By The Associated Press
(New York) MTV held a solid lead among 15 networks for its representation of gay characters last season, according to a report released Friday.
In its fourth annual Network Responsibility Index, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation found that of MTV’s 207.5 hours of original prime-time programming, 42 percent included content reflecting the lives of gay, bisexual and transgender people. This earned MTV the first-ever “Excellent” rating from GLAAD.
“MTV programs like ‘The Real World’ and ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ have offered richly diverse portrayals of gay and transgender people that help Americans better understand and accept our community,” said GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios.
Among broadcast networks, the CW was on top with 35 percent, while Fox ranked a close second with 30 percent. ABC, with 26 percent, got a “Good” rating, while NBC was “Adequate” with 13 percent. CBS’ 7 percent earned that network a “Failing” grade from the report.
Scoring high on cable along with MTV were ABC Family (37 percent), TNT (34 percent), Showtime (32 percent), Lifetime (31 percent) and HBO (26 percent), which all received a “Good” rating. The report assigned a “Failing” grade to USA (4 percent), A&E (3 percent) and TBS (2 percent).
GLAAD reviewed all prime-time programming – totaling 4,787.5 hours – on the major broadcast networks between June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010. The study also examined all original prime-time programming – 1,227.75 hours – on 10 prominent cable networks. This included dramas, comedies, unscripted fare and newsmagazines.
GLAAD noted, with approval, the parenting role played by gay couple Mitchell and Cameron on ABC’s “Modern Family,” and the story line on Fox’s “Glee” where high school student Kurt comes out as gay to his father.
“When television networks share real stories of our community, audiences begin to see the common ground that we all share,” Barrios said.
In September, GLAAD will release its annual report evaluating gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion, and other diversity, among scripted characters scheduled to appear during the 2010-11 season.
*365Gay.com
Welcome to 'OZ' - The 'Other' Side of the Rainbow!! Posting is at 10AM, Noon and 2PM CST daily. Up to 12 days of posts on the main page. The archives have more. You can forward posts by clicking on the envelope at the bottom of the post. Enjoy your stay! *** If you need to contact me, or have a copyright issue, please use the "Contact The Wizard" form on the left side of 'OZ'. Original source and author is cited and credited in each post where possible. ***
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Study: MTV leads in showing gay characters on TV
Giggles, Gaffaws and Groaners...
An old man goes to the Wizard to ask him if he can remove a curse he has been living with for the last 50 years. The wizard says, “Maybe, but you will have to tell me the exact words that were used to put the course on you.” The old man says without hesitation, “I now pronounce you man and wife.”
Its Mike’s first day on the job as a bartender. As he serves a customer a Manhattan, a piece of parsley falls into the drink. “What the hell is that?” the customer asks.
“It’s your Manhattan. And there’s Central Park.” He replied.
An engineer, a mathematician, and a physicist were standing around the university flagpole when an English professor wandered by. “What are you doing?” he asked. “We need to know the height of the flagpole,” said one, “and we’re discussing the formulas we might use to calculate it.” “Watch!” said the English professor. He pulled the pole from its fitting, laid it on the grass, borrowed a tape measure and said, “Exactly 24 feet.” Then he replaced the pole and walked away. “English professor!” sneer the mathematician, “We ask him for the height, and he gives us the length.”
Larry was startled to see the nonchalant way Jason was taking the fact that his girlfriend was seen with another man. “You said you loved her and yet you saw her with another man and you didn’t knock the guy down?”
“I’m waiting.”
“Waiting for what?” asked Larry
“Waiting to catch her with a smaller feller.”
The boss was concerned that his employees weren’t giving him enough respect, so he tried and old fashioned method of persuasion: He brought in a sign that said “I’m the Boss” and taped it to his door. After lunch, he noticed someone had taped another note under his. “Your wife called. She wants her sign back!”
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Hot Enough For You?
considering the sweltering heat in Canada and The US... I offer this question...
*Thanks, Daryn
The Ultimate Burger?
It’s important to pace yourself when on a geek quest of any sort, and this is especially true of those that, like mine, present a certain amount of personal risk. Having last week eaten a (beef) hamburger wrapped in 10 slices of (pork) bacon, I felt it wise to wait a week before attempting another such feat of consumption.
I had read online about several people, over the past five years or so, trying their hand at a burger made out of ground bacon, with no other meat included. I hadn’t intended to try it until later in my Great Bacon Odyssey, but several people suggested it after last week’s triumph, so I started thinking about it more and more. Then it occurred to me: In order to be truly worthy of me, and of the GeekDad name that means so much to me, my quest would have to take me beyond what other people have already done. And to make that possible, I would first have to prove that I was serious. I would have to conquer the bacon burger.
