My brother Kevin Rock, February 11, 1962 - May 26, 2013

Our sweet, giving brother, Kevin Patrick Rock, passed away suddenly Sunday, May 26, 2013.  A resident of Franklin, WI the past three years, Kevin’s life was a series of musical comedies with happy endings for everyone he touched.  For him, life was a song and dance number that needed to be performed loudly, usually with brilliantly naughty lyrics.

No one could make you feel good about yourself as could Kevin … and believe in yourself.  His was a unique talent, fueled by love.

Kevin grew up in various cities, but West Bend is where he spent most of his younger years.  He had a special childhood friend in Ron Reichert, whom he’d known since they were five-years old.  After a brief foray to Florida, where he came out as an openly gay man, Kevin settled in the Milwaukee area where he spent the rest of his life.

In Milwaukee he made a decision that defined his life by attending school and becoming a fabulous hairstylist.  Working first at Malcolm of London, then at Beauty, and finally owning his own successful business at Salon Divine, Kevin’s client list was impressive.  Everyone wanted their hair done by Kevin.  He not only made his clients more beautiful, he was their confidant; he was their friend ... they became family.  He could make them laugh until they wet their pants.

Another defining moment for Kevin was his acceptance of his addictions and his decision to remain sober.  Kevin really worked the AA program as a regular member of the Alano Club and other AA clubs.  He offered help, a shoulder to cry on and even a place to stay.  It just didn’t matter what you needed, Kevin would be there.

Kevin was a showman.  He danced with his mother, Marjorie Rock, in numerous productions, appeared in musicals, sang in show choir, collaborated with another special friend, Diane Bloom, and entertained everyone at the drop of a hat.

Most importantly, Kevin loved his family; and was selfless with his time.  He was dedicated to caring for his parents, was always available to offer sage advice and encouraged everyone.  Kevin never had his own children.  His nieces and nephews were his children and he was there for their birthdays and holidays with his arms full of presents.   Kevin was the glue that kept his siblings connected.  He was never happier than when all five were together.

Kevin is survived by his father John (Bill) Rock – a veteran, with whom Kevin accompanied on the Badger Honor Flight – and his wife Verdeen (Duffy), his siblings Timothy, Kelly (Bruce) Atwell, Thomas (Tammy), Kathryn (Blaine Schultz), Janet Howard, and the Duffy children:  David (Gayle), Jerry (Kathy), Mark, Dan (Kristin), Patricia (John Sternad), and Jackie (Kevin Bacon).  He is further survived by his beloved nieces and nephews:  Benjamin, Haley, Patrick, Brandon, Emily, Andrew, Sammie, Ian, Kiefer, Taylor, Keaton, Abby, the Mighty Quin and Katelyn.  Kevin was preceded in death by his mother, Marjorie, stepfather Don Howard, grandparents Rodney and Janet Kiefer, and A.P. and Helen Rock, and a special friend, Steve Reynolds.

In lieu of flowers, memorials will be accepted to be distributed to the Alano Club.

Celibate Pedophiles Against Equal Marriage Rights

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops orders Catholics in a bulletin to oppose LGBT equal marriage rights and calls for prayer, fasting and personal sacrifice. Maybe they could start by not fucking little boys.

Death to religion.

Whose Sharia Law?

Since being gay is a sin according to Sharia Law, does that mean all the wingnuts who are opposed to homosexuality are trying to impose Sharia Law?

More Screw the Poor and Public Schools

Over the protests of educators and citizens, Chicago, right-wing billionaires opposed to public education and teacher unions and Mayor Rahm Emanuel went ahead and closed 50 schools. Never mind that the kids in these poverty-laden areas now will be forced to travel to schools across gang lines, further disrupting their lives and the community. Screw the kids and screw the teachers who had the audacity to stand up for their rights and strike for better working conditions and pay. This is simply revenge. This from the article at Crooks and Liars is so true.

Those teachers the wingers call socialist thugs are the very same teachers who used themselves as human shields to protect kids during the tornado in Oklahoma, and the Newtown shootings. They're always heroes until it comes to things like paying them or improving the schools where they work. Then they're thugs, and the kids they protect are 'takers'.

The continuing effort to privatize our schools is cynical. It has nothing to do with helping children and everything to do with filling greedy pockets and fucking the poors.

The Face of Modern Conservatism, Part 5

Rightwing Watch does a yeoman's job keeping up with the nastiness of the conservative side of the political spectrum.  This individual, highlighted at this link, is particularly reprehensible.

On his show last week, [Pete] Santilli went on a disgusting, violent rant in which he called for the entire Bush family and President Obama to be “tried, convicted and shot” for “treason” (and in George H.W. Bush’s case “involvement with his cronies in the John F. Kennedy assassination”) and for Hillary Clinton to be “tried, convicted and shot in the vagina.”

I’m wondering if my friend, James Wigderson, who has previously expressed his dismay that bi-partisan support for a stance he took wasn’t forthcoming will offer his bi-partisan support here and condemn Santelli for his statements ... and others.

Probably not.  He'd be apologizing 24/7.

Whining for an Apology

President Obama is rightly outraged over allegations of IRS flagging of tea party groups, as should be both liberals and conservatives. But to insist that the president apologize for this as suggested by Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) is ludicrous.

Tell you what, in the spirit of bi-partisanship, how about the GOP apologize for the targeting by the IRS of liberal churches during the Bush Jr. years? How about the GOP apologizing for IRS targeting of enemies of Richard Nixon? Heck, why not apologize for Richard Nixon.

I could go on and on, but you get the point. I think a bi-partisan look into using the IRS by both parties to investigate those you don’t agree with is a great idea. Just get over the faux-outrage as though your side never did it.

I'd Be Pissed Off Too

From Kevin Drum at Mother Jones regarding the IRS flagging tea party groups:

Conservative groups are as outraged as liberals would be if the Bush-era IRS were flagging groups with "environment" or "progressive" in their names. So even if, as seems likely, this whole thing turns out to have been mostly a misguided scheme cooked up by some too-clever IRS drones, it doesn't matter. Conservatives are right to be outraged and right to demand a full investigation. They suspect there might be more to it, and so would I if the shoe were on the other foot. We need to find out for sure whether this episode was just moronic, or if it had some kind of partisan motivation.

Absolutely right. I don't care (well, I do) that conservatives ignored our pleas for justice when the Bush administration was sending the IRS after groups opposed to his agenda (and they did), it's wrong to use the IRS as a tool for partisan reasons.

Leave the Stupid to the Republicans

Because, while they're better at it, it doesn't help when our side is saying stupid things like this.

Sissy Boy LaPierre Steps in it Again

National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre (what do you want to bet that sissy last name led Wayne to be such a bully), had this to say recently: "How many Bostonians wished they had a gun two weeks ago?"

What an asshole.

He then ironically followed with this statement: “Boston proves it. When brave law enforcement officers did their job in that city so courageously, good guys with guns stopped terrorists with guns.”

Yep, well-trained professionals. If LaPierre had been there I’d bet two or three other innocents would have been visiting hospitals. STFU.

Looking for some bi-partisan love from my friend, James Wigderson.

Profiles in Teabaggery

You can't make this shit up.  A New Hampshire state legislator believes the government was behind the Boston bombings because one of the injured, who lost both legs, did not appear to be in pain in a picture taken just after the explosions.

I wonder if my friend, James Wigderson, will go all bi-partisan and denounce this nutcase.