Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Brad Pitt donates $100K in support of marriage equality


Brad Pitt has donated $100,000 to the Human Rights Campaign's marriage equality fund. They report via press release:

“Brad Pitt’s partnership with HRC in this closing week delivers vital resources into these campaigns and we’re proud to be working with him as we show that fundamental fairness will win at the ballot box,” said HRC President Chad Griffin.

“With his commitment, Brad joins HRC in a tremendous coalition of religious leaders, business leaders, labor groups, civil rights organizations and everyday, fair-minded Americans supporting marriage for gay and lesbian couples.”

“It's unbelievable to me that people's lives and relationships are literally being voted on in a matter of days,” said Pitt in an email today to HRC members and supporters. “If you're like me, you don't want to have to ask yourself on the day after the election, what else could I have done?”

New Jersey: President Obama tours devastation with Gov. Christie


From MSNBC: President Obama joined Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday to tour the devastation of Hurricane Sandy that annihilated the New Jersey coastline. The image that emerged was one of bipartisan leadership for both politicians—all in the crucial days before the election.

New Jersey bared much of the brunt of the storm’s wrath, leaving an estimated 2.4 million without power.

The president’s photo-op moment with the Republican governor who headlined the party’s convention this year, comes with just under a week until Election Day. Christie, an ardent critic of Obama and supporter of Mitt Romney, said during the convention that the president was the “most ill-prepared person to assume the presidency in my lifetime.”

Christie, however, exchanged his criticisms for acclaim of the president’s leadership in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Known as a brazen and candid politician, the New Jersey governor lauded Obama with praises saying he had to “give the president great credit.”

“He’s been very attentive, and anything that I’ve asked for, he’s gotten to me. So, I thank the president publicly for that. He’s done—as far as I’m concerned—a great job for New Jersey,” Christie said on Morning Joe Tuesday.

As for a Garden State visit from Romney, the current leader of Christie’s party and the man he’s been on the stump with for months, Christie said he is not the “least bit concerned or interested.”

Romney is now campaigning in Florida after holding political event in Ohio disguised as a “storm relief rally.” Since the storm, Romney has avoided any questions pertaining to his stance on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency he once vowed to level.

Wednesday marks the third day in Obama’s pause from campaigning in what has been called his “commander-in-chief moment,” showing off his leadership in an empathetic light. A similar photo-op for George W. Bush provided the former president a boost to his 2004 re-election efforts with an image of Bush’s consoling bear hug for the grieving young girl whose mother was killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that was brandished in voters’ minds.

Obama campaign releases video measuring confidence a week before election



Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina breaks down how the President is doing in this election with less than a week to go.

In the key battleground of Ohio, Messina says in the video that early vote turnout in precincts that went for Obama in 2008 is higher than in precincts that went for Sen. John McCain. Republicans, however, say they're outpacing their 2008 early vote effort in Ohio, and predict their performance on Election Day itself will outweigh any Democratic lead in early ballots.

Messina goes through a list of the other key battlegrounds, citing similar early voting and ground game advantages in Iowa, Nevada, Florida, Colorado, Virginia, Wisconsin, North Carolina and New Hampshire.

Ricky Martin drops his pants for charity

Ricky Martin naked for charity - Ricky auctions off his pants for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

Ricky Martin posted a pic on his WhoSay page showing him in nothing but a T-shirt, his skivvies and shoes, and looking quite shocked.

No worries - all for a good cause.

The 40-year-old will be auctioning off his trousers for charity to help benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the nonprofit that's actively raised funds to help AIDS-related causes for more than two decades now.

"We even ended up auctioning my pants WTF!!! LOL Terminamos subastando hasta mis pantalones jajaja @

Ohio: President Obama leads by 5 in new poll


President Obama remains on in the lead in the all-important bellwether of Ohio, according to the latest round of polls from Quinnipiac University, CBS News and the New York Times released early today.

