are returning for Miracle Day.

Principal photography on Torchwood: Miracle Day is set to begin on January 10, 2011. While no official airdate has yet been announced, the ten part epic is expected to air in July on both BBC One and Starz simultaneously, as part of a joint production deal between both channels.

About the Contributor: Adam:
Adam Borders is a Contributing Writer and writes about bisexual male topics and enjoys contributing to our Entertainment section, particularly on Torchwood.
Website: http://bisocialnetwork.com/miracle-day/

An Idea That Even a Conservative Can Love

2011-01-14T19:00:00.000-05:00

Let’s face it. The idea of limited government is stupid on its face. What does it mean in the first place? Limit what? One person’s government intrusion is another one’s entitlement. And let’s face it, it ain’t 1873 when you could literally grab some land, build your house, and run your own one family universe. Right now we are so interdependent it isn’t funny. I’m sorry folk, but I don’t know how to fix an electric line, put out a fire, pasteurize milk, fly a M16, or pave a road – I’d imagine most of you don’t have any or more than one of those skills either and even if you did, the hodgepodge of systems would be nearly impossible to integrate so business let alone personal activities could function.

So, let’s grow up and accept that there are some things we need government to do and do right. They are called political priorities and they should be things that impact EVERYONE, no matter your race, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, or locale. So here is my list of political priorities where government, no matter if local, county, state, or federal should be involved. These are not in any particular order as all are equally important in my eyes:
• Education: You can’t do much in a capitalist democracy with a stupid citizenry and good schools allow the poor the chance to get out of poverty. As you need to know more to do more, I’m talking about investing from K through 12th plus two years vocational or university education.
• Waste: Everyone needs garbage removal but I am expanding this to protecting the environment from destruction. Nobody likes to live in funk but folk don’t mind dumping theirs on someone else’s lawn. Somebody’s gotta control our natural urge to be selfish in this area.
• Maintaining infrastructure: The world runs on electricity and roads. The business man needs to get to work, the crack head needs to call his dealer on the cell phone, and the snarky teen needs to update her Facebook page.
• Transportation: How much money would we save if we had integrated bus, train, and plane transportation across the country? Plus, having professionals transporting folk would reduce the number of crashes and if there is an accident, you have someone to sue.
• Emergency Services: Do we really need to have a gun in the home if the police had enough cash to effectively prevent and investigate crime? CSI is possible but financially impractical for most municipalities. Typically, people go to jail not because they are guilty but because they are too broke to make bail or to hire a lawyer to properly represent them (most public defenders don’t do more than help you negotiate a guilty plea). And who gets upset when the EMT or the fireman shows up?
• Military and Strategic Intelligence: A local militia was not going to stop any of the invasions we have experienced either on actual American soil or on the lands of our allies. The fondness Tea Baggers have for revised Revolutionary War history leaves out the fact that one of the reasons George Washington was hired by the Continental Congress was to professionalize the rage tag group of volunteers.

If governmental dollars and efforts were focused on just these areas, I think we citizens could be responsible for managing the rest. Each bullet point allows for enough freedom for the rich to run amok, the poor to scrap out a living bribing the soft-hearted, and the middle-class to avoid the latter while pushing their kids to be the former. You’ll notice that I left out two important pieces, one of which I have a direct interest in – regulations and medical care. Enforcing regulations would be part of police work while medical insurance for employees would be required of all businesses while I would eliminate Medicaid for all but the seriously, permanently disabled, children, and the elderly while encouraging churches and other nonprofit groups to reach out to the uninsured.

What do you think?

The Arizona Tragedy

2011-01-10T22:47:00.000-05:00

This situation is not reflective of our current political tone but of the state of mental health care in this country. How much do you wanna bet the parents of this troubled young man made enoromous attempts to have him treated only to be turned away or barred due to lack of insurance or the fact that at the time they attempted to psychiatrically hospitalize him, "he didn't seem to pose a threat to self or others"? What you wanna beat they too tried to warn authorities about his escalating violent behavior only to be brushed off basically because either he was uninsured or wasn't showing violent signs at the time and the hosptial/medical staff could readily dump him back on the parents?

Gun control is not the issue either. If this guy couldn't have gotten a gun, he likely would have used a knife - maybe less deadly but it can be equally as damaging. Tough gun regulations wouldn't have helped either as he had never been psychiatrically hospitalized nor did he have a felony record. So folks, leave Sarah Palin and the liberals alone.

The fault is with us for not accepting the social relevance health care has for all of us. Mental illness can hit any family, wealthy, middle-class, and poor aliket and trying to find good treatment for a relative is cost money, time and emotional resources that few of us have in abundance. Health care reform is for all of us and guess what, if we had done something about it - coughed up the dollars years back, maybe that Congresswomen wouldn't be lying in a hospital bed fighting for a quality of life that will likely never return and a 9 year old born on 9/11 wouldn't have lost her life in tragedy.

The Hub: 6

2010-12-30T21:26:00.001-05:00

Wanna go to England for the ultimate Torchwood Con?

The Hub: 6

New Torchwood Stories from Me - Part 2 (NOTICE: SPOILER COMING!)

2010-12-24T14:15:00.000-05:00

Waiting on final edits from my muse but the next story should be on fanfiction.net in a few days. This is one to help explain why Jack didn't say he loved Ianto while the man lay dying due to the 456 during Children of Earth. Just like my last stories, this is in two parts, offering a diary entry from Ianto and then one from Jack. I am about 1/2 through Jack's entry so look for it in a month or so.

