Antigone's Travels

Black Sheep of the Nation

2009-01-21T09:37:00.008-06:00

Yesterday, as practically everyone, including myself, ignored the phone lines, ceased writing and checking emails, and pushed that report off to the side in order to watch the historic inauguration, I must admit, had conflicting feelings.

While I cannot deny that America electing its first non-white president is truly historic, it comes with a feeling, not of surprise but of disappointment, that once again it is more acceptable to have a black man in power than any women, even a white woman. Considering our history, particularly that African-American men were granted the right to vote fifty years prior to any woman, I am not shocked by the course of events during this election. But what does this mean for our future? Is it safe to say that, that it will take another fifty years from now until we can see a women hold the highest position of governmental power in the United States?

It pains me to think of all of the hypocrisy during the past few months. Between Proposition 8 and the election, I am finding it hard not to be confused, angry, and bitter.

I identify as a feminist.

That is a very loaded word.

Merrian-Webster defines feminism as the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes; organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests. While this is accurate, feminisms, to me, is much, much greater than that. I would agree that, it also means working for equality across lines of race,gender, class, age, and sexuality, because women are represented and affected by these forms of discrimination.

Let's focus on that part for a moment shall we. Working for equality across the lines of rage, gender, class, age and sexuality. There is no hierarchy. They are all equally important, and should be granted rights, freedoms, and representation equally. In this theory, one group of people does not dominate another. In this theory, we live by a true democracy, not the system that America has in place today. As a feminist, I may not know exactly what it is like to be a particular marginalized group, but I can try to imagine, I can listen to other people's experiences, I can empathize and most importantly, I can advocate for their rights, because, while I may not identify in that particular group, equality and social justice, overall, is important to me. It is important for a white feminist women to fight for the rights of women and people of color, the same way it is important for me, to advocate for the rights of survivors of rape, even though I have not been raped. You need not identify as part of a group in order to know that equity between all people should exist.

It is for this reason that, I cannot for the life of me fathom how so many African-Americas can be anti gay rights. I cannot understand how so many people of color can be anti women. And I don't know how I can be fully supportive and elated about our first non-white president, when we as a nation, still blatantly promote unequal rights for certain groups of people based on things like sex, gender, and sexual orientation.

As Rick Warren quoted biblical scripture during his prayer as part of the presidential inauguration, I couldn't help but wonder, if American ever elected a non-Christian president, would there still be a prayer during the inauguration? What if, let's say, the majority of Americas chose the best person for the job, and they happened to be Jewish, would the inauguration be veiled in Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha'olam instead of the God Bless, Almighty God, our Father, the Lord is our God lingo that cloaked the entire ceremony?

In a nation that prides itself on a Constitution, one which, from the very first amendment, grants freedom of religion and the separation of church and state, I find our policies, law making, lobbying arguments and justifications and even inauguration process, contradictory.

When religious beliefs are used to shape lawmaking, such as with marriage equality, when President Obama can use the word "God" five times in his inaugural speech, and when there is no room for other religions or godforbid, no religion, in our government, then we cannot say that we are upholding the first amendment.

a few thoughts on the L word...

2009-01-19T10:10:00.006-06:00

Just a few of my thoughts and observations about the much anticipated first
episode of The L Word final season:

1. Perhaps I have spend (way) too much time looking into this, so I would not be surprised if no one else caught this, but I would have expected Ilene Chaiken to...
As foxy Xena, the newest member of the unbelievably beautiful, and unrealistic cast of lesbians, enters the "crime scene," an officer briefs her on the situation, stating that inside are 7 ladies and a little girl inside...
After reviewing the video, my eyes see, Shane, Bette, Tina, the baby, Alice, Helena, Kit and MAX. MAX, with a full on mustache. He, in no way shape of form, in this clip, can be mistaken for a woman, much less a lady. Hmmm...bad form Ilene...bad form.
2. I'm no forensics expert, but i am pretty sure you don't roll an uncovered, dead body into a living room of friends/family/suspects...i'm just sayin'!

3. Is anyone else confused as to what Shane sees in in Jenny? The
best friend she ever had? Really???

4. And not for nuthin, but if I were trying to keep the love of my life, as Alice is supposed to be, I think I would try to do just a little more than just
jump her bones...come on Alice.

I demand that you...

