I was so amazed and proud of Burt Hummel Kurt’s father in Glee ep. 120 Theatricality.  He says so succinctly the problems of using words of hate and the hope for a new kind of dude.  Watch the clip of the scene Below.

Why can't you work harder at blending in

This is a softer question of hate.  Denying who we are lessens us as a whole.

The person who is “working harder at blending in” is spending most of their energy on that instead of creating a better life for themselves, their friends and family and for their community.  It’s like saying mow the lawn but we want you to work harder while doing it so use a push mower instead of a riding one.  By the end of the lawn one is more tired from the extra effort and does less in their day for it.

Then there is the psychological damage.  Knowing ones true self is an amazing liberating thing that opens up so many opportunities to experience life.  This is after all what we all seek, moments of being truly alive.  Denying one’s self is the opposite of that.  The person in denial misses those experiences of being alive. This leads to depression, increased drug use to get the feeling of being alive and suicides which is a major problem in the gay community.

Words of Hate

I was so proud of Burt for not tolerating Finn using the word Faggy.  In addition to that he really puts the word into it’s true context as a word of hate.

Saying a word of hate toward an inanimate object when it is meant for an individual in your head is still saying it at a person.  The hate is still there.

He asks Finn “Do you use the N word?”  “Do you call Becky (the girl with down syndrome) a retard?”

Words of hate don’t loose their hate just because it’s against a different group of people.  After all it’s really what’s behind the words hate and that is the same from word to word.  That is the poison that hurts the one spouting it and those who come into contact with it.

Before you use a word, think: ‘Does this word come from a source of hate?’  ‘What am I really saying when I use the word?’

New Kind of Dude

“I thought you were some kind of new dude who was cool about it.”  The disappointment in Burt’s voice was so poignant.

It’s always about evolving, growing both as people and as a society as a whole.  We all benefit when removing hate from the situation.  Finn could have addressed his lack of comfort with Kurt, his need for a more private room, and been more engaged in the decorating coming up with a productive solution if he would have left hate out.

Gene Roddenberry is a great example of the new kind of dude that Burt talks about.  His concept of IDIC is a great example of that

IDIC comes from Star Trek meaning Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combination.

The New kind of dude:

• Celebrates our diversity as a cultural strength


• Knows ones self and continually seeks to know ones self


• Stands up against hate and it’s poisoning effect.

Glee has so many amazing moments in both story and music.  The scene of Artie's dream dancing to The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats is brilliant!  Watch the scene above.

Get your copy here:

• The Safety Dance


• Safety Dance (Glee Cast Version)

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Being Beautiful

Everyone shares in a desire to be accepted by their piers, to be beautiful.  This creates a lot of pressure to become what others want you to be rather then who you are.  Glee episode Home is about finding that recipe for success.  What is real beauty? What does it really mean to be beautiful?

Sue Sylvester's Recipe for Success

1. Water


2. Add maple syrup for glucose


3. Add a lemon for acid


4. Add cayenne pepper (1 tablespoon) to irritate the bowls.  For fun there is a BBC article on how Cayenne Pepper Kills Prostate Cancer Cells


5. A dash of ipecac (pour in several tablespoons) for a vomiting agent.


6. Optional add sand.  This modification is thanks to Brittany

This is hilarious drink that makes me think of many of the other diet drinks out there that are just as outlandish but the real message is sharp and true

The amount of crap that we put ourselves through to be acceptable for others consumes us and changes us.  Like the drink we become other things but not beautiful:

• Too sweet and empty.


• Too bitter and sour becoming corrosive to everyone around us.


• Too irritable that we burn those closest to us.


• Too volatile that even the smallest interaction causes an explosive situation.

Change yourself to be like what others want you to be... Thankfully Quinn becomes the voice of reason.   "If I'm willing to eat right for my baby then why won't I eat right for me?"  Do it for yourself.

Be who you are that is how one becomes truly beautiful.

Real Recipe for Success

Mercedes sings it best.  Watch the Glee clip of Mercedes singing her cover of Christina Aguilera's song Beautiful above.

When it's hard to breathe, getting insecure from all the pain and shame remember you are beautiful no matter what they say.  Words can't bring you down.  You are beautiful in every single way.

On May 18th the Joss Whedon episode of glee will premier.

Here are some ingredients to add to the mix for this episode:

• Joss Whedon’s direction


• Titled Dream On


• Neil Patrick Harris playing Mr. Schuester’s former high school nemesis who causes trouble for the Glee club.

I hope that he is playing April Rhodes’ ex-boyfriend from high school who ran away with her in hopes of becoming big on Broadway.  This will allow Neil to play a more flamboyant character.  This would also explain why April makes a return this season.

• Molly Shannon as wise-cracking Volleyball coach that loathes Sue Sylvester


• Rachel struggles with a life-long personal issue


• Artie’s dreams take him on an adventure

I can only imagine what to expect with a mix like this.  Whatever it is I do expect it to be awesome!

What do you think will happen?

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(via Whedonesque.com)

We held a Glee party to celebrate their return with the episode Hell-O.  What an excellent episode to return with.  Glee is a great show with overall themes of the underdog story and follow your bliss.  I give Hell-o a 9 out of 10.  For the audio review check out Fandom Today #451 “Who Will Help The Sane”.

