As IF Times

link It’s Time for the N.F.L. to Welcome a Gay Player – NYTimes.com.

It’s time. Really? Why? What possible difference does it make for one to announce their sexual preferences as part of fulfilling a job role? Why does announcing sexual proclivity have any bearing on how competent you may or may not be for a job?

How does being gay affect one’s role as an auto mechanic? A postal worker? A dentist? A sports announcer or even a football player.  If you listen to the pleadings of gay activist groups, they insist that all they want is to be treated like everyone else, without discrimination.  Ironically, broadcasting gayness only puts a light on themselves, essentially begging for special attention.

It’s as if you insisted on revealing to your future employer that you collected stamps, or liked to eat with your bare hands while naked, or  watched ostrich wrestling.  Who cares? Nobody asked!

Some nutbar writing for USA Today opined that this guy Michael Sam coming out was comparable to Jackie Robinson’s circumstance.  Keen observers may note that Jackie Robinson did a poor job of hiding his condition at the time, so ‘coming out’ may not be the best characterization.  Robinson’s achievement was ultimately based on his skill, not because he satisfied a PC agenda.  If he stunk, he’d have been a very minor footnote in history and the answer to a Jeopardy question on sports trivia. Maybe he was gay as well.  Who knows, who cares.

The NFL, as is the case with all pro sports, likely already have contingents of gay participants.  Think of all the hugging that goes on in football, the skin tight pants.  Heck even throwing the yellow hankies to signal a penalty seems a bit dainty if you think about it.

If this guy Michael Sam is any good, somebody will pick him up. But he should decide whether it’s more important to be a ball player who happens to be gay or a gay person first who happens to play football.  Regardless of whom he winds up playing for, he’d better develop a thick skin because his teammates will make fun of him; for having two first names.

link FAA Investigating Possible Illegal Use of Drone at Hartford Crash Scene | WTIC FOX CT.

An entire new universe of opportunity is opening up for drone manufacturers.  As with many things now in common use in everyday life ranging from microwave ovens to cell phones and the internet, civilian applications of previously military inventions may have wide ranging influence on shaping culture.  As we know, modern society is all about convenience, of being able to be at many places at one time or simply to be accessible.  In my opinion, the people who invented Skype should be acclaimed as some of the greatest inventors of all time; next to those that thought of disposable toilet paper.

We already have instances of drones being employed for simple surveillance or for dropping explosives on unsuspecting mullahs, but we’ve also heard of them being used for such prosaic things as selling real estate and filming football games.  The fertile mind can think of much more useful things.

Think of drone dating. Without having to go through the tedium of showering or dressing up, drones can be sent out with images of prospective suitors  and small chit chat can be exchanged remotely.  It would also make the goodbyes less awkward at the end.

For those getting married, very busy type A’s can use drone surrogates. Instead of breaking away from the climbing wall, or  interrupt a 50k bike trip, they can merely set the drones to appear at some venue (outdoors of course, get real ) at which the vows are exchanged.  As a matter of fact, all the invitees to the wedding can also appear by drone as well.  This saves money on getting bridesmaids dresses and renting tuxes.

Similarly, when it comes time to break up, people can just send drones out to break the bad news, all the while playing sappy music.  When the divorce happens, lawyer drones will logically be sent forth.

You can send drones to appear at the kids’ soccer games rather than standing outside on the cold wet pitch, while all the while comfortably ensconced at home watching golf on TV.  When your kid scores, hit a button and a speaker will blare “way to go junior!”

You can send a drone to the mother-in-law’s birthday party because you just can’t break away from the office.

You can send a drone out shopping with your wife and conveniently voice your opinion remotely when she asks if the red or the blue one is better.  You can be there, but not have to endure the mall ratting.

These are just off the top of the head, but ingenious humans will think of innumerate ways to make use of new technology.  Start investing in drone stocks now.

UPDATE:http://news.yahoo.com/fendi-deploys-catwalk-drones-fashion-first-173310961.html;_ylt=AwrBEiKaPQZTGWkAYAjQtDMD