2009-01-09T14:06:00.003-06:00

Vote

for

Grace the Spot

for

Best New Blog.

NOW!

Blogging for Lesbian Health Day

2009-01-05T20:03:00.007-06:00

As a Lesbian Professional and a Professional Lesbian...lesbian, bi & queer women's health, effect me everyday.

In my personal life, it comes up often. For my work...well, let's just say, my sole mission is to improve queer women's health care through advocacy, public education, research, and, of course, programmatically. ; )

I could talk about the stories I have heard, the situations I have witnessed, and my very own experiences until the cows come home. And usually, I do.

Today however, in honor of "Blogging for Lesbian Health Day," I will defer to this blog, written today by a dear friend of mine, Jane Know.

NOT Related!

2008-12-30T15:22:00.001-06:00

Does this scare anyone else?

i'm just sayin'...

Related?

2008-12-30T14:58:00.004-06:00

creepy!

i'm just sayin'...

Your God vs My Health

2008-12-29T10:59:00.015-06:00

Doctor: Good Afternoon, Antigone. I'm Dr. Judgement. What brings you in today?
Patient: Hi. My job switched insurance companies, so I had to restart my care with a new provider who was in network. I saw that you were and you're office is close to my work, so, here I am.
Doctor: That's great. Welcome. Let's get some history and then I will start my examination. (a few moments later)
Doctor: Are you sexually active?
Patient: Yes.
Doctor: What form of contraception or protection do you use?
Patient: Oh. Well. I don't. I mean. I don't have sex with men.

The doctor stares uncomfortable at the chart, then slowly looks up with a face that looks like a mix between disgust and fear. Without another word or any eye contact, the doctor leaves the room.
Just a moment later, the medical assistant enters the room.
Medical Assistant: I'm sorry. The doctor is no longer accepting new patients.

Think this cannot happen?

THINK AGAIN!

Almost one month to the day before President Bush ends his tyranny over the United States, he and his administration, "granted sweeping new protections to health workers who refuse to provide care that violates their personal beliefs."

The implementation of this rule, which would cost more than $44 million, "would including the provision of birth control pills, Plan B emergency contraceptives, other contraceptives a worker might consider to be abortion, abortion, and issuing referrals to obtain such care. The regulation could also protect workers who object to providing care to unmarried people or gay men and lesbians." In addition, the rule could also protect workers who object to certain types of end-of-life care or to withdrawing care.

This means:

if you are a single woman looking for birth control pills, you can be denied, as it is then assumed that you are engaging in premarital sex, which is a sin
if you are looking for abortion resources, you can be denied, as that too is a sin.
if you identify as gay or lesbian, or any other sexual orientation that deviates from the heterosexual, one man/one woman "norm," you can be denied any and all care.

Aren't medical providers supposed to help their patients?

Aren't they supposed to, without judgement, without personal agenda, care for their patients?

Imposing their own religions beliefs onto patients, in many cases, going against the standards of practice and best quality of care, is not only unjust, but it can also have deadly consequences.

What's next?
What happens when one of the more than 584,000 health care organizations, and even some pharmacies, that will be forced to comply to this new ruling, denies HIV testing, since that would imply that premarital or extramarital sex and in the case of a male patient, homosexuality???

What about when a woman is raped and goes to a hospital, but is denied a rape kit and the morning after pill because she is depicted as promiscuous by any of the hospital staff (the rule covers anyone with a "reasonable" connection to objectionable care -- including ultrasound technicians, nurses aides, secretaries and even janitors who might have to clean equipment used in procedures they deem objectionable) ???

Once again, the religion of some, are going to have drastically negative and discriminatory effects on a vast number of people. And, in true form of American history, the most marginalized will be the most greatly effected. The uninsured woman. The gay man. The un/underemployed. The un/under educated. Me. You. Us.

The road less traveled...

2008-12-19T19:55:00.008-06:00

HOME. Safe and sound...finally!

This came after much trial and tribulation...

Oh, but where shall I begin...

First, I woke at 6:30am for my 9am flight, to find that it was cancelled and I was automatically placed on the 7:30pm flight. After much time on hold, I got a 10:50am flight out, and began my journey to the O' Hare. With one working windshield wiper and the other making what was, quite possibly the more annoying sound ever, slow drivers, icy slushy roads, and morning rush hour traffic, I made it. Kissed the woman goodbye and headed off on my way.