Below is a taste of both:

From Suits in Space:
Neatly stacked boxes and a rich leather chair were all that was left of Ianto Jones' flat. Gwen Cooper and Rhiannon Jones, Ianto’s sister, were dusting window panes simply to have something left to do. Rhiannon’s husband, Jon, returned huffing and puffing after a load. "I guess it was thankful he was a poofter," he said, starting to pick up a box, "kept things so neat this was done in a jiffy!" Gwen shot him a nasty look. His effort to lighten the mood had clearly backfired.
As he scurried away taking his guilty conscious with him, his wife began softly sobbing again into a hankie she had found early on. "Why don't you go on love," Gwen said to her kindly, her arm on the grieving woman's shoulder, "I can finish up here." She nodded, looking somewhat relieved and moved quickly toward the exit. There she nearly collided with her husband who was coming back for the last of the boxes. Sternly, Gwen told him, "Take care of her, eh. Rhys and I can handle these." He acknowledged the order like an uncertain solider on a confusing mission.
One box was left in the room. It mostly had books in it. Rhiannon had designated it for charity but Gwen saved something atop. Ianto had stored most of his completed diaries in the safe at the Hub, so they were destroyed. This one survived because it was still at his apartment. And although she felt slightly dirty about it, Gwen couldn’t help herself. Ianto and Jack were bickering several days before 456 arrived and she wanted to know why. She hoped it would give some clue about Jack’s disappearance and whether or not he would come back this time.
Gwen poured herself into the last piece of furniture in the flat, a large armed leather chair. With a chill in the room and heavy heart, she pulled a wool blanket over her and opened the book. The story started with the off – world adventure Jack and Ianto took two months before the 456.

From Return to Regrets:
Chapter One: The Gift
I know that I got her for him as a gift but I hadn’t anticipated my childish jealousy. He seemed different with her than he has ever been with me or maybe I was just paying more attention this time. Typically, I’m drunk or high on something during my threesomes. And when I’m just shagging him, I’m too busy listening to those fantastic sounds he makes to see how he looks. The intensity in his countenance as he massaged her asshole with his dick made me wonder if he enjoyed fucking me as much. I don’t like to agree with my gay friends who say I turned him out. I would like to think it was more than just bringing out some dormant curiosity. G-d knows I’ve had enough of that tarnished shit. Long ago, he hinted at deeper feelings and I uncharacteristically share more with him than with the others, even Gwen. But nothing has ever been said, let alone confirmed. Yet, that night, I nearly lost my mind as I watched my lover fuck his belated birthday present on a posh couch in the master suite of a luxury space cruiser.

Also, I want to give a belated shout out to a documentary I recently found out about It's called "Bi the Way". A group of film makers cross the country interviewing folks about bisexuality. For a better explanation, check out the website, http://bithewaymovie.com/ Hollar!

Quick Thoughts

2010-12-21T20:45:00.000-05:00

- Everyone is criticizing President Obama. The complaints from the right are to be expected but the folks on the left should be ashamed of themselves. This president has done more to finish the Clinton agenda than Bush did to destroy it.

- Turns out that states like mine, Michigan, are loosing out to the "sunbelt" areas in the south, like Texas. But who are we loosing? If we are loosing older folks, retiring baby boomers, I say "good luck and G-d's speed". Let Florida get that social security, Medicaid, and transportation burden.

- Can Gordon Ramsey relax and let another foodie have a reality show for a change?

- If the next season of Torchwood, "New World", quickly introduces a new love interest for Captain Jack, will everyone just shut up about Ianto, finally?

- Is it just me but did anyone else find the last Harry Potter movie at bit like a Breck play?

- Why do people come into the shop on "Pawn Stars" with items that are better auctioned through Sotheby's or sold to some museum?

- Looking for a good Chinese restaurant for Christmas . . .

- Catch the black guy in the singing commercial for Marshall's and TJ Maxx? He is T.C. Carlson, the character Kyle Barker from the 90s TV show/black sitcom "Living Single".

- Now that I am a few shades on the other side of 40, I find myself recalling the lyrics of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and wondering how much of a failure I am:
And did they get you to trade
Your heros for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

- Had a client come into today to tell me that her boyfriend got mad at her six week old puppy for taking a pee on the floor of the abandoned home they are squatting in. The boyfriend strangled the puppy's throat and then punched it several times in the head. I'm not mad at the boyfriend for he's just one of your run-of-a-mill, Detroit-designer sociopaths. I pissed at her for not killer him and ending society's responsibility for housing the basterd in some prison or another. I came home and cuddled up with my dog.

- My new clinical supervisor is marvelous!

- WARNING: MORE TORCHWOOD . . . My daughter suspects the fangrrls will be happy as long as the story has Jack fucking some man. How boring! What made the relationship fascinating wasn't that it was two men but that it was an immortal and a mortal trying to figure out how to be in love.

- Have you noticed more east Indians in our commericals and TV programs lately? What's that all about?

- Supposedly, CNN is trying to "define itself". It isn't sure if it wants to be a news or entertainment network like FOX News or MSNBC. I say it be more like NPR and NPR be less disappointing.

Long Time Coming

2010-12-14T22:52:00.000-05:00

Almost done with another Torchwood story - another in a line of explanations of Jack and Ianto's relationship. Two more and I'm done. And right on time as the rummors are that the next series will start 7/1/11. At that point, I will be ready for the new thread. I won't miss Ianto actually. By writing this, he's all played out (wait 'till you read it and you'll see why!) and I am ready for Jack to move on. What I will miss is this character I created as their couples counselor, Rabbi Aliyah Teelbaum. I've described her as "Halle Berry's body with Whoopie Goldberg's mind" is both were otherworld Jews. The rabbi is the head of Torchwood Jerusalem, started by Queen Victoria. Anticipating a rift forming as part of the return of the Jews (and the messiah) to the Holy Land, the queen thought to anticipate things. She is an immortal like Jack but came to it "naturally" - her people are pre-Moses immigrant Hebrews from Egypt who, when the aliens came to give the Egyptians all their technology, left with them and settled on the earth-like planet, Jersalin Prime. People like Aliyah have a recessive gene that grants them immortality and mild psychic abilities. She has know Jack from back in his Time Agency days and is one of the few people immune to his charms. She also sees Jack for what he is and is not shy about telling him about himself. Part "momma with a bowl of chicken soup", part yenta Aliyah is the one who encourages the relationship, convinces Jack not to pursue Gwen, and ultimately gets Jack to marry. I love this lady! She is me better looking and a hell of a lot more wise.

But I love her for another reason - she demonstrates a sense of being Jewish that takes us out of the shtetl but not all the way to Woody Allen. Guess what folks, you can be Jewish and observant without walking around in black all day or with your head constantly covered by an ugly wig. I wanted an opportunity to share the observance of reform and conservative Jews who make up the majority of the Jewish population of the world, particularly the U.S. I get tired of depictions of us that basically reinforce the same old tired anti-Jewish crap Hitler passed out as fact back in '33. It's time the majority Christian public come up to the 21st century about this too. If you are going to hate me, get some new material, will ya?

