Dr. Blackwell's BLOG

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Knights Get Top 25 Votes, Face HUGE Game Saturday

Filed under: UCF Sports — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 20:13

Homecoming was a happy affair on Saturday as the UCF Knights beat the Rice Owls 41-14. Freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey opened the game with a bang, connecting with senior receiver Kamar Aiken for a 59-yard pass. UCF’s defense pounced early and limited Rice to 41 yards total offense in the first half. The Knights’ offense was just as potent, scoring touchdowns on all four of its first-half possessions to claim a 27-0 halftime lead. The Knights’ advantage swelled in the second half, giving inexperienced reserve quarterback L.D. Crow valuable snaps. Crow, a junior who transferred from Stanford, moved from third to second string when junior quarterback Rob Calabrese suffered a season-ending knee injury Oct. 13 at Marshall. UCF was pinned on its 2-yard line, but Crow responded by leading the Knights on a nine-play, 98-yard scoring drive. He finished the drive with a 40-yard touchdown pass to senior H-back Ricky Kay. Godfrey turned in his strongest passing game of the season. He completed 13-of-18 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Godfrey also rushed for 41 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Junior running back Ronnie Weaver had another solid day, leading UCF with 53 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Senior defensive end Bruce Miller, junior defensive end Darius Nall and sophomore Josh Robinson led the Knights with six tackles apiece. Nall added 2.5 sacks, one quarterback hurry and forced one fumble. UCF now moves to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in C-USA and faces a formidable showdown against the East Carolina Pirates (5-2; 4-0 C-USA) this Saturday at 3:30pm at Bright House Networks Stadium. The victor of the game will most likely go on to host Conference USA’s Championship game. The Colleges of Nursing and Health & Public Affairs Alumni Tailgate Party will start at Noon in Softball Lot E5. UCF also picked-up 2 votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll, more than the University of Florida Gators, who did not earn a single vote. (Photo and contributions courtesy Orlando Sentinel).

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Equality Florida Releases Voter Guide

Filed under: Politics — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 01:25

 Still not sure who to vote for on election day? Then use the Equality Florida Voter’s Guide to help cast your vote. One word of caution: Equality Florida has endorsed Democrat Kendrick Meek for US Senate. While Meek is an excellent candidate, strongly consider voting for Charlie Crist as the main objective in the Senate race needs to be to stop Marco Rubio at all cost. Rubio is vehemently anti-gay and is a product of the Tea Party movement. Although Crist stops short of supporting full marriage equality, his chances of besting Rubio are much better than Meek and he has improved dramatically on his stances on gay rights. Click below for Equality Florida’s Voter’s Guide.

 http://eqfl.org/pac/voterguide/pdf/central.pdf

Friday, October 15, 2010

Last Known Survivor of Pink Triangle Gives Interview

Filed under: GLBT Social Issues and Civil Rights — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 15:45

While discussions and portrayals of the horrors that occurred during the Holocaust most often focus on the atrocities inflicted on Jewish prisoners, many are unaware that between 15,000-50,000 gay men were also imprisoned and slaughtered by the Nazi regime in the concentration camps under Paragraph 175 of the German Criminal Code. While Jews were forced to wear the yellow Star of David to identify themselves, gay men were forced to wear a pink triangle, designed to bring them shame by degrading their identity as men by reinforcing the feminine stereotypes of male homosexuality in society. Below is a video of a recent interview with the last known survivor of the Pink Triangle. His words are startling and serve as a reminder that the persecution of minority groups represents the worst of humanity.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

In Front of National Audience, UCF Beats Marshall

Filed under: UCF Sports — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 00:23

The UCF Knights (4-2; 2-0 C-USA) headed into Huntington, West Viriginia on Wednesday night with a showdown against the Thundering Herd of Marshall (1-4; 0-2 C-USA) on ESPN. The game was a soggy slugfest, with the Knights taking advantage of turnovers and easily handing the Herd a 35-14 loss. A rain delay that spanned an hour and eight minutes ended-up forcing a short 3-minute halftime. And the Knights’ backup quarterback Rob Calabrese was benched with a knee injury right after he scored UCF’s first touchdown (pictured, courtesy Orlando Sentinel). Starting quarterback Jeff Godfrey threw one pick during the game and the wet conditions caused a lot of fumbles and slip ups. But despite the challenges, the Knights put together a highly effective running game that really paid off. UCF returns to Bright House Networks Stadium for their next matchup against Rice on October 23rd. Kickoff is at 3:30pm.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Preview: Pet Shop Boys’ New Single “Together”

Filed under: Popular Music — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 02:26

 

Pet Shop Boys released a snippet of their forthcoming new song “Together” from their upcoming greatest hits album Ultimate (releases November 1st). Take a listen below:

A Revised Love Never Dies Heads to Melbourne

Filed under: Performing Arts — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 02:19

Playbill revealed today that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, is undergoing a major change from its current West End inception and is heading to Mulbourne, Austrailia:

Love Never Dies will play at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in May 2011. A new creative team will take a fresh look at the musical that is currently playing London’s Adelphi Theatre. Lloyd Webber has enlisted Priscilla Queen of the Desert director Simon Phillips to helm the Australian premiere, which will also feature a new production design by Gabriela Tylesova. Bob Crowley (Mary Poppins) rendered set and costume designs for the current London production. Tim McFarlane will produce the Melbourne staging. Tickets for Love Never Dies will go on sale Oct. 25. “I’m delighted that Andrew Lloyd Webber has chosen an Australian team to work on his inspired new structural changes, which promise to further intensify the thrills and spills of the story as told in London,” Phillips said in a statement. “I’ve already begun developing a design with Gabriela Tylesova, hoping to do with the razzamatazz of Coney Island what Maria Bjornson’s iconic Phantom designs did with the opulence of the Paris Opera, and I can’t wait to start the search for the formidable talents required to do justice to the score!”Australia has always been part of the international plan for Love Never Dies, which premiered in London this past March. However, critics were cool on the lushly scored musical that follows the Phantom and Christine to Coney Island ten years after the original production ends its tale.The musical was to premiere on Broadway in November but has since delayed its arrival. Tony-winning director Jack O’Brien and Jerry Mitchell, who staged the original London production, are reported to have withdrawn from the project. Lloyd Webber’s plan to stage an altered version of Love Never Dies while the original is still running is not unheard of for the award-winning composer. When the London production of Sunset Boulevard opened in 1993, he followed with an altered staging in Los Angeles in 1994. The L.A. production (and its star) famously arrived on Broadway the following year, while the London production shuttered to undergo an overhaul and subsequently opened with a new cast.

Florida’s Ban on Gay Adoptions Ends

Filed under: GLBT Social Issues and Civil Rights — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 02:07

 As a Doctoral Student in Public Affairs, one of the early research projects I decided to complete in my studies was a Cost/ Benefit Analysis on Florida’s Ban on Gay Adoptions. I was able to show, through the process of policy analysis, that the ban was costing Floridians millions of dollars in taxes and that the social science research done on the topic indicated gay men and lesbians were actually very good parents. In fact, no published studies undergoing a rigorous scientific peer-review process have ever existed to the contrary. Of course, when a federal appeals court ruled several weeks ago that the ban was unconstitutional, I was ecstatic. But when Governor Charlie Crist promised he would not appeal the decision, I immediately endorsed him for Senator.

Today, the ban has come to an end. George Sheldon, the Director for Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) held a press conference to indicate that DCF will no longer ascertain the sexual orientation of prospective adoptive parents. Equality Florida applauded the move, but cautioned that discriminatory forces are still at play. Their press release stated, “The same anti-gay forces who pushed for Florida’s marriage amendment in 2008 will likely try to put a return of the adoption ban up for statewide vote in 2012.” To read my Cost/Benefit Analysis on Florida’s Ban on Gay Adoptions, click on the “Research” tab. The document is filed under “Unpublished Research Reports.”

DADT Ruled Unconstitutional

Filed under: GLBT Social Issues and Civil Rights — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 01:53

A federal judge in San Diego, hearing the case brought on behalf of the Log Cabin Republicans, issued a worldwide injunction declaring “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” unconstitutional. Judge Virginia Phillips declared “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” has a direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services by hurting recruiting during wartime and requiring the discharge of service members with critical skills and training. In addition, she ordered that any discharges under the bill must cease immediately.

While the Obama Administration has vowed to overturn the policy through Congress, this likely puts the President in the odd position of having to defend a policy he believes is discriminatory and dangerous to the United States Military. This is because the Department of Justice traditionally has to defend overturned congressional laws. The Service Members’ Legal Defense Network, while praising the ruling, cautioned gay soldiers to remain closeted, for now. Although the House voted to repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” in early September, the Republicans in the Senate, led by failed 2008 Presidential nominee John McCain, effectively blocked the vote for passage, ensuring the discriminatory ban remained in place.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Important Endorsements

Filed under: Politics — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 01:43

Some Very Important Endorsements

With the midterm elections right around the corner, it is imperative to take an educated look at the candidates running for office before choosing who to mark on your ballot. Below are my endorsements for the major elections on November 2nd. I encourage you to take some time to educate yourself on where these candidates stand on the issues and see for yourselves why I selected to case my vote in their favor:

Governor: Alex Sink, Democrat

General: Alex Sink (D) faces opposition for the Governor’s Seat from Republican Rick Scott. As CEO of HCA/Columbia, Rick Scott personally steered the company during the early 1990’s, when hundreds of millions of dollars were stolen from Medicare and Medicaid in fraudulent billing for services and fraudulent reporting of medical service provision. In addition, Scott’s current company, Solantic has been investigated several times for fraud and misrepresentation of service provision for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.

