From the 'Equal-Opportunity-Nastiness' file, the Chicago Sun-Times ( Dec. 18 ) reports the outcome of the case of the Saudi female rape victim who was going to be whipped and imprisoned because she broke Saudi laws against the mixing of the sexes. Shamed by, of all people, the prez of the U.S.A., who dredged up an empathetic bone by imagining his own daughters in such a situation, Saudi Arabia backed down and pardoned ( but didn't forgive ) the young woman. Untold heretofore: The rapists who kidnapped the woman also raped her male companion.
Happy anniversary, you little tribble you! The New York Times ( Dec. 16 ) tells us that 40 years ago this month, Star Trek broadcast its most famous episode: 'The Trouble With Tribbles'—about the 'alien race of cute, lovable, rapidly breeding fluff balls known as tribbles.' The writer of that show was David Gerrold, now a major science fiction writer and openly gay. Early on, Gerrold submitted a screen play for the series called 'Blood and Fire' which had gay characters and was about a deadly disease analogous to AIDS. 'The script was purchased and then shelved,' according to the article. Gerrold went on to publish the well-known gay sci-fi novel The Man Who Folded Himself.
Time Out Chicago ( Nov. 29-Dec.5 ) highlighted Charlie's, Chicago's country-western gay bar. [ Full disclosure: I help teach dancing there. ] The magazine quoted Crystal Kimmey, the line dance instructor, as to her methods of teaching ( eight steps at a time and then combined ) : 'It's cumulative like math, only with alcohol.' [ No, that is not me in the mag's picture. ]
Tidbit # 1 from The New York Times ( Dec. 18 ) mentions a new play about Charles Darwin's Trumpery, written by Peter Parnell. Parnell has also written for The West Wing and, with his partner, wrote the controversial children's book And Tango Makes Three. The book is about two male penguins, Silo and Roy, who hatched an orphan egg and raised the chick, Tango. Parnell likes dealing with dangerous ideas.
Tidbit # 2 from The New York Times ( Dec. 18 ) quotes from postings to John Tierney's blog re the recent news that homosexuality could be quickly turned on and off in fruit flies. Dr. David Featherstone asked 'what people will choose to do with the knowledge,'; a person named Stubenville said 'I am deeply concerned about the parents who will want to 'fix' their homosexual and lesbian children.' Will Meyerhofer replied, 'I think this research is vital for solving the problem of heterosexuality. ... I'm tolerant of straight people, but the world sure would be more fabulous if everybody knew how to decorate and dress better.'
Did you know Mark Twain wrote a play involving major female impersonation? Neither did he, because he put it—unsubmitted for publication—aside in a drawer. But it has been found, transmogrified and put on the stage. The New York Times ( Dec. 9 ) says 'Is He Dead?' is like a love child of La Boheme and Tootsie, and is hilarious.