Bisexuality and Polyamory: Embracing Debate

2010-11-13T16:00:00.000-05:00

Bisexuality and Polyamory: Embracing Debate

Go and read this article. I so tired of folks condemning the behavior they THINK other people have. As the kids say, DON'T HATE! If someone has time to have two or three different relationships or screw around with multiple partners (safely, of course) more power to them. I will gaze on from afar with green eyes and a warm heart as I toast to their success (and staminia!).

New Torchwood Stories from me

2010-11-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

I'm always looking to justify this relationship between Jack and Ianto. There are several "holes" in the cannon that I wish to address. "First Times" and "Another Time" describe Jack and Ianto's first sexual encounter from both sides and both in reflection. You can find both stories on Fanfiction.net. Both stories are very mature and full of very hot sex. Bring a fan with you!
:yikes2:

Bullying

2010-10-20T23:16:00.000-04:00

-"Children fundamentally are entitled not to be abused. The fact that they're powerless to protect themselves is why intervention is required." Andrew Vachss

With kids, we either hide them in locked closets or throw them to the wolves in a pool and wonder why they drown. Ah, I forgot one more option-we do nothing and let them be abused. *sigh*

Read Andrew Vachss' new book, "Heart Transplant" for a true explanation of the nature, cause and solution to bullying. Vachss has consistently been a revolutionary for the abused and neglected children. His work, along with those of countless unsung supervisors, taught me how to do psychotherapy by speaking the truth about child abuse. He introduced me to the work of Dr. Bruce Perry of the Child Trauma Academy, which enriched my knowledge of the neuropsychology of abuse. Click on the title of this blog above and check out Vachss' website.

More later.....
-"

I've now turned 22

2010-10-07T17:53:00.000-04:00

Today's my birthday. So far, so good. I woke up this morning breathing well, as usual. Sweetness got off to school and back fine, without the local child molesters, bullies, and various neighborhood wild dogs from attacking her. No one pissed me off too much at work (and it turns out the new secretary is a real keeper after all!). Got a lovely card from my cousin (THANKS MICHELLE!). Mr. Grumpy is taking me out to a fabulous sounding restaurant he heard about on Food Network. And today a client was grateful and said I helped him have hope. Not bad, I'd say.

It is like I have learned about this adult thing. All throughout adolescence and those early 20s, we chase after happiness, like it is a prize behind a curtain on Let's Make a Deal or the Price Is Right. But it isn't about happiness-that's just some drug the advertisers or the drug dealers peddle to us so we keep wanting something that either we can't have or won't stay long. The goal is contentment-a sense that the small stuff that brings a smile and a "thanks" is just enough. A sense that everything doesn't need a bright, shiny package. It's the knowledge that you are cared for, remembered, valued, loved, needed and that is enough. Wow, as the musical said, "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day...."

Now, that doesn't mean I don't want that new Droid that just came out.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! I'd make it a national holiday if I could (Obama, are you listening?) and give you all the day off, if I could.

Gosh, annoying how long it takes the queer community to get stuff nowadays

2010-09-29T22:31:00.000-04:00

An article from my hometown but plays just right anywhere...

Why Chicago's LGBT Community Should Focus on Larger Issues that Affect the Full Community
Published September 29, 2010 by: Adrienne Williams

'Buck Up' Democrats and LGBT Voters, More to Discuss with Congressman Mike Quigley Than DADT
I'm fired up! Yes, I'm talking about the mid-term elections coming up November 2 to keep our country moving forward. I also want the groups that I support to 'Buck Up'.

The congressman of Illinois 5th District Mike Quigely stopped by on September 27, to talk to the LGBT community on issues that concern all of us in a panel discussion, along with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Center on Halsted as host.

The striking issues that I watch unfold was the room was filled with middle aged white, higher tax bracket gay men talking about Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT)? Every question was about the marriage act that in my opinion should be repealed and quickly. But is that all we as the LGBT community have to tell our congressmen? Clearly, here in Chicago where unemployment is at an all time high at 11 percent, and many LGBT people I know have been out of work for over two years, all we can tell him to work on is DADT?

The Lack of Diversity Speaking for Us

What about the homeless youths in our community, or the elderly who do not have a place to go after a certain time in their lives, because they didn't have children. What about the fact that hardly any women or youth were there. Not to mention any representation of color such as Asian, Hispanic or black. (There was one lone black male and me).

I think Chicago has a larger issue in the LGBT community than just DADT. In fact, divisions within gender and race along with biphobic and bi-erasure in the community, in media and entertainment is a big issue facing individuals who are too scared to come out as being bisexuals and others who are not heard. The HRC representative seems to just make excuses and say "Chicago is known for racism" so I guess this is why the many voices that can speak to Mike Quiqley, won't be heard and told to Washington, what a shame.

It also saddened me that in this time of joblessness', poverty, LGBT youth and transgender homelessness, no one talked about these issues in our community—just about DADT, though, I think this law should be repealed again, I question where everyone in the gay community is coming from? Why can't they go into the cyber center of the Center on Halsted and see the many LGBT youth and adults who are struggles for 2 years without a job, without housing, without hope. Yes, DADT is one issue, and it will be repealed but how can we sit back and do nothing and talk about one issue when the politicians are right in room talking about LGBT issues? Is not jobs and education not on our radar? I wonder...

Now is the time to make your voice heard via voting and signing up to vote! This election is more important than even on the issues that you care about saving and making new changes, for others who need help in this time of uncertainty.

TORCHWOOD: The Chronicles of Jack, 24:55

2010-09-26T23:24:00.000-04:00

This is a very adult story I am rather proud of. It also has not be edited as my beta is working on my "serious" story that I am honestly trying to publish. This however is sooo dirty/adult that I can't publish it elsewhere but is so good (I think) that it needs to be out here for you fans to enjoy.
The story placement is before "Children of Earth but well after the death of Tosh and Owen, as the remaining Torchwood staff have become accustomed to "going it alone". It includes my character, Aliyah Teelbaum who is described in my other stories as "having Hallie Berry's body, Whoopie Goldberg's wit, and a therapis't mind". She is the leader of Torchwood Tel Aviv and has know Jack since his days at the Time Academy. She is a rabbi and has a special fondness for Jack and Ianto's relationship. If you have further questions about this character or other references, please email me. The story is not done but I would love in put from fans about where it is going.
************************
“Okay, okay mum!” said the exacerbated Gwen Cooper while hanging up her personal cell phone. I, serving her morning coffee, raised an eyebrow. “Damn,” she said answering his query, “It’s my aunt-my mum’s older sister.”