Exploring Glee episode 14 Hell-O

Saying Hello

In Hell-O we get back into the show with a wonderful meta moment.  The students get an assignment from  Mr. Schuester to say hello but in a different way while the entire episode is a way of saying hello to the audience in a way different from how it is typically done.

Know Thy Self

This reoccurring theme and obstacle moves to the fore front.  Part of being able to follow ones bliss is knowing who you are, what really makes you happy, and what do you stand for.  Knowing this helps gives strength and direction when life gets confusing.

Many of the characters had to go through this in realizing their love of music and singing, being able to stand up and say glee makes me happy and is more important than popularity in school.

Hell-O points out that though one may have a self-realization moment it is not the end of the journey but merely an accomplishment along the way.  The celebration gets cold slushy in the face which was supposed to wake them up.  Finn, Will and Rachel in particular must discover who they are or face more problems beyond those already brought up in this episode.

Sneaky Bandies

One of my favorite scenes in Hell-O took place in the sheet music store two people were playing the piano and singing.  Then out of the blue there were others chiming in with additional instruments.  When this happened I cried out “Sneaky Bandies!”  We all laughed.

I could not count all the moments when that very scene happened in real life.  I have known many bandies over the years and they have an ability to sense music moments.  Drawn toward them they are able to produce the instruments out of thin air and join in.

Eric knew a guy in high school who would go to the local mall sit down at the piano in the music shop and start playing.  Bandies would pop out of the wood work with instruments in hand and join in.  I even witnessed this one day while walking through the mall and found some of the friends in my company had vanished only to be found playing along in the sheet music store.

Hell-O Music

• "Hello" by Lionel Richie


• "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors:  Finn did an amazing cover.  Morrison’s version of this song is dripping with sarcasm and sex where as Finn’s version is introspective and dripping with disdain.  The disdain in his voice gives a fresh twist and becomes a very introspective moment into Finns thinking and character.


• "Gives You Hell" by All American Rejects:  Rachel’s version of the song got me to like it. Watch the Video below.


• "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC  really well done I was pleasantly surprised


• "Hello Again" by Neil Diamond and


• "Hello, Goodbye" by The Beatles.

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I'm so excited that Glee is returning with a new season!  This is one of the best shows that is also not your typical musical show.  What makes Glee so great is it's engaging story line, many characters to care about, great lessons like follow your bliss and be who you are, promotion of mashups and singing that is often better than the original scores.

What will Season Two Bring

• Everyone in New Directions (Schuester's Glee Club) is preparing for the Regional competition against their main opponents Vocal Adrenaline


• Kurt will find a boyfriend


• The Finn and Rachel relationship will take some rocky turns:  Rachel starts dating the star of Vocal Adrenaline  Jesse St. James as he comes between them meanwhile Sue will have Santana Lopez and Brittany try to seduce Finn.


• We will get to see how Will Schuester and  Emma Pillsbury handles their relations ship in the aftermath of Will's divorce and with both admitting openly their feelings for each other.


• April Rhodes will return hopefully with a successful story about her time on Broadway.


• Olivia Newton-John will make a guest appearance this season.  She will join Sue Sylvester in a musical number together.


• The Power of Madonna is the second episode of season two featuring 10 Madonna covers!  We will also get to see Sue go gaga over Madonna which I love to see Sue excited over anything other then destroying and strong arming others.

Glee Season two premiers April 13th

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I can't wait for Glee to come back on April 13th. We are planning a premiere party here.

What better way to get ready for Glee than a new Sue's Corner:

I never thought I would ever say this, but I agree with Sue Sylvester, but I do.

Be out and proud!  People need to know that we are living among them.  The more used to us they are, the harder it will be for them to hate us.  Let your light shine, and never forget to be who you are.

• More Glee on dashPunk


• Get your copy of Glee, Vol. One: Road to Sectionals

Glee is a must see show.  Follow your Passion and treat yourself to season two which starts April 13th.  I can't Wait!

Glee

Season two brings us hope and promise for Kurt to find a new boyfriend.  I'm excited over this prospect because Glee has a track record of being very respectful in their portrayal of minorities.  In addition to that they have done such a great job in representing Kurt as a gay character especially in the episode when he comes out to his friends and family.  (via 365gay)

Merlin

Merlin Season two will be aired in the US on SyFy starting April 2. (via Whedonesque)

Iron Man 2

For those chomping at the bit to see anything out for Iron Man2 there is a gallery of pictures via Filmonic.  They are stills of the main images represented in the trailer Iron Man 2 Official Trailer and video.

AD/DC has a new album due to release April 19th called AC/DC: Iron Man 2.  It's a collection of their songs to be featured in Iron Man 2.  Preorder your copy here: Iron Man 2 (Deluxe CD/ DVD Package). They have also posted a video of "Shoot To Thrill."  (via AC/DC)

Stone Age Medicine

Bit of Odd news, stone age medicine more advanced than thought.  Evidence found to show amputation performed in sterile conditions (via Unexplained Mysteries)

****  Spoiler Alert   *****

This post and video will give spoilers for the end of the first season of Glee.

This video is a fun behind the scene short about the kiss at the end of the season finally of Glee.  Watch the video below.

I laughed at the part when Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) hollers out I'll kiss you too when Terri Schuester (Jessalyn Gilsig) shows up on set.

Who do you think would win in a fight between Emma and Terri?