First, I needed to figure out how many slices I would need. I wanted to use the uncured bacon again, with no dry rub or any such thing, because I knew that if I were to have a prayer of eating the whole thing, I would need the burger to have as little salt in it as possible. I wanted a burger weighing about one-third of a pound, but I don’t have a kitchen scale.
The package had 22 slices and, according to the package, weighed 12 ounces. Assuming all slices were cut uniformly (which appeared to my eye to be the case), each slice weighed about 0.55 ounces. That would mean 10 slices (after rounding up), because 1/3 of a pound is about 5.33 ounces. But I wanted the burger’s cooked weight to be 1/3 of a pound, not its raw weight, and of course bacon loses a lot of fat during cooking. A little research indicated that the likelihood was that my bacon would lose about half of its weight during cooking. That seemed a bit high to me, especially since the bacon I’d bought had a good percentage of meat in each slice, so I figured starting with 19 slices, for a weight of 10.45 ounces, would cover me.
I wanted to cook the burger under the broiler, as I did with the bacon-wrapped burger last week, on a rack set over a Pyrex dish to allow the rendered fat to drain. Having read about the difficulties people making such burgers have had keeping them together, I decided to add one large egg to the food processor along with the 19 slices of bacon. I ground the bacon and the egg together, then, using my hands, pulled the mixture out and used a hamburger press to make a burger. It is possible that my hands have been greasier at some point in my life, but if so I have (fortunately) forgotten it. I was not quite prepared for the raw burger to look like pure fat, and I must admit that it didn’t look very appealing. But it was for science, so I soldiered on!
I put the burger on the rack-Pyrex assembly and slid it under the broiler. Having learned a lesson from last week, I turned the stove exhaust fan to high immediately. I peeked in on it as it cooked, and it seemed to be cooking nicely, with tons of little fat bubbles sizzling on top. After seven minutes or so, I took it out to turn it over, and was pleased how easily it flipped. Five minutes later, it looked done, so I took the temperature of the inside (you need to be careful with pork, of course), and it registered at 160 degrees Fahrenheit, so out it came. Now it looked like food, and smelled delicious.
For the rest of the story, I give you a video (below), shot by my lovely wife Jen using my iPhone 4. In this video you will see me eat the entire burger, with the exception of two bites I let my kids have, because what kind of a geek dad would I be if I didn’t let them try it? With a Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA to wash it down and some mustard to cut the fatty taste, it was enjoyable for a while. After about half of it, it became more of an effort to keep eating, as you’ll see, but I did it, and could certainly have managed to eat the bites my kids took. Note: If you should notice a whirring sound in the video, that’s the fan behind my head, blowing out the window to clear some of the smoke from the cooking out of the house.
Would I recommend it? Reservedly, yes, but mostly because afterward you can honestly say you’ve eaten a burger made out of bacon, and not many people can say that. If you don’t care about the “honor” of it, I suggest sharing it with at least one other person, because it’s not likely you’ll actually want to eat more than half. I suggest uncured bacon so the salt doesn’t make your blood pressure spike. Cook it the way I did unless you want it to bathe in its own fat as it cooks. Oh, yes, and wash it down with something with a bite to it, because otherwise the taste of the bacon fat will likely overwhelm your palate.
*Wired.com
Portable watermelon cooler
For $230 US, I rather use a block of ice and a canvas bag.
Woman says 3D porno made her pregnant
Husband claims "anything is possible"
An American woman claims she became pregant after watching a 3D porno.
US military man Erick Jhonson came home from a stint in Iraq to find that his wife was pregnant. Clearly he assumed she had an affair, but his wife Jennifer claims the “other man” was actually someone a little less physical.
It seems he actually buys her story, however. “I see it as suspicious. The films in 3D are very real. With today’s technology, anything is possible,” he said.
What's even more interesting is that both Jennifer and Erick are white, but the child is black. Jeniffer claims the kid looks like the black pornstar she had been ogling. She also claims this was one of the first times she's watched porn and only went with friends for the 3D effect. TechEye did a survey of one person and found 100 percent would say the same thing in a similar situation.
“Even though my husband believed in me, my marriage could be at risk,” Jennifer said. “But he knows I’m faithful.” It just shows you what joining the military does to your head.
Jennifer explained that “a month after watching the movie, I started feeling dizzy and the results were positive.” That must have been one good porno.
3D movies have gained renewed popularity since Avatar, but there have been some concerns raised over how bad they may be for your eyes. Now you'll have to worry about conceiving in the cinema.