“Dead, I assume,” I said while taking a sip my cup.

“Very much so and mum’s a singular mess and demanding I show immediately.” She pulled out the phone again, “I’d better call Rhys.” She turned her back and began chatting with seemingly immediately as she kindly walked away so not to disturb anyone else with her family problems.

Jack came out of his office in time to hear her irritated voice quaking at Rhys. I handed him a hot cup of Java. “What’s up?” asked Jack Harkness.
“Death in the family.”

Jack nodded while taking a sip, “Perfect as usual.” I flashed him a grin to acknowledge the compliment.

Suddenly, there was a ringing coming from one of the Hub computers. It was a Skype call from Rabbi Aliyah Teelbaulm, head of the Torchwood Tel Aviv and Shalem Institute for Peace. “Jack?”

“Rabbi! Great to hear from you, as I so rarely lately get to hear that purr from across the continent.”

Aliyah laughed, “Jack Harkness, you rogue! Do you ever quit?” The rabbi had Halli Berry’s body and Whoopi Goldberg’s whit. Her hair was deep brownish red, dropping in Shirley Temple curls to her shoulder. She had olive colored skin with round, friendly features. Jack’s coquettish approach was not unwarranted, but Aliyah was beautiful as she was brilliant and cunning. She had been running Torchwood there for a year but had known Jack from his days with the Time Agency through his time with The Doctor. “Hello, Ianto!” She had always been a great fan of our relationship and had on more than one occasion offered sage advice when my sweet smelling boss had dumbfounded me. “Has Jack made an honest man of you yet?”

I started to answer when Jack interrupted me, “Aliyah, I thought I was your only one!” Jack held his hands to his heart in a mocking plea while I shot him an incredulous look and a pop on his head with a file folder. Jack laughed then made a half attempt to pat my ass but I was too quick for him. There was plenty of time for that later. The rabbi rarely gave us for purely social reasons.

Aliyah shook her head and smiled at us who during a previous mission, before Tosh and Owen died, she had become fond of, “Where’s Gwen?”

“Talking with Rhys,” Jack pointed behind him where Gwen was still animatedly talking on the phone. “There seems to be a family emergency.”

“Ah, tell her I said hi ‘cuz is sounds like she won’t be able to join you with this.”

“With what?”

Aliyah sighed, “I hate to ask you to do this Jack but the American President is in town and with new peace talks underway, my people are swamped just watching over our rift activity.” A rift had been discovered last year in Tel Aviv and in such a volatile area, establishing a Torchwood unit was critical. Rabbi Teelbaulm had a fabulous reputation within both the Israeli and Palestinian governments, one of the few both trusted-the former due to her status as a hero in the ’48 and ’67 wars and the latter because of the social service work her institute had done in the occupied territories. High level officials from both sides were aware of her alien origins, as an immortal humanoid from the planet Jeshurun Prime and somehow that gave her even more street credit. If she was calling, it was likely not social.
“How can Torchwood Cardiff help?” asked Jack.

She leaned into the screen some, her face becoming grim, “Jack, we’ve got some good intelligence about a shipment of alien arms sales.”
“You’re not boring me. How much do we know?”

I came back stand next to Jack and began taking notes as Aliyah continued, “The Machla are dealers looking for another place to sell their wares. They’ve found the rift and see it as a capitalist’s wet dream. They’ve made some contacts and our intel informs us that they have plans to supply arms to Hamas and a militant Israeli settlers group without either side knowing of the other. They figure to escalate the war by keeping them both coming and keep selling until both sides blow each other and everyone else of the planet. They’ve done it on other planets and what was left behind makes nuclear war look like fireworks at a family picnic. Jack, we’ve got to stop them.”

“Okay,” I interjected, “So we can set up a sting operation when they arrive and catch them and the weapons.”

“Sorry, Ianto,” said Aliyah, “it ain’t that easy.” She sighed, “The operative who had the meet location was found yesterday murdered just outside his house along with his wife and 6 month old daughter. Their faces were torn off before they died.”

I grimaced at the image, “So how can we stop them?”

“You’re gonna have to stop the weapons before they get here. We know where they are originating from.”

“Where is that?” asked Jack.

“The planet Perturbatio,” she answered and Jack nodded in agreement.
“Excuse me,” thinking to interrupt a the forming plan, “We have a Torchwood space ship? I don’t remember cataloguing that and I know everything about this place, mind you!”

Jack disregarded my protests and returned to Aliyah, “Where on Perturbatio?”
“When you arrive on Perturbatio, you’re going to a town called Familiaritas and meet our contact, Khatara. I’ve worked with him in the past and who knows how to reach the Machla. I’m working on a cover story to get you in you now.”

In the background, Gwen could be heard complaining, it apparently to her father now. Negotiating last minute family events are never easy. “Nobody’s telling me about how we are getting to said planet,” I tried to remind Jack. “And where and what is this place anyway?”

This seemed to be a question someone was willing to answer. Aliyah posts a star chart on the screen, “Perturbatio is in the Outro System, just round the corner from the Milky Way, about a 2 to 3 day travel.”

I’m getting irritated now, as the realization of just how we are going to get there is coming over me, “I’m not doing time travel, Jack. Not that Doctor box thing…it sounds dangerous.” Jack brushed me off.

Aliyah, I guess thinking she was reassuring me, continued, “You’ll love it, Ianto! Familiaritas is like a combination of Las Vegas, 1890s western America, and pre-Castro Cuba-a very stylish town. And the ships that go there, make those Princess Cruises seem like row boats!” I’m losing my mind now. The last time I flew a regular airplane, my sister and my mates had to plaster me with two pints of brandy.

Jack grabbed my hand and kissed it. “Don’t worry baby,” he cooed, “I hold the barf bag steady for you.” Aliyah giggled and I gave them both a dirty look.

As if he hadn’t already thought this part through, I asked, “And how are we going to get to the intergalactic ship? It’s not like they have nonstop flights through Heathrow.”

