Wicked Weather Weekend

It was a weekend full of decidedly wicked weather here in North TX with lots of sleet, snow ice and rain at various times.  That meant it was time for some favorite cold weather activities.  Things like snow ball fights with hot chocolate and s'mores afterward, curling up with a good book, napping at will, and snuggling by the fire with your sweetie (maybe even making love if luck be ours).  I managed to while a way the hours with Internet surfing, fellowship with a few friends and the aforementioned napping at will.  

One thing I did not do is crack my reader for any news.  So I don't really know what is going on in the world right now, I am sure I will discover what is in the due course of events.  However I will not be doing any frantic running to and fro today as my car is in the shop.  Remember the incident where my car inexplicably disabled all the electronics?  Well it turns out that was caused by a defect which GM is now repairing.  What it is is some little part prevented the electronic signal from the transmission when in park to the ignition causing it to discharge the battery disabling the electronics and preventing the removal of the key or the starting of the car.  A quick jump start gets you out of the situation, but it is still a bit disconcerting to have it happen when it does.  Hopefully after today, it will not occur again.  So after I get this up, I think I will take another one of those naps I told you about.  

But first, your Monday with Mozart features a classic performance by the Amadeus Quartet plus Cecil Aronowitz on Viola, filmed in London in June 1966 performing Mozart's String Quintet Number 3 in G Minor, K516.  Over on my tumblr you may hear Mozart's Oboe Quartet in F Major with a live perfromance from 2012 by Christoph Gerbeth, Oboe; Kirill Sharapov, Violin; Andrii Chop, Viola and Anna Nuzha, Cello. 

Then to get your blood to pumping on a Monday, check the majorly discreet beefcake in their finest Monday's Undies in the post down below.  It that doesn't take you over the top, then there is the 'Neon and Nips' Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for the visit, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

A Perfect Response

Two weeks ago in this post, I told you about young Austin Wallis.  Austin is a high school vlogger who has "been on an affirming journey over the past year. He not only has discovered who he is, he has introduced the real him to his personal social circles and the public at large through a YouTube channel.  His videos are fun, silly, charming, and his relationships with teachers and friends are warm and mutually supportive. Life has been good, even granting him a handsome boyfriend."  Austin had been attending Houston's Lutheran North High School, a private religious school, when his headmaster Dallas Lusk called him into the office.  Mr Lusk then told Austin to go back in the closet and delete all his social media or be expelled.  Austin chose to leave Lutheran North and now attends classes elsewhere.  

Gay Dad and blogger Rob Watson wrote a thoughtful piece on the story from which the quote above comes.  Part of Rob's post included a letter to Headmaster Lusk and Austin Wallis which proves to be a Perfect Response to the controversy and delineating succinctly who really has the moral high ground in this situation.  I have posted the letter below so you may read Rob's inspiring words for yourself:

To Mr. Dallas Lusk, Head of School at Lutheran North, and former student Austin Willis:

Gentlemen.  As a father and a Christian, I wanted to weigh in on the current controversy in which you both are active participants. As a parent, I take a sincere interest in schools and their efforts to establish principles for their students, guide them into the world and create the new citizens who will lead us into the future. Whether or not my sons attend a particular school is irrelevant. Their peers, others who may be in their world, will have attended that school and will influence the world in which they live.

This has already happened at Lutheran North. Austin, you have already emerged as its product onto the world stage. You have made yourself known, from your joys to your recent challenges.

Yes. Mr. Lusk had a rule. That rule reads: “Lutheran High North reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant and/or to discontinue enrollment of a current student participating in, promoting, supporting or condoning: pornography, sexual immorality, homosexual activity or bisexual activity; or displaying an inability or resistance to support the qualities and characteristics required of a Biblically based and Christ-like lifestyle.”

I personally believe that “rules” are limited entities. They are based on bigger principles but address very specific situational elements. If the situation changes, the rule then does not have relevance. A city street might have a “rule” of 15 miles an hour due to high incidence of cross traffic. If all cross traffic is blocked, the “rule” needs to be adjusted and 40 miles and hour might be the appropriate limit to fulfill the bigger principle of public safety.

I am not necessarily saying that Mr. Lusk needs to throw out his rule, although its homophobia is evident, but I am suggesting that he needs to understand, support and advocate for the larger principle behind it. The fact is — there was a violation.

No worries, Austin.  Neither the rule, nor its underlying principle were violated by you.