The polls reflect a late theme in this year’s campaign: even as the race tightens or tilts in Mitt Romney’s favor elsewhere, Ohio remains stubbornly in the president’s column. Wednesday’s poll of the Buckeye State shows Obama earning 50 percent support among likely voters there, while Romney trails with 45 percent — identical to the previous Quinnipiac/CBS/NYT poll of Ohio a little more than a week ago.
As in earlier polls, Obama draws an enormous advantage among women and early voters in Ohio. Women in the state prefer Obama over Romney 56 percent to 39 percent. The president’s lead among Ohio voters who have already cast a ballot is comparably large: 60 percent to 34 percent.

Additionally important for the Obama campaign, Romney’s edge with white voters and independents is markedly smaller in Ohio than in other battlegrounds.

(source)

Touching PSA highlights the challenges LGBT teens face for acceptance "Everyone Is Different"



Towleroad points up this beautiful PSA for a Dutch LGBT youth support group that highlights the challenges faced by LGBT youth, telling the stories of several kids as they struggle to find acceptance among their peers while facing the individual realizations that they are, and can be different.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Team Chippendales on RumorFix: Vanessa Macias DUI



Amazing Race season 20 star Vanessa Macias got busted for a DUI on Friday, and now some of her fellow Race stars are coming exclusively to RumorFix to give their two cents about the incident.

Team Chippendales, Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis, from the show’s 21st season, tell RumorFix that driving while intoxicated is straight up wrong, even if you are part of the Amazing Race family. They tell us, “Driving while intoxicated is wrong! There are a million ways to do it. Take a taxi cab, call a friend, sit down and take a nap! There is so little excuse to be behind the wheel while you’re drunk.”

Being positive thinkers, Vaughan and Davis think the fact someone from the Amazing Race family has been arrested could actually be used for good. The two hunks agree, “Vanessa’s arrest is actually a good opportunity to open people’s eyes a little bit, because a lot of time people think they can have a drink and drive. And Vanessa seems like the kind of girl that can turn stuff around and speak out [about driving under the influence] and say ‘Hey, I made a dumb mistake, don’t do the same thing, and this is why you shouldn’t.’ So, hopefully she does that.”

All that aside, Team Chippendales assures RumorFix that they sure as Hell won’t be cruising down the same road as the former Amazing Race contestant. Vaughn adds, “Do I want to be on the road while she is? Probably not … We ain’t racing around with Vanessa — Thank God we ain’t racin’ next to her while she be drivin’ and drinkin’!”

Jaymes and James can be seen nightly in Chippendales at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

(via RumorFix)

Mitt Romney's position on FEMA - then and now

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


News panel discusses Romney's remarks in 2011 about cutting funding for FEMA, as FEMA plays a central role in recovery on the East Coast due to Hurricane Sandy just one week before the election.

Mitt Romney ducks questions on eliminating FEMA after Hurricane Sandy disaster


Actually, it turns out he was asked 11 times if he would eliminate FEMA or how he would like to see disasters handled...

Eleven.


Team Chippendales on Access Hollywood with Billy Bush

NJ Gov. Christie: "The President has done a great job"



New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared the devastation from Superstorm Sandy in his state to be a “major disaster” and “devastation,” but he also stated that working with President Obama on securing resources for the state has been “great.”

“The president has been all over this, and he deserves great credit,” Christie said. “He gave me his number at the White House and told me to call him if I needed anything, and he absolutely means it. It’s been very good working with the president and his administration. It’s been wonderful.”

President Obama and the governor spoke three times on Monday, Christie stated.

“He asked me what I needed. I said if he could expedite the Major Disaster Declaration without all the normal FEMA mumbo-jumbo. He got right on it,” added Christie. “I got a call from FEMA at 2 a.m…and then this morning I understand he signed the Major Disaster Declaration for New Jersey.”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie praises President Obama for his response to Hurricane Sandy at the 6:00 mark.

Note, however, the response the Governor gives to the Fox team when they ask about Mitt Romney at the 2:10 mark. Not a good moment for Fox.

Hurricane Sandy: Avenue C on the Lower East Side


JoeMyGod shares pics from the Lower East Side in New York City, after Hurricane Sandy.


