Anti-gay lawmaker, 64, caught in hotel with 18-year-old boy.

Another case of a pathetic, closeted old man in a position of power who, out of self-hatred, makes things difficult for all other well-adjusted adults. From Daily Mail:

A married lawmaker, pressured to resign after he was reportedly caught 'arranging' a gay sex tryst via Craigslist, has admitted paying a male teen.

However, Indiana state Rep Phillip Hinkle claims he is not gay and can’t explain why he set up the meeting.

The Indianapolis Star reported two weeks ago that Kameryn Gibson, 18, posted the ad for a ‘sugga daddy’ and got a response from Hinkle, 64.

Mr Gibson claimed Mr Hinkle offered him $140 for 'for a really good time.'

The paper published emails between Hinkle, 64, and Gibson, 18, as they set up a meeting at a downtown Indianapolis hotel.

One of them said: 'Cannot be a long time sugar daddy, but can for tonight. Would you be interested in keeping me company for a while tonight?'

The email offered 'to make it worth [your] while' in cash, and offers a personal description: ‘I am an in shape married professional, 5'8", fit 170 lbs, and love getting and staying naked.'

On Tuesday, Hinkle admitted meeting Gibson and giving him $80 for his time, but denied a sex act or any other wrongdoing took place.

The Republican said: 'I went to the edge, but I didn't fall over the edge.'

Mr Gibson claimed he changed his mind about sex when he found out Hinkle was a state rep, but Hinkle wouldn't let him leave the hotel room.

When Gibson called his sister for help, he said she threatened to call the cops and the media, and Mr Hinkle offered to 'give you whatever.'

After hanging up, Mr Gibson alleges that Mr Hinkle grabbed his buttocks, dropped the towel he was wearing and sat naked on the bed.

When Megan arrived later, they said Mr Hinkle gave them his BlackBerry, iPad and $100 cash to keep them quiet.

The siblings also claimed Mr Hinkle's wife also offered them money when she called the BlackBerry.

Megan Gibson told the Star: 'I was like, "Your husband is gay," and then she was like, "You have the wrong person."'

When Gibson began reading the emails and the address they were sent from, she said Barbara Hinkle told them not to call the police and later offered them $10,000 not to tell anyone.

In Mr Hinkle's version of the events, he claims he was the one victimized by the hotel encounter.

He says he came out of the bathroom at one point to find his money clip, business card holder, his BlackBerry, his iPad and Gibson - gone.

He also denied his wife spoke to Kameryn or Megan Gibson.

Mr Hinkle told the paper: 'Anybody who knows my wife knows she would not pay $10 to keep a mistake I made quiet, let alone $10,000.'

The Gibsons said they contacted The Star because she thought Hinkle's actions were 'creepy,' especially for a lawmaker.

The lawmaker said he is now working with his attorney to find hotel security tapes that back up his claim that he never met Megan Gibson.

Mr Hinkle, a strong opponent of gay marriage, denied he has homosexual tendencies.

He told the Star: 'I say that emphatically. I'm not gay.'

The news comes as pressure mounts from the Indiana Statehouse for Mr Hinkle to step down from the post he has held since 2000.

House Speaker Brian Bosma said he met with the embattled rep last week, and told him he should focus on his personal life in the 2012 session.

Mr Bosma, a fellow Republican, called the alleged scandal 'a detriment to the continuing work of the legislature.'

But Hinkle won't budge, telling the Star: 'Those people didn't elect me. The constituents did.'

Mr Hinkle, who boasts that he co-sponsored the creation of 'In God we trust' license plates in Indiana, has voted in favor of a gay marriage ban.

Indiana Gov Mitch Daniels called the situation a 'tragedy.'

Japan trying to WEAKEN their currency.

Leave it to Japan to humbly weaken their economy. From NY Times:

TOKYO — Japan took steps on Wednesday to help its economy ride out a surge in the yen, which has battered the country’s export-led economy.

The government announced a $100 billion loan fund to spur Japanese spending on corporate acquisitions and resources overseas, according to a statement released by the Finance Ministry. The ministry also said it would step up monitoring of currency markets by asking financial institutions to report on positions held by their currency dealers.

“Taking into account that there is a lopsided rise in the yen, I felt that swift measures were needed,” Yoshihiko Noda, the finance minister, told reporters.

But the action had little immediate effect on the yen and could underscore just how difficult it might be for the government to sway the huge foreign exchange market. A strong yen hurts Japanese exporters because it makes their goods less competitive and erodes the value of their overseas earnings when repatriated into yen.

Under the loan program, the government will send foreign currency reserves to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, which will then make loans to commercial banks so they can help companies with overseas investments. By spending yen for dollars and other currencies, the ministry hopes that the currency will weaken somewhat.

The yen was little changed, with the dollar trading at 76.96 yen late in New York, up slightly from 76.64.

The second part of the government’s action is an effort to curtail speculation that officials think might be contributing to moves in the yen. Mr. Noda has indicated recently that the government will act against speculators seeking short-term profits.

The Bank of Japan issued a statement in support of the measures.

“The Bank of Japan will continue to carefully monitor the effects of developments in the foreign exchange market on the future course of economic activity and prices,” it said.

The government’s announcement came hours after Moody’s Investors Service, the credit ratings agency, lowered Japan’s credit rating, warning that frequent changes in administration, weak prospects for economic growth and its recent natural and nuclear disasters have made it difficult for the government to pare down its huge debt.

Moody’s lowered Japan’s grade by one step to Aa3, the fourth-highest rating, the company said in a statement.

The downgrade brings Moody’s rating for Japan in line with that of Standard & Poor’s, which lowered the country’s grade by one notch to AA– in January, the fourth-highest on its scale. Moody’s had put Japan on review for a downgrade in May.

Coozer-Bits.

Creepy: New spider arrival quickly spreading.

Awesome: Lottery wins come easy if you can spot the loopholes.

D'oh: Three self-delusions that influence your decisions and productivity.

Yipes: Kate Winslet escapes fire at Richard Branson's luxury island retreat.

ZombieWatch: Cat urine turns rats into zombie prey.

Ridley Scott to direct new Blade Runner.

Well, at least it's not a remake, or in this case, replicant. From Raw Story:

Nearly 30 years after making the sci-fi cult classic "Blade Runner," British director Ridley Scott has agreed to direct a new installment, the producers have said.

The new "Blade Runner," produced by Alcon Entertainment, will not be a remake but rather a follow-up or a prequel to the original. Scott has yet to decide between the two options, the company said in a statement.

"It would be a gross understatement to say that we are elated Ridley Scott will shepherd this iconic story into a new, exciting direction," said producers Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson.

"We are huge fans of Ridley's and of the original 'Blade Runner'." This is once in a lifetime project for us," they added.

No casting decisions have been made as of yet, and no release date has been fixed.

Sorry!!

I'm really sorry I haven't been updating lately. It's been a busy summer. I should have some updates this week. To regain your love, below is a picture of Fudgie the Whale.


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