A new documentary by Michael Webber has been getting a lot of attention at film festivals this year. The Elephant in the Living Room brings the issue of privately owned lions and tigers and bears (and reptiles and other wild animals) to the big screen.
In an interview with CityBeat, Webber said exotic pet ownership may be shocking, but it’s not an obscure phenomenon. “I started paying attention and that’s when I realized this was the elephant in the living room. This big, enormous thing that’s going on in our country and no one is really recognizing it.”
Until now.
It’s no coincidence that the Dayton, Ohio, filmmaker aimed the camera at his own state. Ohio has some of the weakest exotic animal laws in the country, a flaw which gained national attention this summer when a bear killed his caretaker. Despite obvious and repeated negligence on the part of the bear’s owner, Sam Mazzola, authorities’ hands were tied because you can pretty much own whatever you want in Ohio. And Mazzola isn’t the only one whose choice of pets has caused problems.
Everyone on the planet seems to know Christine O’Donnell’s thoughts on masturbation. She headed an “Anti-masturbation campaign” and spoke about it on MTV in 1996 on the television show “Sex in the 90’s”. Christine – who is running for Senator in the state of Delaware – has been a “gift” to comedians across the country as they debate on stage whether or not she was a “witch” (as she proclaimed on Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect”). As a comic, I am grateful to Christine for all that she has done to create laughs for this great country, but Christine is not the only political candidate in this mid-term election who appears to be more fiction than substance.
“Dear ladies, if you’ve had sex before, you can’t be raped! You’re probably faking it anyways because you’re just mad about that abortion you allegedly had. Vote for me, Ken Buck!”
On the New York City Council, a paid sick leave bill has support from 35 out of 51 council members. That’s not just a majority, it’s a veto-proof majority. Yet the bill still hasn’t passed. Why not? In order for council members to vote in favor of the legislation, there has to be, well, a vote. And Council Speaker Christine Quinn is standing in the way.
One positive outcome of the 
Monday, July 20, was 
Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell (R) is no friend to the LGBT community. He is, however, related to it — and that points to an important truth about our society and our approach to LGBT rights.
With the World Cup over, all that’s really left to do is resume the drudgery of waking up every day to try to make the world a better place. Bo-ring. If we have to do it though, may as well be as informed as possible. Start with these important reads from the last week.
Kids are now seeing fewer TV commercials for sweets and sugary beverages than before, says a new report in the 