Monday, October 29, 2012

New video: Tom Goss naked in "Make Believe"



Out singer/songwriter gets naked in his newest music video released today: "Make Believe"

Mitt Romney's tips to handle Hurricane Sandy


Mitt Romney - wrong on auto industry - AGAIN



First Mitt Romney said "let Detroit go bankrupt." Then he said he deserved credit when the auto industry was saved.

Now he's falsely saying Jeep is "outsourcing" jobs to China. In fact, Jeep is building cars in China to build the market there BUT also adding 1,100 new jobs to the auto industry in Ohio.

Man - this guy can't stay on either side of the fence long. Or get the truth straight.

Video: President Obama loses his sh*t



Not suitable for work.

Hysterical....

Thanks to Kasey for the tip.

Ohio: The Toledo Blade endorses President Obama


Hurricane Sandy - from space

From NOAA's GOES-13 satellite, check out this pic taken on Sunday morning, October 28 at 9:02AM EDT.

You can see the massive size of the hurricane as it churns up the east coast.

Joss Whedon on Mitt Romney



JoeMyGod shares this video from Buffy creator Joss Whedon, which has gotten over 800K views in two days.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Jaymes & James - "Team Chippendales" on The Candi & Randy Show


Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on Blog Talk Radio

Chippendales is one of the most well-known brands in the world, and tonight we welcome two of today's most famous Chippendales - Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis.

Jaymes and James joins The Candi & Randy Show to talk about preparing for photo shoots for the iconic Chippendales calendar (2013 edition just released), their passion for creating music and the reasons why they agreed to race around the world on THE AMAZING RACE.

In addition to touring the world and now playing nightly to packed audiences at the Rio Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas with the Chippendales, Jaymes and James are both accomplished musicians.  Jaymes Vaughan's song "Vampire" became a viral sensation when released last year; and James Davis' band "My Name Engraved" is currently receiving multiple recording contract offers.

AND, as Jaymes and James are currently featured on the hit CBS TV show THE AMAZING RACE as "Team Chippendales," they are charming TV audiences with their humor, drive and good looks.

Join us as Jaymes and James share what it's like to balance their lives as Chippendales, musicians and the world getting to know them through THE AMAZING RACE.

Why "trickle down" doesn't work...


As Hurricane Sandy approaches...

The Wall Street Journal reports:
U.S. airlines have canceled more than 4,700 flights due to depart Sunday and Monday, ahead of the expected landfall early Tuesday of Hurricane Sandy. Airlines canceled 1,030 domestic and international services on Sunday and a further 3,680 due to depart Monday, with east coast airports expected to decide later Sunday whether or not to close. Airports from Washington, D.C. up to Boston were implementing contingency plans, with the ability of staff to reach work and control towers to remain open in high winds among the key concerns. Most air traffic control towers close when winds reach 60 to 70 knots, but many of the early disruptions are because of mass transit shutdowns that have affected the availability of airline and airport staff, FlightAware said. New York is shutting down its transit system beginning at 7 p.m. local time on Sunday. Newark Liberty International Airport accounted for almost a quarter of the U.S. cancellations, with 1,080 services to and from the United Airlines' hub scrubbed over the next two days. United is suspending operations on Monday and early Tuesday at Newark and Dulles International Airport, as well as 24 others including Boston, Philadelphia and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Amtrak has suspended service along the northeast corridor. Local NYC news also reports that inland and midtown hotels are filling up with evacuees from Zone A.  Emergency planners advise that all travelers should plan to spend at least the next two days in whatever location they are tonight.

The Broadway League has announced that all Broadway and Off Broadway shows have been canceled for tonight and tomorrow.   Refunds are available through ticket sellers.

(via JMG)

Minnesota anti-gay marriage amendment is close in polls


A new poll on Minnesota's Amendment 1, a measure that would write marriage discrimination into the state's constitution, shows that the race is still extremely close.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that 47% of registered voters oppose the amendment, an unchanged number, while 48% of voters support amending the constitution to define marriage as one man, one woman. That's down one point from the previous polls. Five percent of people remain undecided, the paper says. Over 50% is needed one way or the other, and skipping the question qualifies as "no".

Not surprisingly, most of the people who oppose the amendment know someone who is LGBT: 54% of people who are voting no know someone who is gay or lesbian. Surprisingly, 40% of those who say they want to enshrine discrimination know someone who is gay or lesbian. Those are Michele Bachmann's people.