Jack, still holding my hand, raised it up and pointed to his wrist band. Closing my eyes, I could already feel the bile rising from my stomach.
“Ianto,” Aliyah teased, “look at the screen.” I peeped through one eye and saw the most exquisite suits, “Like I said, I don’t have all of your cover story worked out but I can tell you that the people in Familiaritas like to dress.” My mouth was watering. Finally, a mission where looking clean is a priority! “I know you like Jack’s pre-War fare but can you imagine him in one of these?” She was right about that. Next to seeing him naked, having him in a well-tailored suit was next to heaven. “I’m sending you the specs now and most distance travel ships have a tailor onboard.” I was sold.
“When do we need to leave?” Jack asked now that he was assured I’d go.

“How close to now can you get?”

Jack turned around and looked at Gwen, still complaining while making arrangements. “I think it will be just me and you.”

II. Departure:
Note to self-never trust Jack Harkness when he says something scary won’t be. Didn’t need to “just hold his hand” as every one of my molecules broke down then reintegrated, I needed to crawl into his skin or better yet just stay home on Earth. And just think, I not only had to do this to get to the ship that would travel to some other planet, I had to take it to get back. Yuk!

Once he convinced me to open my eyes, we were at the landing dock of the UFG Curiosus Meretricis. Jack said that UFG stood for the United Federation of Galaxies. I thought either he or they had seen too many Star Trek episodes. We were somewhere within the MilkyWay and that the trip to Perturbatio would take a couple of days. I was just grateful to be on something that at least looked solid. Jack just laughed at me. “Think of this part as a sort of vacation, eh,” he said. “I think we both could use one.”

Once I was certain that I had all my appendages, I started looking around. We were moving in a single file line up toward the entryway of the ship. From what I could see, it was gray and shaped like a fat version of the American space shuttle with window slide outs like a RV. If we weren’t in outer space in 2010, you would have thought it was any pre World War traveling vessel leaving off the Port of London. However, the difference was our fellow passengers. All were an assortment of your usual alien types, like a casting call at a George Lucas movie, only more stylish. These creatures presented themselves like the elite of the galaxy. This was no tourist cruise ship but a first class space cruiser. I guess Torchwood did have deep pockets.

Jack checked our bags with the purser like he was a frequent flyer. “Thirsty?” he asked. I nodded. He took my hand and walked through the throng of passengers and well-wishers. He smiled at me while we took the lift to what I assumed was the third level. He kept hold of me as he did his usual quick dash along the halls, weaving in and out of groups of people. Folks were staring at us because they weren’t used to seeing two men holding hands but either because Jack nearly knocked them over or due to his good looks. It was nice to be in an environment where we were normal.
Jack made an abrupt halt, as he is prone to do, in front of a what seemed to be either a bar or café. Jack translated the name as The Narwhal's Cup. “The best, most exotic coffee this side of your the Milky Way,” he grinned, eyes lit up with Christmas Day excitement. “And the baristas are no slouches either!” he added.

The inside was more bar than coffee shop, full with noisy, laughing patrons clinching what looked to me like espresso cups and gesticulating like drunken sailors. Jack pulled me into a corner bar seat where he was end up standing but crunched next to me. He called out to one of the ladies behind the bar in a language I didn’t recognize, obviously ordering two drinks for us. A tall, voluptuous brunette with cat eyes and leopard spots from her ears down both sides of her exposed back dripped her tits over the bar handing us our drinks. Jack leaned over to her, and while whispering something, caressed the back of her ear. She giggled, and trotted off, her butt jiggling underneath her black nylon mini skirt. I couldn’t blame Jack’s shameless behavior on this occasion.

“Taste this Ianto,” Jack encouraged. “Tell me if this isn’t some of the best coffee you’ve ever had.” I was hurt at first, as I thought mine was considered his best coffee. But slipping this, I had to agree with him. The aroma was vaguely tart and, if I hadn’t known better, seemed to have a hint of jasmine. It was strong but not overpowering like many dark roasts. And its richness indicated a very slow brew, likely an 18 to 24 hour process. “Take it slowly though,” Jack warned. “It has some hallucinogenic qualities.”

“Where is it from?” I asked.

“Trapsbury, just past where we are going,” he said taking slow slip from his cup. “I’ll try to see if we can bring some back with us. Might be a bit difficult though. Those Trapsburians are notorious negotiators.” I gave him my best “please Big Daddy” look. It works most of the time.

“Where does the bar get their baristas?” I commented while sipping some more and watching another fabulous creature salter her ass pass me, winking as she went by.

“The Kihobi are minority peoples who migrated to the same planet about 200 years ago when their sun died. They are coffee’s cultivators. The Trapsbury are merchants but look to the Kihobi, who live in the jungle areas of the planet and are the artists when it comes to correctly harvesting this nectar.” He noticed me take a rather large gulp, “Whoa big boy! Like I said, this isn’t your some Vietnamese dark. Be careful, now or I’ll have to carry you to our cabin.”

I was already feeling good and finally relaxed, so that didn’t sound like a bad idea, particularly the longer I watched the cute baristas. Jack laughed at me then called for another round. When the one with the black skirt came back with our next round, he whispered something to her which again made her giggle. I became irritated and again downed my cup quickly. After handing her a card with something I couldn’t read scribbled on it, he said, “Come on. I think you’ve had your limit.” Selfish asshole, I thought to myself as he pulled me out of the cafe.

Walking toward the lifts and then down a hallway toward the traveling cabins, I plotted my return to the café. But, as usual, he was ahead of me, “Can you put the barista aside for just a minute and admire our accommodations?”

The man certainly knew how to change a subject. The cabin was amazing. Aaron Spelling’s Love Boat needed to take some specks from this spot. It was definitely designed to stay in and not go out-fully stocked bar and kitchenette, plush beige matching furniture throughout, livingroom with wide view of the passing stars, huge bedroom (although I didn’t see that until later), two sink brown marble bath with separate shower and bath tub, small office with desk containing built in communication center glassed off from the living room all underneath hardwood floors with the cushiest Indian rugs your feet ever rested on. Ah, did I mention that it also had a remarkable library and music system? “Brilliant!” was all I could say.