Note to the traveler:

If you lose your driver's licence, and decide to use your passport, check
2 things. The first, is it signed. The second, if it has expired. I found this out
the hard way, but luckily, the Holiday spirit was in full effect, I was allowed in.

To the man standing behind me in the the airport check-in line, a few
things:

-I realize it is 8:35 in the morning and you NEEDED you cigarette fix, but
a little cologne never hurt no one...I just got lung cancer simply by your
presence.
-Speaking of your presence, there is a new thing called personal space. Use
it sometime. We are all in line, we will all get to the check in, in the order
at which we arrived...there is no need to stand on top of me.
-Lastly, if you are going to hover in my ass crack, can you please STOP
YELLING INTO YOUR CELL PHONE. Unless you are talking into a can attacked to a
string, there is no reason to use that volume...please, no one cares that you
used to be a cab driver in Chicago many years ago, and how now you feel like no
one can drive...or that you thought your flight was earlier because you were
looking at the boarding time instead of the departure time. Trust me.

So my 10:50 departure flight, turned into a 11:30 boarding flight. I was fine.

We packed in...I saw seated in the middle of a 3 sear row, but no aisle seat was taken. I was optimistic. I was good.

We sat...and sat...and sat some more.

Luckily, my super fine woman decided to give me one Christmas gift early. And it was simply perfect! My favorite book of all time...hardcover. (since my softcover copy completely unbound leaving you reading it page by page.)

I began to read. We started to go. We drove around for a bit and then we stopped and we sat. I read...and I read.

about and hour went by...

"This is your captain speaking. We are going to head back to the gate to refuel. Our new alternative destination is Raleigh."

every growned...

When we stopped at the gate, we were told that we could get off to get food and we would take off in about an hour. Many people got off. I stayed. I knew better.

No soon than fifteen minutes later...

"This is your captain. We have been cleared to take off at 12:45, so if everyone cane get back to their seats, we will wait for our reaming people and get going."

This time, with our McDonalds eating travels, came the trio to our row. A large man waked down the aisle, laughing and speaking very loudly into his cell phone. He slowed as he approached row 16, looks at the number, look at me and looks back at the number. I quickly say, "Is this you?," getting ready to move out of his aisle seat that I had taken for comfort since no one was there. He does not acknowledge me, but I assume this means yes, and move over. After fumbling around, he finally sits, continues having quite possibly the loudest cell phone conversation ever, swaying back and forth in his seat, using any available arm rest, including mine.

The captain comes over the loudspeaker again. Supposedly, we are going to try to take off again.

He continues to talk. The young man on the other side me has nodded off, but loudly snored himself back awake. The other man loudly ends his conversation. "Finally," I think to myself.

We sat for a while and then we heading back to the runway, where we sat some more. At 1:50pm, we finally take off, 3 hours post departure time.

Did I mention the flight crew had not food. Yeah...everyone was is exceptional moods by this point. As they make their way down the aisle, "Would you like something to drink? Water, Soda, Juice, Wine, Beer?" "WINE," I think to myself. "Give me the bottle!" But I refrain. "Orange juice," I reply, realizing that I should probably try to get in as many vitamins as possible. She places a small plastic cup in my hand. No peanuts, no chex mix, nothing...

Back to my book. Just shy of two hours later, the captain comes over the intercom again, "we are beginning out descend into LaGuardia. It is going to get a little choppy here."

"Great," I think to myself. I am already nauseated from hunger, and just being suck in the tiny stiff seat for, what has now been 5 hours...this should be interesting. I look through the seat pocket in front of me for the barf bag. Check.

Somehow, I manage to get through the 15 minutes of so of turbulence and keep the only food in my stomach, a McDonalds burrito that I consumed at 7:30 that morning.

After a few more minutes pass, and with nothing to occupy my time at this point, since i have read my book cover to cover, I play a game with myself called, sit as still as possible. I can't help but wonder why it is taking to long to land. I look out the window. White. Just White. Nothing but White. Mind you, it is dark in NY by now. The white that I am seeing are not clouds...it is the storm. My anxiety kicks in. what if we can't land? What if we have to turn around? Did we ever refuel at the gate? No. We couldn't have. Now what?