You may have jumped when an object in film was thrown at the camera, but now you'll have to be careful of other, far more uncouth things flying at you. TechEye recommends contraception for your next trip to the cinema. You never know.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thank you for your order !!
DEAR MADAM:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT ORDER FROM OUR SEX TOYS SHOP.
YOU ASKED FOR THE LARGE RED VIBRATOR AS FEATURED ON OUR WALL DISPLAY.
PLEASE SELECT ANOTHER ITEM BECAUSE THAT IS OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
SINCERELY,
CUSTOMER FULFILLMENT
*Thanks, Joe
Optical Illusion!
A variation on a classic illusion, this cat can be perceived as rotating in either direction. With practice, you can make it switch at will!
*Thanks, Rayna
Life Lessons
ONE . Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully .
TWO . Marry a man/woman you love to talk to . As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other .
THREE . Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want .
FOUR . When you say, 'I love you,' mean it .
FIVE . When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye .
SIX . Be engaged at least six months before you get married .
SEVEN . Believe in love at first sight .
EIGHT . Never laugh at anyone's dreams . People who don't have dreams don't have much .
NINE . Love deeply and passionately . You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely .
TEN . . In disagreements, fight fairly . No name calling .
ELEVEN . Don't judge people by their relatives .
TWELVE . Talk slowly but think quickly .
THIRTEEN! . . . When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'
FOURTEEN . Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk .
FIFTEEN . Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze .
SIXTEEN . . When you lose, don't lose the lesson .
SEVENTEEN . Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions .
EIGHTEEN . Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship .
NINETEEN . When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it .
TWENTY . . Smile when picking up the phone . The caller will hear it in your voice .
TWENTY- ONE . Spend some time alone .
*Thanks, Joe
There are five things that you cannot recover in life:
The Stone..........after it's thrown, The Word..............after it's said, The Occasion......after it's missed, and The Time............after it's gone. A person..............after they die *Thanks, Gary
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Your Duck is Dead--
A woman brought a very limp duck into a veterinary surgeon. As she laid her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird's chest.
After a moment or two, the vet shook his head and sadly said, "I'm sorry, your duck, Cuddles, has passed away."
The distressed woman wailed, "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am sure. Your duck is dead," replied the vet.
"How can you be so sure?" she protested. "I mean you haven't done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something."
The vet rolled his eyes, turned around and left the room. He returned a few minutes later with a black Labrador Retriever. As the duck's owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the duck from top to bottom. He then looked up at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet patted the dog on the head and took it out of the room. A few minutes later he returned with a cat. The cat jumped on the table and also delicately sniffed the bird from head to foot. The cat sat back on its haunches, shook its head, meowed softly and strolled out of the room.
The vet looked at the woman and said, "I'm sorry, but as I said, this is most definitely, 100% certifiably, a dead duck."
The vet turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill, which he handed to the woman.
The duck's owner, still in shock, took the bill. "$150!" she cried, "$150 just to tell me my duck is dead!"
The vet shrugged, "I'm sorry. If you had just taken my word for it, the bill would have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, it's now
$150."
TROY - The Latest Strip
Click Above Then choose 'Current Strip'.
The new comic, Troy #259 "Troyus Interruptus" is out in the magazines and up online today. An oblivious Troy barges in on “Officer Rigo’s” off-duty time.
And you can find Michael's books and ebooks for sale at TROYTooner.
3-glasses of beer
A man walks into a bar in London and ordered 3-glasses of beer and sits in the backyard of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn.
When he finishes, he comes back to the bar counter and orders 3 more. The bartender asks him, "You know, beer goes flat after I fill it in the glass; it would taste better if you buy one at a time."
The man replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Dubai, the other in Canada and I'm here in London.
When they left home, we promised that we'll drink this way to remember the days when we drank together.
The bartender admits that this is a nice custom and leaves it there.
The man became a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He order 3-Beers and drinks them in turn.
One day, he came in and ordered only 2-Beers All the other regulars notice and fall silent.
When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says," I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my sincere condolences on your great loss. "
The man looked confused for a moment, then he laughs .... "Oh, no," he, said, "Everyone's fine - both my brothers are alive" .
" The only thing is, I just quit drinking..
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The Wizard's Cool Site-of-the-Day - pleated-jeans
Enjoy!
The Christian Cyborg’s Fund
Posted on February 10, 2010 by Pleated Jeans
Everyday, more than 27,000 innocent cyborgs power down due to such factors as lack of electricity, owner neglect and preventable software viruses. Poverty and over-production have left these cyborgs homeless, hungry for a power source and without the proper laser weaponry to adequately defend themselves.