Jack grabbed me and kissed me on my forehead, “I thought you’d like it.” He took off his coat and deposited it on chair close by. “Loosen your tie, Ianto,” he said. “When I told you this was part vacation, I meant it.” He got a bottle of what was probably beer from the mini bar. “I’m going to call into Aliyah, let her know we are on our way and see if she has our cover situated.” Just as he took a sip, there was a knock at the door. “Answer that, will ya,” he asked going into the office area.

Standing on the other side was the barista. I noted her name tag said Chimia and somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered how it was she had a name tag in English. She gave me a come hither smile as she walked past into the living room. Jack recognized her and knocked on the glass window to say hello. Were his blue eyes twinkling just a little more than usual? She turned to me and entered my personal space. She tugged on my tie and said something in her language that was probably akin to “want some of this?” I nodded yes.

She pushed me back, just enough to give me a good view of her act. I could feel the hallucinogen from the coffee seeping through my nerves just as I watched her clothes melt off her luscious body like butter dripping down hot flapjacks. I couldn’t get mine off fast enough. I sat in one of the room’s creamy, soft shell sofas and pulled her on top, facing me while straddling my waist.

There had to be a remote control somewhere because the pounding rhythms of George Michael’s “Freek!”

I'll be your sexual freak of the week
I'll be your inspirational brother
Yo mama can't you see
I'll be your sexual freak of the week
I'll be your educational lover
Your one fuck Fantasy

Like a cat worshipping its owner, she rubbed her body against mine in an incessant rhythm. Her taunt nipples against my hairless chest and her moans against my neck were wondrous. Her skin was smooth like silk and round like Marilyn Monroe.

Can I come on in, my sweet baby
Can I move on in . . .

She licked just underneath my ear, promising to make me cum like never before using some universal language. She started to firmly stroke my growing shaft in movements that matched her body’s. I would have bet millions that her fingers were bits of lightening especially made for my cock.

You got yourself some action
Said you got your sexy Java
You got your speed connection
Free chat, fuck that, get a little harder

Just as a small dribble of gism seeped from my engorged head, she withdrew from me and I was immediately left feeling cold and yearning. Standing dominantly in front of me still in her red, three-inch spike heels, she smiled at me slyly. It made me think of Jack. I knew he must be enjoying this from behind the glass in the other room even while discussing business. He and Bill Clinton had the ability to be that kind of ambidextrous. But frankly, I didn’t give a shit at that moment about Jack Harkness-I was going to have my dick wrapped up in whatever passed for alien pussy in this galaxy and it was going to happen now.

I reached out to grab her back to my lap but she pushed my hand away with a “no, no, no” look. She had other ideas. With a click of her tongue against her teeth, she turned her back to me and stuck out her ass. I got the idea and held up my dick. She moved in and sunk my cock directly inside her butt. My dick got even harder by how amazingly wet and tight she felt. I sighed loudly with much satisfaction. She giggled then wiggled her hips once filled with my ample wand. Controlling the rhythm now, I squeezed and guided the sides of her bodacious ass, sliding her up and down over me at just the right angle to sheath me inside her to the top of my balls. Her long legs draped on the other side of mine, she leaning back against my chest, moaning lightly against my ear. Even her back was erotic and I was close to cumming.

Honestly, I had forgotten about Jack until I spied him through my half closed eyes over her moving shoulders. One minute his gloriously, delectable ambisextrous self was smiling at us, naked and softly rubbing his cock and the next moment he was gone. I found myself irritated with him initially, thinking he should have been jealous or at least not enjoy watching me shag this intoxicating cat woman. Then, Alejandro Escovedo reminded me that

I was drunk,
I was down,
I was wanderin' round my bed,
I was drunk,
I was down,
I was wanderin' round my bed
I called out your name
Called out your name

He didn’t give me long to feel this way for the next thing I knew my sex partner’s moans increased. Just as she stopped moving up and down, insisting on rolling her hips around my dick, I could feel Jack’s tongue as it would start from the base of my balls and creep up over her clit. This started another rhythm, one that was all his own. Jack’s tongue seemed to know what spot needed what attention-her clit liked thin, quick licks while I begged for his mouth to suck my balls like a hungry baby at a nipple. How did he do it? It must have been one of those techniques he learned from some alien swami or another during some Time Agency mission or another-or maybe it was the “dope coffee” I drank earlier. I hadn’t ever felt anything like it before. At any moment I feared I’d lose consciousness and die before I had a chance to ask him how he did it. Chimia and I both started shaking, our skin prickle like shards of glass.

“No you two don’t,” Jack said while standing up and lifting Chimia’s legs. “I’m not letting you be done this soon.” He slide his dick in her cunt like a snake sliding through a Louisiana swamp. She cried out, filled up and stretched out farther than ever in her life. It was exquisite for all involved. Jack had the control now and neither Chimia nor I were complaining. His dick rubbed against mine as we seesawed between her holes. While Jack’s cock-rhythm was igniting sparks inside of Chimia’s belly, I must have looked at him jealously. “Greedy bitch,” he laughed. Bending down close to my ear, “I got something for you too” he added before kissing me deeply.

Oooh now that the moment's here
Baby lift my cup for you to drink my dear, Baby
Oooh I know that you're lovin me
Don't be ashamed baby, go on and take that thang

Chimia climaxed. Her shivers rattled around my cock with a massage therapist’s deftness.

She collapsed again me with my dick still inside her. Her hips continued up and down slightly in time with her heavy breathes and I felt I was again on the edge. Lost in my pending organism, I didn’t realize that Jack moved his cock until he had lifted my legs over Chimia’s. His plunging into my ass was initially painful and I yelped out. He kept still but fully inside me to allow me to adjust to his fullness. He seemed bigger than his usual nine inches, rounder than his usual hefty girth. My ass was on fire but in a good way. My grabbing the side of his ass signaled that I was ready and he began to move in and out of me in a building rhythm. I opened my eyes long enough to see him watching me-he often did that when we made love. He got great pleasure from my organisms. I sighed and offered more of my ass.

I won't stop till your legs start shaking
Keep on going till your legs start shaking
Every motion till your legs start shaking
To what I know till your legs start shaking
You're so good till your legs start shaking
Like I knew it boo till your legs start shaking
I don't stop till your legs start shaking
Till I reach the top till your legs start shaking

Sleepy Brown’s Till (Your Legs Start Shaking) was so right about this situation. As she recovered, Chimia’s joined Jack’s pace in a more deliberant manner, sliding up and down on my dick like before but this time I wrapped my free harm around her waist, holding on as a cycle of ecstasy reignited.