"This is your captain. As I am sure you have noticed, we are just circling. we haven't received clearance to land yet."

Another hour goes by.

5:30pm. We landed. Everyone clapped. My blood sugar was too low to clap, but a small whistle of relief came out.

Thank the agnostic god...home, land, food, wine, safety...it's finally over.

As I finally entered the Lauguardia airport, three things greeted
me...
1. About 7 steps past the gate, now finally on the other side of the
airport, I look up to see a man, on his cell phone, picking his nose. "Welcome
back," i think.
2. A young Middle Eastern man sips his copper colored beer from a plastic
airport cup. I almost take him out for it.
3. I dart into the women bathroom, immediately going into a stall that was
just occupied by a young woman. And what hits me smack in the face...none other
than, raunchy crotch.

Welcome home, Antigone.

Welcome Home.
Happy Travels! P

Christmas Travels

2008-12-18T14:37:00.007-06:00

In case you are not constantly keeping yourself up-to-date with Chicago weather, "they" are calling for 9 inches of freezing rain, also knows as sleet, and snow. The original project, which was all anyone at work could talk about, was expected to arrive at 3pm today. Being that I am flying home tomorrow morning, I was a bit distressed...

One year, I was flying back to Chicago on Christmas day. I has spend a few days at home visiting friends and family, but wanted to get back in time to beat the masses of after-holiday travelers.

Much to my surprise, that did not work out at all. Not because there were load of Christmas Day travels, but rather because a storm decided to create the perfect winter wonderland of a Christmas morning...trapping me in JFK for 5 hours...

cranky moms...
babies screaming...
kids running...
drunk dads who have seem this as a chance to hand out at the airport bar
watching sports and leering inappropriately at any woman walking by...
people taking up 4 seats to sprawl out and sleep...
customers arguing...
staff freaking out...
it was a nightmare!

This just in...

the snowstorm that was expected to start at 3pm has just been moved to 7pm. GREAT! (sarcastic)

Now, when I am supposed to be leaving on a let plane, it will most likely:

a. still be snowing (so we won't fly)

b. the snow will not be cleared off the runway yet (so we will not fly)

Super!

As I cannot help but bitch nonstop via email to my girlfriend about how miserable my travels will be, she, in an attempt to sooth my pessimistic cries, she suggests offers me her (non-working ) ipod, taking a good book, or having a couple drinks at the bar.

I immediately thought, what am I reading currently...oh, that's right, The Ultimate Guide to Cunnilingus. Now that sounds like great airport reading material. I can only imaging the interesting looks I will get. Plus, with a few drinks in me, this could be an opportunity for educating the masses...

or...someone will be getting arrested.

fortunately, i look good in orange.

2008-11-27T16:43:00.004-06:00

This thanksgiving is like no other. For one, this is the first thanksgiving that my girlfriend and I are spending together. Second, we are making the grand meal here. Neither of us has even cooked thanksgiving dinner, but this year we did...together. So, on that note, I will say that this, she, us, is the number one thing that I am thankful for. Of course, I am thankful for lots of other things as well, my family, my friends, this champagne that is finally helping my hangover. There are lots of things to be thankful for, but this, today, my life, and the little family that we have here, just the two of us and our rotten little dogs...it is just perfect.

Hope you have lots to be thankful for as well! = )

ps. sorry to be a sappy lez for a moment...

A middle aged, white, upper class man on Prop 8.

2008-11-12T10:47:00.004-06:00

And to this I say...it's about FKN time!

thank you.

The Dishonor Roll

2008-11-11T15:34:00.006-06:00

We present the Californians Against Hate Dishonor Roll. We want the country to know who is funding the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign to take away marriage quality in California. So right up until the November 4th election, we will post all major donors on our web site. These are all donors who gave $5000.00 and over, many way over! We've taken public information from the California Secretary of State’s Office and added telephone numbers and web sites when available. We also included commentary on some of the more interesting and controversial donors. Individuals and businesses have given a vast amount of money to take away are our recently attained freedom to marry in California, and we want you to know who they are.

Imagine.

Imagine if all of these people used their resources and powers for good, instead of hatred.

Imagine what a wonderful world we could live in...

Ever feel like you are in Pee Wee's Playhouse?

2008-11-07T13:34:00.016-06:00

The zig-zag red door, the talking chair, the idiotic big kid in a suit...