Unit HFC-242 is one of these unfortunate cyborgs. This little sentient knows a lot 
of things. It knows its metal joints are squeaking with rust. It knows its Windows 95 software is long obsolete. And it knows the buzzsaw attachment it needs to properly attack humans so it can feed off their life force and stay properly charged is well beyond its economical means.
But there’s something Unit HFC-242 doesn’t know. It doesn’t know that hope is possible. It doesn’t know that somewhere, halfway across the globe, there is someone with a big enough heart who is willing to help. It doesn’t know you.
For as little as 80 cents a day – the price of a few nuts and bolts – you can help save a cyborg like Unit HFC-242.
By sponsoring one of these technologically advanced life forms, you can be confident in knowing that you are making a difference – because with the Christian Cyborg’s Fund, so much of your money goes exactly where it needs to – directly to the cyborgs.
Every month, your money goes to help pay for such necessities as Norton Antivirus, lubricating oil, maintenance from robotics engineers and lifelike skin grafts that allow your cyborg to blend into human society and refill its power source by attacking unsuspecting victims at close range.
Don’t wait another moment. Pick up the phone and call now for more information. We’ll send you a photo and information on a cyborg that needs your help. When you decide to sponsor a cyborg, we’ll continue to keep you up to date on its progress.
Over the months, you’ll receive personal thank-you notes from your sponsored cyborg so you can learn how your money is making a difference. View updated photos and watch with pride as your cyborg upgrades from a small, puny pile of metal into a massive, hulking beast of pure death and destruction. And learn about your cyborg’s hopes and dreams of one day traveling to America so it can meet you and personally crush your bones and feed off your electrical brain energy.
Go ahead – pick up the phone. And help give a second chance to little Unit HFC-242. Or CXXD-76R. Or Murderbot Jr.
Pick up the phone and call now for a photo of a cyborg in need. One look into those two menacing LED lights that kind of look like eyes, and you’ll know what to do.
*pleated-jeans.com (now with a hyphen)
Ah, Right-Wing Christian Extremists....
While your inappropriate use of apostrophes is convincing, I don’t think this poster is going to get many people into a church...
*pleated-jeans.com (now with a hyphen)
A Cannibal Tribe’s Church Announcements
Posted on February 17, 2010 by Pleated Jeans
Thank you, Shaman Tonku for that inspiring drug-induced incantation. Hopefully, your cries for the death of our enemies will soon be appeased by the Great Creator.
Fellow cannibals of the Malagoo tribe, our morning chant is almost over, but first, a few announcements and reminders:
As always, we encourage everyone to join us for Sacred Rock study later today. This 
week’s discussion focuses on the topic of gluttony. When it comes time to honor a fallen relative by eating his or her flesh and internal organs, is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? Join us on the big hill this afternoon when the sun is at its highest point in the sky to find out.
A quick note on the outreach campaign that we began last month – our efforts in spreading the word of the Lizard King continue to bear fruit by bringing new fish to our stream. Today, Jerry joins fellow Christian missionary converts Phil and Tim as the newest members of our humble congregation. Clearly, our hut-knocking campaign is paying off. Keep up the good work and everyone please be sure to extend Jerry a warm welcome following the chant.
Thanks to your contributions, the members of our youth group have finally acquired enough mystic root to partake in their confirmation walkabout. Please take time this week to chant for the manifestation of bountiful hallucinations along their journey. Offspring, we welcome you to the adult community and wish for you to return safely from the enemy village with many heads in tow.
Two moons from now is our monthly cannibal potluck. Due to previous issues we’ve had with people bringing similar dishes (four people brought different parts of Phil last time), we are going to request that you sign up in advance for the dish you intend to bring. Please see Grunlap after service for the sign-up sheet.
Also, Shaman Tonku would like to reiterate that we still need volunteers for next month’s human sacrifice. If you are interested in helping to ensure a bountiful harvest this fall, and are also a virgin, then we invite you to meet with Jaiko as soon as possible so that he may begin the process of custom-fitting the stone restraints for your arms, feet and head.
As added incentive for helping us out with this very important event, all sacrificial volunteers will have the honor of being slathered in the marinating sauce of their choice prior to death.
On a similar note, all volunteer positions related to the ceremonial impregnation of the virgin prior to sacrifice have been filled. Please stop asking.
And finally, this week’s Eucharist has been brought to you by the Body of Tim. Thank you, Tim.
Fellow tribesman, this concludes our weekly announcements. Please go in peace to love and serve the Lizard King.
*pleated-jeans (now with a hyphen)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Bad Bathroom Etiquette
Depending upon who YOU are, This is bad…
Depending upon who YOU are, This is worse...
*Original images from here.