The rule states that students must not participate “in promoting, supporting or condoning pornography, sexual immorality, homosexual activity (emphasis mine).” It does not say that you cannot be gay.

In his videos, Austin, you were clear on your values. You stated that you did not intend to have sexual relations until after you were married. There was no advocacy for sexual activity of any kind, nor recommendations to view porn. You were demonstratively affectionate in the videos, but not sexual.

If the school somehow wants to take issue with the affection you share on camera with your boyfriend and classify that as “gay sex”, then they need to read their Bibles. Your level of physicality is reflected there. Here is the description of the affection between Jesus and St. John at the last supper: “When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. (John) Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?”

I am not implying that the affectionate cuddling on Jesus’s chest by John was participating in, or advocating for gay sex. Likewise, your school cannot and should not be implying the same of you.

So, no Austin, you did not violate the rule. You also did not violate its principle to “to support the qualities and characteristics required of a Biblically based and Christ-like lifestyle.” You have been a model for the “golden rule.”

Mr Lusk, you, however, failed this principle in several ways. First, you bore “false witness” against Austin by using a regulation about sexual activity, when in his public pronouncements he specifically stated he has had none. Your punishment of him was not reprimanding him for something he has done, it is reprimanding him for who he is. That is bigotry, not a “Christ-like” lifestyle. Christ was not a bigot.

Second, his social media activity reaches out to encourage and send love to others and to save them from harm. Your own social media activity has been dishonest and self-serving. His is to make fun love-filled videos, yours has been to interact with the review site Yelp and fraudulently portray yourself as a consumer of your school’s services. You have bolstered your school’s online review standing by rating it the maximum of five stars, designed to influence its average total score. (See image below.)

Rubbing salt in the proverbial wound of your dishonesty was the statement you made in your self-review of the school. You stated, “The kids really feel welcomed and loved…” By your own behavior, they are made to feel loved and welcomed, unless they are gay. Then they are devastated.

This leads me to my biggest issue with your point of view and actions. As a parent, I deal with the holistic range of my sons. They are not perfect, despite what I might tell you on a given day. There are very few issues that would put them into a zero-sum game emotionally and spiritually however. They may do things that are absolutely wrong, but I help them find ways to do those things better, to make an improved choice, even if they cannot make it to a perfect one. For straight kids in your school, you follow this model. You work with them to be the best of who they are, to help them be the best they can be.

You have demonstrated there is no such scale for a gay student. He is gone, seen as worthless automatically. He has no chance, in your eyes, to better himself as a person, to achieve self-improvement. To you, if he is himself, he is worthless period. The rest of his behavior could be saintly, or he could be a charlatan, it would make no difference.

To me, that is a travesty, whether it was from a parent, from an educator and most certainly from a follower of Christ.

I don’t mean to be completely negative about your school, however. I have to acknowledge that it has produced a man who does live up to the heart of Christ, who lives honestly and who I would be thrilled for my sons to emulate.

He is the young man you forced to leave, Mr. Lusk.

Mr. Willis, that man is you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You Monday with Mozart features nearly 3 hours of melodic perfection in a presentation of two of his String Quintets, Number 2 in C Minor, KV406(516b) and Number 6 in E Flat Major, KV614.  Today's performance is by Czech Violinist and Composer Josef Suk who is joined by the Smetana Quartet for this recording.  More melodious Mozart is posted over on my tumblr in Mozart's String Quartet Number 17 in B Flat Major with a performance by the Hagen Quartet. 

Be sure to cruise on down for your Monday's Undies in the post below and check out the Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr for additional underwear fetish fascination.  Thanks for the visit, see you again tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

Road Warriors!

The Dallas Cowboys, playing yesterday in the nations capitol, completed a December to Remember with a thorough dismantling of their arch-rival Washington Redskins 44-17.  The Cowboys for the first time in franchise history went undefeated in the month of December with an average margin of victory of 41-20.  In yesterday's game, the Cowboys attacked early and often, scoring on their first five possessions to take a 27-10 lead into halftime.  Along the way on one play in the first quarter, DeMarco Murray surpassed Emmit Smith's single season rushing record, ending the day with over 1800 yards.  The next play saw Dez Bryant break the single season TD Reception record with his 16th TD of the season.  Bryant's TD was originally ruled out of bounds but with a challenge by Coach Jason Garrett, the replay proved the catch to be both in bounds and  highlight reel worthy.  