Well, i do...and if we actually were in Pee Wee's World, the secret word of the day, or in this case, of the next few months, would be 'bittersweet.'

This past Tuesday, November 4th, was nothing more than bittersweet. (ahhhhhh!)

America elected it's first African American President. We are setting a new precedent and being recognized worldwide as a different kind of nation than we were a week ago.

So, what makes this victory so bittersweet? (ahhhh!) It is something that baffles me even as I type. How can we, as a people, make such a strong statement about change, progress, and equality, and in the very same breath, make an equally strong statement endorsing hate and discrimination?

As America made this historical victory for democracy and people of color, it/we (as a nation) also approved the following: Initiative 1 (Arkansas) which prevents all unmarried people from adopting and fostering, Proposition 8(California), Measure 2 (Florida), and Measure 102(Arizona) which all deny same-sex marriage and rights.

How bittersweet (ahhh!) a victory when we can say, you as a black man, should have the right and opportunities to sit as the highest level of power in this, one of the world's greatest nations, meanwhile, others are not even afforded the basic human right to marry or adopt!

A little over 40 years ago, a black person and a white person were not legally allow. Today, this thought seems ridiculous, so I ask, what is the difference?

To deny two consenting adults to a right that is, today, taken for granted by so many, is so incredibly discriminatory, anti-progressive, and Anti-American that it makes me ill.

In Pee Wee's world, the head of a genie, who's name was Jambi, lived in a box, and would, once a day, grant Pee Wee one wish. Instead of a bodiless genie, our government relies on an imaginary being who "created" us all, lives high amongst the clouds and watches over us all...

Our genie, unlike Pee Wee's, tells us what to do. He tells us how to live. And he tells us what is right and wrong. He knows all. We know nothing. And the little that we do know, we only know because he told us...unless it is "bad," then we learned it from another genie; one that prefers a more warmer climate.

In our world, our genie is great. He promotes love, kindness, compassion, and all that is good. He only has one rule, do unto others as you would want them to do onto you. Sounds pretty simple right?

Well, his followers like this rule a lot too, except they added just a little subtext. It now goes, " Do unto others as you would want them to do onto you, unless they are different."

The differences vary, and change over time, but there are a few that have pretty much remained constant, blacks, women, and gays.

As a Lesbian woman of color, I am basically hated by all genie's followers. Unfortunately, for me and others like me, the genie lovers managed to somehow use this new and amended rule in ways that I am sure our genie would not like.

They look positions of power. They convinced others that this was the way to be, to live, to love, to think...and just like that, "mecca lecca hi, mecca hiney ho," I am less than a second class citizen in my own country.

A bittersweet (ahhhh!) victory indeed.

Blow Me!

2008-11-03T16:14:00.020-06:00

About a month ago, I did the 'grin and bear,' as I pumped fifty some-odd dollars into my small vehicle, at four and change a gallon.

Today, I am on 'E' and am pleased to only have to pay $2.78 a gallon.

Woo-Hoo! i think...

I can recall when filling up my tank meant I got change back from a twenty. I remember when it was something that I did not even notice. Now, it seams like each trip to the holy grail requires me to check my balance not to overdraw.

I know what your thinking...why don't you ride your bike or take mass transit. To be perfectly honest, I do have my reasons, despite how trivial and ridiculous they may seem. And I am not willing drop a good 10K to trade in my 'new to me' car for a hybrid.

In Chicago, scooters are super popular and supposedly cost effective, but I say, for that, I'd get a bike. Smart cars are also gaining popularity, but for that, I'd ride around in a clown car. Not to mention, they offer virtually no protection from anyone else on the road.

Then, I met gizmo (that's my name for the new air car.) Yes, you heard right...an air car.

"The vehicle may not run like a speed racer on back road highways, but developer Zero Pollution Motors is betting consumers will be willing to fork over $20,000 for a vehicle that can motor around all day on nothing but air and a splash of salad oil, alcohol or possibly a pint of gasoline."

I have to say, I could totally rock this little gizmo out! While I never thought that I would see a vehicle that ran on air, alcohol and salad dressing in my lifetime, I am excited about the thought and curious about the smell. "No office, I wasn't drinking, it's the vodka needed to run my air car. I Swear."

But just think, soon you might be able to say,

"Hey, I'm running on empty, blow me!"