Issues:

Economic: Sink’s economic plan outlines strategies to both immediately create jobs through removal of red tape for small business owner’s and maintain long-term growth by cutting taxes for small business owners. Sink’s plan calls to initiate tax breaks for small businesses that are tied directly to the amount that company pays in federal taxes. Essentially, the more jobs (up to 20) that small business creates, the more tax credit the State of Florida would provide as an incentive.

Healthcare: Endorsed by the Florida Nurses Association

GLBT Issues: Endorsed by Equality Florida

State Senator: Charlie Crist (Independent)

General: While I have spoken unfavorably of Charlie Crist in the past, during this election, it is important to give him support. Crist has a track-record of being an anti-gay politician and his own sexuality has been the subject of much debate (rent the DVD Outrage for more information). However, lately, Crist has begun to change his stance on the issues. Most recently, as Florida’s Governor, he vowed not to challenge the overturn of Florida’s ban on gay adoptions by a federal judge. And if elected to the Senate, Crist has indicated he would vote to repeal the discriminatory don’t ask don’t tell policy. Although he has yet to support marriage equality, he does at least support civil unions and has remarked that G/L couples should be given the same equal rights granted to heterosexual couples. Of most significance, however, is Crist’s main rival, Marco Rubio, a dangerous tea-bagger who is vehemently anti-gay, Rubio’s policy stances are not only dangerously wrong, but are so ultra-conservative, they would reverse any forward progress and place the economic recovery of our country on a dangerous and damaging course. While I am a staunch Democrat, there is no possibility that Kendrick Meek can win this Senate seat. PLEASE SUPPORT CHARLIE CRIST. We MUST stop Marco Rubio at ALL COST.

 

Federal Congress, 24th District: Suzanne Kosmas (Democrat)

General: Suzanne Kosmas was elected in 2008 and replaced disgrace and corrupt Republican Congressman Tom Feeney. Kosmas faces a tough opponent in Sandy Adams, who happens to be my Republican state representative.Adams has had quite a bit of funding and has led an attack-ad desperately trying to make Kosmas look like Nancy Pelosi. I have contacted Kosmas several times about the need for important legislation passage, including healthcare reform, repeal of don’t ask don’t tell, and issues on animal protections. Each time, Kosmas has contacted me affirming she would vote favorably for each piece of legislation; and she did. Sandy Adams on the other hand—gave me and my group the cold shoulder two years ago in Tallahassee when we went to her office to discuss issues related to nursing and healthcare in Florida.

Economic:  Kosmas has backed strong government accountability in spending and was a small business owner for over 30 years on the east coast of Central Florida. She has supported numerous pieces of legislation designed to reduce taxes on small business owners and fought hard to keep maintain funding for NASA.

Healthcare: Strong advocate for healthcare reform, including tax break incentives for small business owners who provide health insurance to their employees.

GLBT Issues: Voted for repeal of DADT, supports repeal of DOMA, and supports ENDA.

Other Endorsements: Alan Grayson (D-D8), Leo Cruz (D-D33), Amy Mercado (D-D35) Scott Randolph (D-D36), Todd Christian D-D40) Lee Douglas (D-D41), Darren Soto (D-D49).

Friday, October 1, 2010

Love Never Dies Not Coming to Broadway in 2011

Filed under: Performing Arts — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 17:37

Playbill is reporting that Love Never Dies, the long-anticipated sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, will not open in Spring 2011 on Broadway as previously announced. This is disappointing news for sure. Here is Playbill’s coverage of the story:
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies, which officially opened in London March 9 at the Adelphi Theatre, will not arrive on Broadway in spring 2011 as previously announced. A spokesperson for the musical confirmed to Playbill.com, “Love Never Dies will not be opening on Broadway this spring. Further news about the show will be announced shortly.” Mixed reviews and the recent illness of composer Lloyd Webber had prompted an earlier postponement. Originally, the sequel to the international hit The Phantom of the Opera had been scheduled for a November 2010 Broadway bow. In April it was announced that the musical would open at the Neil Simon Theatre in spring 2011. The New York Times previously said director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who staged the London production and were scheduled to repeat their duties for Broadway, had withdrawn from the project. No official announcement about their withdrawal has been made. The New York Post recently added that Lloyd Webber’s plan is to now mount two separate productions with two different creative teams in Australia and Toronto. He will then choose the stronger of those productions to bring to New York at a date to be announced.

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