The third quarter was a slug fest fought to a stand still with no scoring in the quarter.  The Cowboys then took complete control outscoring the Redskins in the fourth quarter 17-7 to give the Cowboys their final margin of 44-17.  The Washington crowd was very liberally peppered with Cowboy fans who as the game wore on got louder and louder while the home town folks grew increasingly quiet and began leaving early in the fourth quarter, knowing a lost cause when they saw it.  The Cowboys victory also gave them a perfect 8-0 road record this year, something only 6 other teams have done since the 1970 merger of the AFL and the NFL into one league.  5 of those six teams ended up in the Super Bowl, and Dallas wants to make that 6 out of 7.  First they must win at home on Sunday in the late game, hosting the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card round.  By game time, we will know who the next opponent will be if the Cowboys win, either traveling to Green Bay to play the Packers or Seattle to play the Seahawks in the Divisional round.  The Cowboys have not played the Packers this year, but they have done something no other team has done the last two seasons, beat Seattle at home.  I do not expect the Cowboys to have much problem with the Lions as they are miserable on the road yet formidable at home.  The Cowboys have proven themselves to be Road Warriors par excellence all season and I am hoping this trend continues all the way to a February 1 date for the big dance in Glendale, AZ. Things may get a little crazy around here if the Cowboys do make it to the Super Bowl, but I won't mind that a bit. 

Your Monday with Mozart features an all star 1986 recording of the 4 Flute Quartets penned by the Master.  The recording features performances by Jean-Pierre Rampal on Flute, Isaac Stern on Violin, Salvatore Accardo on Viola and Mstislav Rostropovich on Cello.  Additional melodic Mozart can be heard over on my tumblr with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 5 in D major K175, "Salzburg" performed by Malcom Frager and the Orchestra della Radiotelevisione della Svizzera Italiana under the baton of Marc Andreae.

Then of course, Monday would not be Monday with out a few muscly men in sexy skivvies  lounging about the page for your visual appreciation.  This week's edition of Monday's Undies should provide plenty of fuel for our mutual underwear fetish fantasies.  Meanwhile over on my tumblr, the Hottie of the Day! is Sitting Pretty!  Thanks for kicking your week off here at Nichevo, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!

Monday Miscellany

I survived my marathon mash up of 27.4 hours worked over the course of 51 hours total and I am really, really glad it is my day off.  That is not to say I don't still have things to do.  In just a bit I am headed out to take a look at another prospective new home for Will and I.  The complex is in one of the nicer, yet older upscale parts of town and is just about 6 minutes from my work close in to the cultural district.  The rent is reasonable and I hope the unit is as nice as I expect it to be.  Will is unable to go with me so I am taking my Nikon Cool Pix digital camera to take multitudes of photographs for him to see before making the decision whether or not to move there.  The complex is one suggested by a locator service which offers free moving services or a rent rebate upon move in.  If we decide to move there, I will opt for the free move so we won't have to do the lift and tote part of the move, just the pack and unpack.  I am getting a little long in the tooth to be carrying everything we possess on my own and with Will's disability he is unable to do any lifting and toting either.  I will keep you posted on  the results of my foray.

On the way back, I need to stop by Kroger to get some Italian seasoned bread crumbs so I can make Parmesan Meat Balls to go with the pasta I am making for dinner.  I haven't made the meat balls in a while so that will be a nice change of pace for the pasta.  I will also have garlic bread, after all what is pasta with meat balls with out garlic bread?  

I am sure that I will also work in some nap time to help recover from the weekend marathon.  I don't have to return to work until 5 PM tomorrow so I will have plenty of opportunity to work in some good nap time.  I will also do a diligent search for some great music for tomorrow's post also, who knows what I will come up with there?  

Speaking of Music, today's Monday with Mozart features a 1986 recording of an vinyl album released in 1987 featuring Jean-Pierre Rampal on Flute, Issac Stern on Violin, Salvatore Accardo on Viola and Mstislav Rostropovich on Cello as they perform the complete set of Mozart's Flute Quartets.  Included in the play list are the Quartet in D major K. 285; the Quartet in G major K. 285a; the Quartet in C major K. 285b and the Quartet in A major K. 298.  You may also hear  Maria João Pires' performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 27 in B flat major, KV595 accompanied by Trevor Pinnock conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Europe over on my tumblr.

Then following the Monday tradition, on display below the play list is a heaping helping of muscly manliness adorned (more or less) in their Monday's Undies.  For more undie deliciousness, be sure to check out the Hottie of the Day! over on my tumblr.  Thanks for starting your week here at Nichevo, see you again tomorrow.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!