Imagine that!

A "shot" at a Visa

2008-11-03T16:03:00.009-06:00

UNITED STATES: "Immigrants' Advocates Decry Gardasil Requirement" Los Angeles Times (10.22.08):: Mary Engel

New female immigrants ages 11-26 must be inoculated against human papillomavirus in order to become US residents, despite concerns about adding unnecessary layers to the naturalization process and questions about the HPV vaccine's efficacy for older women, immigration advocates say.

A 1996 law stipulates that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) mandate all CDC-recommended vaccines. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the HPV vaccine for girls ages 11-12 and catch-up shots for women up to age 26.

"It's not really a decision of ours," said Sharon Rummery, a CIS spokesperson. "We can't cherry-pick the recommendations." CDC's advisory panel "made the recommendation based on the effectiveness and importance of the vaccine," said Curtis Allen, a CDC spokesperson. "That's their charge, not immigration."

A three-year study published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine found that HPV vaccine reduced the incidence of precancerous lesions by just 17 percent - in part because many of those inoculated had already been exposed to the
virus. "Many women will very likely get this only for the purpose of the visa," said Kate Bourne, a vice president of the International Women's Health Coalition. "Quite likely they will be at the upper end of the age range, which means they are more likely to already be sexually active, and this vaccine is useless to them."

Just the first injection needs documenting during the naturalization application process, said Bourne, noting there is no follow-up ensuring completion of the three-shot series. For the many women who skip the remaining doses, the HPV vaccine will be "triply meaningless," she said.

"This is just an additional barrier to coming to America," said Tuyet G. Duong, a senior attorney for the Asian American Justice Center, a civil rights group. "It just adds another layer to what has become a toxic environment for immigrants."

As immigrant women enter our "great" nation, they are mandated to receive the first shot in a 3 part series of Gardasil, the recent vaccine that is shown effective in preventing up to 70% of cervical cancers, yet not providing them the means nor the follow-up for getting the additional two. Being that researchers are not sure sure of the effectiveness of the vaccine when not administered withing a relatively strict timeline, it is pretty likely that this mandated first shot is completely ineffective, yet, comes at the cost of approximately $120.

For some immigrant advocates, the argument against mandating Gardasil is not around access to the rest of the vaccine's series, but rather that the controversial vaccine is being administered to immigrants woman without thorough trails and investigation regarding side effects and possible negative long term effects. While I completely understand the skepticism, I do not believe that history is repeating itself with Gardasil. one major reason for this is the widespread funding efforts, administering and acceptance (right wing religious fundamentalist excluded) of Gardasil.

As someone who, voluntarily, received the vaccine, paying the total $360 out of pocket, my fears do not lie in unforeseen harms, but rather that not enough women have access to receiving this potentially life saving vaccine.

Palin for President!

2008-11-03T13:16:00.005-06:00

Quebec comedy duo talks porn and politics with oblivious Sarah Palin

MONTREAL — In an over-the-top accent, one half of a notorious Quebec comedy duo claims to be the president of France as he describes sex with his famous wife, the joy of killing animals and Hustler magazine's latest Sarah Palin porno spoof.

At the other end of the line? An oblivious Sarah Palin.

The Masked Avengers, a radio pairing notorious for prank calls to celebrities and heads of state, notched its latest victory Saturday when it released a recording of a six-minute call with Palin, who thought she was talking with Nicolas Sarkozy.

Throughout the call, which was making the rounds in U.S. political circles by day's end Saturday, Palin and the pranksters discuss politics, pundits, and the perils of going hunting with Vice-President Dick Cheney.

"We have such great respect for you, John McCain and I, we love you," Palin gushes, evidently unaware she's speaking to an infamous Quebec comedian named Marc-Antoine Audette.
At one point, Palin even comes close to confirming her intention to one day run for president, when Audette slyly remarks he can see her taking over the big desk in the Oval office.

"Maybe in eight years," she replies with a nervous chuckle.

Over the course of the interview, Palin doesn't seem to realize she's being tricked until Audette comes clean near the end of the call.

"Ohhhh . . . have we been pranked?" she says, in her inimitable style. Seconds later, Palin's aide can be heard taking the phone before the line goes dead.