My organism started slowly, somewhere in the back of my ass then rumbling around hips. I started shaking again, braced my hands against the arms of the chair as I felt a mad rush envelope me. By the time my dick exploded, I was screaming, “Jack! Jack!” I began bucking against his cock and shooting gism deep into her ass. She began to cum again too, as did Jack. I could fell his heat overflow then drip down the crack of my ass, likely ruining the pristine upholstery.

The room spun then collapsed around me. I did something between sleep and passing out for I don’t know how long. I vaguely remember Chimia thanking Jack for the good time, kissing him on the cheek and leaving. Somehow he got me up from the chair and into the cushy bed. He nuzzled me in that fabulous 51st Century smell of his and I finally did fall asleep.
I could’ve stayed there in that bed with Jack’s arms around me forever but then again, that wouldn’t be the Torchwood way, now would it?
**********************************************
Mornings on a space vessel are kind to hangovers. You don’t find yourself facing some bright, sunny light reminding you that you should have been up hours ago and you should not be heading to work or some other useful endeavor instead of keeping your head under comfy covers. Unfortunately, this particular space vessel has Jack Harkness on it, whose cheerful razzing only aggregates a migraine.

“Hey gorgeous!” he said through two layers of bed linen. “I’m still your boss you know and you’re on the clock.” He must of taken my groan as acknowledgment. “I’ve got a good cure for you but I need you sitting up pronto.” I pulled the cover down below one eye and realized he had kindly not put all the lights on in the room. He was standing next to the bed, obviously shower, fully dressed holding a cup of something that actually didn’t turn my stomach. “This isn’t hair of the dog but I promise it will make the world a less scary place.”

I took a chance and sat up, then grabbed at the drink, hoping it would prevent further stomach upset and porcelain hugging. Surprisingly, it was not only immediately soothing to the tummy but tasted good. I drank it greedily. “Alright!” I said and drained the oversize cup.

Jack smiled then dashed out of the room. He returned with the cabin’s laptop. Aliyah was on some form of intergalactic Skype. “Hey you two? I see the accommodations are cozy but really Jack! T-M-I folks. You could have given Ianto a chance to dress first.” Shit, I had even forgotten I was still naked.

I was about to scramble out of the bed like some adult child having been caught shagging on visit to his parent’s house but Jack yanked me back to my spot, “I thought to make you jealous that you didn’t come with us,” cooed my roguish partner. He sat down next to me on the bed and gave me a peck on the forehead. “What’s you got for us?”

Aliyah, long used to Jack’s ways, just shook her head, and put her glasses on to read the intel sheet she had for us. “Anyway, I’ve got your cover story and the papers are being forwarded to you now. You two really should have brought Gwen along with you for this one. You’re two Chicago pimps looking to expand your business interests into weapons dealing.”

“Sounds cool, man,” I said to wary looks from both of them for my attempts at imitating an American accent.

“I think this is a time when your naturally quiet nature will come in handy,” responded Aliyah.

“I think I have idea of how we can boost our cover,” Jack in an attempt to rescue me but I still raised a wary eyebrow at him. He ignored me, “What else do you have for us?”

“Everything else, including your meeting spot is, in the communiqué,” she removed her glasses to add emphasis to her next statement. “I can’t tell you Jack how important this mission is. Things are delicate around here and the last thing we need is for either side to get a hold of weapons which would blow the whole region into war.”

“What kinds of weapons are we talking about here?” I asked.

“Plaster bombs for one,” she brought an image of the weapon on the screen. “There’re nasty explosives that imbed nanobits directly into the skin which literally eat the person from the inside out over the course of a few hours. That’s only one of them.” The screen changed to show the effects but I turned away before it got to the really horrid parts. Even Jack was sickened. “I like to get a triple deal out of this –one, to destroy the shipment, two find where the Machla are getting their arms, three eliminate them as a threat. However, if all I can get is the latter, I’ll take it.”
“Sounds good!” Jack confirmed. “We’ll keep in communications black out from this point until we’ve finished.”

“Look forward to hearing good news,” she said. “Thanks, Jack.” Then Aliyah signed off.

“Jack,” I asked as he shut the computer, “What if someone already knows we’re here?”

“Not likely. If I give anything to those Torchwood Tel Aviv folks it is that they know how to handle intel.” He got off the bed, “I’m going to review these specs.”

“No,” I indicated rising up myself. Whatever he gave me took last night right out of my system, thus I was able to stand up with little stomach or head bothers.

“Ianto,” his glance cruised up and down my nude body. “Darling, we really need to get to work now.” His smile and offered his trademark “come hither” raised eyebrow made it look like he could be convinced otherwise.
But, I was ready for business now, “I’ve got an appointment with the ship’s tailor.”
**********************************************************
Monsieur Rainier was one of those rare Earthlings Jack told me about that got mixed up in some alien activity or another only to find that they had more of a life on another planet than they ever had on Earth. Usually, they were innocent felons of one kind or another but they tended to do well in places like this where there was no such thing as human resource departments or criminal back ground checks. More importantly, he came highly recommended by Aliyah. His was the one of the three tailors onboard but his shop was the smallest. The entrance had a small golden sign that a fluttering of an eyelash would have missed, “Monsieur Rainier – Selective Male Clothing”. The welcoming counter was no larger than most New York apartment walk in closets but Aliyah convinced me that I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

A wisp of a man, whose mannerisms would have made Truman Capote embarrassed, did seem to have my father’s grasp of tailoring. I only had to describe Jack and give him the dimensions and he immediately pointed to the right patterns and fabric. And he was a man of his word, for no more than a handful of hours of my initial visit, he sent a message to our room that the outfits were ready. In typical fashion, Jack had disappeared, and after waiting for 4 hours, since neither our coms nor cell phones worked aboard, I had to resort to requesting a ship messenger-a prosimian looking creature who scampered throughout the ship calling out Jack’s name like so many 1940s spy movies. So much for anonymity. Eventually, my primate friend returned with a note from Jack saying that I should go ahead and he would meet me there. Of course, I arrived to the shop alone.

“Mr. Jones, merveilleux! It is so, how shall I say, fabulous to see you again.” I nodded, trying not to share my irritation with another person whose only crime was being prompt.