Throughout the conversation, Audette drops plenty of clues that something's amiss.
He identifies French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday as his special adviser to the U.S., singer Stef Carse as Canada's prime minister and Quebec comedian and radio host Richard Z. Sirois as the provincial premier.

"We should go hunting together," Palin offers when Audette professes a love of hunting - or, more precisely, killing animals. "We can have a lot of fun together while we're getting work done. We could kill two birds with one stone."

Audette then jokes that they shouldn't bring Cheney on the hunt, referring to the 2006 incident in which the vice-president shot and injured a friend while hunting quail.

"I'll be a careful shot," responds Palin, who praises Sarkozy throughout the call.
"I look forward to working with you and getting to meet you personally - and your beautiful wife, oh my goodness," she says.

"You've added a lot of energy to your country with that beautiful family of yours."
Audette then tells her his wife, Carla Bruni, a singer and former model, was jealous to hear Sarkozy would be speaking to Palin. "Give her a big hug for me," Palin responds.

Audette goes on to describe Bruni as "hot in bed" and claims she's written a song for Palin, the French title of which translates as "Lipstick on a Pig." In English, Audette says the song is about Joe the Plumber.

Finally, he mentions a notorious Hustler video titled "Nailin' Paylin," describing it as "the documentary they made on your life."
"Oh, good, thank you, yes," Palin replies.
"That was really edgy," Audette says.
"Well, good."

In an interview Saturday, Audette told The Canadian Press it wasn't easy setting up the interview with Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, and described the accomplishment as the pair's biggest triumph to date.

"It really took a lot of work," he said.
"We had to go through the Secret Service, the people in her entourage. It's the biggest coup so far. We're proud to add (this prank) to our top hits."

It took the pair, known for securing surreptitious interviews with celebrities, politicians and heads of state, five days to set up the call, Audette said. The secret to getting powerful people on the line? Time and persistence.

"I wanted to see how (Palin) was on an intellectual level," Audette said, comparing the latest prank to the duo's crank call with pop idol Britney Spears.
"You can see that she's, well, not really brilliant."

In a statement Saturday, Palin's team said the vice-presidential nominee was "mildly amused" to learn she was the victim of a prank.

"Gov. Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy, and other celebrities in being targeted by these pranksters," said spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt.

"C'est la vie."
Audette, too, was contrite afterward.
"I hope we won't have a one-way ticket to Guantanamo Bay."

The well-known radio prankster duo of Audette and Sebastien Trudel have most recently tricked Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. Other celebrity victims include Spears and Bill Gates.
In 2007, they conned Sarkozy himself by impersonating Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And their 2006 call to former French president Jacques Chirac was rated by the BBC as one of the top 30 all-time best moments in radio history.

Known as the "Masked Avengers," they've been popular on the Quebec comedy scene for a decade.

The Avengers, who have a regular show on Montreal radio station CKOI, will air the full interview on the eve of the U.S. elections. It can also be heard in full on their website http://www.justiciers.tv/.

While quite humorous, there is one piece of this that I would like to draw your attention to...did you see where she said she is planning to run for president in about 8 years?!?!?!?!?

a. does she not know she is an idiot?

II. does she really think she has a shot?

I will say, the idea of a Hillary Clinton vs. Sarah Palin election

does make my nipples hard! ; )

a dyke in sheep's clothing...

2008-10-30T12:04:00.006-05:00

Whooooooooo's that dyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyke?

the short dark hair...the classic cherry chapstick...the never piercesd ear lobes...the faded grey tee with a beater under...

she is your every day, could be your ex, could be the dyke playing pool behind you at the bar...

...or is she?

make-up? professionally done hair? a power suit?

what's going on? where are the freckles???

Look, I am all for pimping yourself out for the cameras, but for once I would like a dyke to stay a dyke!

This is not to say that I do not like the way she looks now...in fact, I think she is a total hottie, but to be completely honest, I think she was also a hottie when she was a contestant on the "Lesbian or Little Boy" show. (not to be mistaken for LOOMS, although they are related)

The fact is, this is not about her. This is about us (americans) being okay with seeing nonconforming individuals in a normalized outlet. Dykes being butch and yest still attractive on television, the opinion of flaming homos being judged based on intellect instead of level is lisp...our trans brothers and sisters being viewed as equally important members of society, rather that a medical or psychological carnie attraction.

So, let's just be real...where my dykes at?