The flamboyant queen purred toward Jack, “And who is your ever most handsome companion?” I turned around to see a laughing Jack arrive with Chimia, in a different but similarly tight, shimmering outfit, with her hand attached to his elbow. I wondered if their flush faces meant they had shared more than a stupid joke with each other prior to their arrival.

“This is my associate, Captain Jack Harkness,” I explained, “and our other associate, er, Ms Chimia.”

“Bonjour élégant!” Rainier, distinctly ignoring the woman, giggled like a school girl as Jack greeted the man with a slight kiss on the wrist. “Oh my, and a cap---tain no doubt!” If the man batted his eyelashes harder, he’d taken the moisture off his eyeballs.

I wasn’t jealous, just annoyed. “I studied the fashion for our journey to and came to Monsieur Rainier with the specs,” I explained to Jack.
With Rainier’s attention magically diverted back to the matter at hand, he prattled off to get our garments. “You two will be the most fashionable creatures on Familiaritas.” He returned from the back of his shop with four large boxes than looked like they outweighed him by at least 50 kilos. “These style is fresh from opening season.”

Jack unwrapped the box Rainier handed him like an eight year old at his first birthday party. Holding up the suit jacket, he crooned, “Oh, now this is style!” He held it out so his companion, who was still holding on to his bicep, could see. Her giggles seemed to make her spots jiggle-did nothing on this woman not move like a belly dancer at a bachelor party?

To keep from feeding my annoyance, I opened my box and found my suit as pleasing as Jack found his. Aliyah was right-this sartorial workmanship was remarkable. The colors, the fabric choice, the needle work itself would have cost thousands of pounds on Earth. I looked at Jack as like a wife at her blue collar husband the day he took them to Tiffany’s to buy her a pearl necklace for their anniversary.

“We’ll take it,” he affirmed. “But them on our travel tab.” He was about to turn around to leave when he stopped himself. Looking at Chimia, he said, “And can you come up with something equally éblouissant as these suits for Ms. Chimia?”

Rainier frowned. “I work exclusively in men’s wear.” He thought for a moment once he saw Jack’s pout, “I supposed for an additional fee to cover the cost of alternations, I can loan her the outfit one of my couriers uses.” Rainier approached Chimia with his measuring strip. The aghast the cat woman bared her teeth and her eyes flared at the tailor. Jack patted her hand, now firmly clinching his bicep and whispered something reassuring in her ear. This got her to calm enough to allow Rainier to get his lengths and widths. Reluctantly and nearly snarling back at Chimia, the tailor reluctantly indicated, “I’ll have it to your room in an hour.” He was rewarded with a quick peck on the cheek from Jack, who promptly turned on his heel and left. I rolled my eyes before doing the same.

Electronic eyes followed the unusual team as they left the shop.
*******************************************
Once we were back in our suite, we couldn’t wait to try on our suits. The cultural information from Torchwood Tel Aviv indicated that the style of dress on Perturbatio, particularly it’s largest and most cosmopolitan town, Familiaritas, was similar to the zoot suits of the American 1940s and the 1950s British Teddy Boys. Jack’s more resembled a zoot suit worn by Chicano or African-American males of the time. His was a rich, royal blue (to match his eyes) with high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed pegged trousers, a long coat nearly past his knees with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders over a bright white shirt and matching blue and white suspenders and tie. To complete the ensemble, he also had a blue, big brim Fedora, white hatband accompanying long feather and pointy, French-style shoes. A young Malcolm X once described just such an outfit as: "a killer-diller coat with a drape shape, reet pleats and shoulders padded like a lunatic's cell".

My attire was more in the style of the Teddy Boy. I chose chutney green over mellowing mustard pin-stripe yellow for the coloring of my Edwardian style drape jacket, suede Gibson shoes with thick crepe soles, narrow 'drainpipe' trousers, a smart shirt lightened yellow shirt, and a bootlace tie. Both Jack and I’s drape jackets are not as impractical as they may initially seem. Not only would they act as a badge of recognition within the community but, as it was made of woollen cloth with lots of pockets, it would keep us warm on a planet whose daily temperature barely got above 5 degrees at the height of the summer sun and was also good at concealing large or numerous weapons. I had a matching vest with a silver pocket watch but I skipped the hat opting for hair jelled into a quiff swept back into Duck's Arse at the back.
Chimia’s costume arrived as Jack and I were dressing. Her peoples must not have a sense of modesty as she simply undressed and dressed while standing next to us as we admired her and adjusted our clothes in the bathroom wall length mirrors. Her Teddygirls outfit was an American styled, 50s brown circle skirt, with a low cut, tight cream colored short sleeved sweater that made the woman’s tits look more bulbous than they already were. There were hundreds of silicone Hollywood wannabies who wished their breasts did that to fabric. After putting on back seamed nylons, she poured her feet into what looked to be torturous Winkle Pickers shoes. She tied her long, auburn hair in a single ponytail with a bow that matched her skirt.

Jack took note of an unopened box and pulled out a woman’s an ankle length fur. “Ah, how kind. Shetland Fur, very warm!” he said as he wrapped it around the shoulders of a clearly delighted Chimia.

“Jack, are you meaning to take her along with us?” She must of known somehow that I was not only talking about her but not in a kind manner for she bounced over to me and kissed my cheek firmly, then pulled away to beg me through those long lashes.

“What are a couple of master pimps without their bitch, eh?” Jack responded while straightening his shirt in the mirror and admiring the reflection.
Without skipping a beat, Chimia planted another kiss on my cheek. This one was firmer and closer to my ear which left wet warmth blowing in and leading to chills down through my dick. “I guess,” my cock eagerly agreed although my mind remained vaguely concerned.

Finally, able to pull himself away from his Dionysus moment, Jack announced, “We’ll be arriving in 12 hours. It’s time we go over the plan then rest before be land.” He took note of my cock’s attention to our new team member, then said, “Well, maybe only a little rest.”

Meanwhile, on the ship’s bridge, the captain said he was heading to bed, leaving the ship with the helmsman for the night. When the captain left, the helmsman pulls out a PDA which he tunes to Torchwood team’s cabin. He listens to the conversation about the plan. After pushing a few buttons and the screen indicated that this recorded information had been forwarded.

MORE LATER.............