Minnesotans United for All Families, a group trying to stop the unnecessary and hateful amendment, remain hopeful that Minnesotans will see the amendment for what it is.

"When Minnesotans go to the polls, they'll measure this amendment against their values of freedom and treating others as you would want to be treated," said the group's campaign manager, Richard Carlbom. "This amendment just doesn't stack up to our values as Minnesotans."

(source)

Earthquake in L.A. - 3.9 magnitude

A minor earthquake has rattled Southern California, shaking buildings in downtown Los Angeles.

The US Geological Survey says the 3.9 magnitude quake struck at 8:24 a.m. Sunday and was centered about 5 miles east-southeast of Santa Clarita, Calif.

Shaking was felt across the Santa Clarita Valley, in downtown Los Angeles and in West Hollywood.

I am, of course in L.A. for the day and lucky me - we have an earthquake. No damage has been reported though. More wine!

(source)

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Paul Ryan offers constituent candy and a Packers schedule when asked about bringing jobs back to US



The video, from 2011, shows one of the vice presidential candidate's constituents asking the Wisconsin Republican how he plans on bringing jobs back to America.

Ryan first tells the man to visit his website, then offers him candy -- "No... I just need jobs," the man replied -- and then Mr. Ryan and his wife try to ignore the man until their staffers can shoo him away.

Their plasticine smiles are the stuff of political legends.

(via Towleroad)

Grigor Dimitrov's amazing "reach around" tennis shot

Grigor Dimitrov, 21-year-old Belgian tennis player, making what some are calling the best shot of the year. During a match with Serbian player Viktor Troicki, Grigor handled a tricky "backhand" from the back like this:

Friday, October 26, 2012

Romney surrogate John Sununu says Powell endorsement based on race



Romney surrogate John Sununu says Colin Powell's endorsement of President Obama is based on race:

MORGAN: Final question, Colin Powell decided to opt for President Obama again, despite apparently still being a Republican. Is it time he left the party, do you think?

SUNUNU: I'm not sure how important that is. I do like the fact that Colin Powell's boss, George Herbert Walker Bush, has endorsed Mitt Romney all along. And frankly, when you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to wonder whether that's an endorsement based on issues or whether he's got a slightly different reason for preferring President Obama?

MORGAN: What reason would that be?

SUNUNU: Well, I think when you have somebody of your own race that you are proud of being president of the United States, I applaud Colin for standing with him.

Writes DailyKos' Jed Lewison: "I guess the logical implication here is that Sununu is only endorsing Romney because he's white, right? If you ask me, I think the real story here is that Romneyland is scared to death of talking about the Richard Mourdock story—in other words, the rape thing wasn't working out for Romney, so they decided to give the race thing a try."


(via Towleroad)

The return of American Dance Machine


In the 1970s and 1980s, the American Dance Machine was a major force in preserving choreography from significant Broadway musicals.  Now that idea has been resurrected in the form of American Dance Machine for the 21st Century.
American Dance Machine for the 21st Century, an organization committed to preserving the heritage of musical film and theatre choreography, will stage recreations of work by Susan Stroman, Jerome Robbins, Hermes Pan and Bob Fosse in a Manhattan workshop presentation Nov. 14 at New York City Center.

"Each piece has been coached by artists intimately involved in their original productions," according to ADM21. Numbers from Broadway's Contact, Jerome Robbins' Broadway and Big Deal, as well as the film "Lovely to Look At," will be presented. The evening is directed by artistic director Margo Sappington and will feature live music with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

The 6 PM Nov. 14 show is presented at City Center's Studio 4.
Go to Playbill.com for more info.  

Marriage is already redefined

Marriage is already redefined

Breakfast time with Judy & Liza - Cream of Wheat



Michael sent this to me a while back and I've been meaning to post.

Funny...

Adam Levine likes underwear - "don't want things flopping around"

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and The Voice likes underwear so thing don't "flop around"
Christina Aguilera, of The Voice, recently declared that she doesn't wear underwear.

In regard to that factoid,  fellow The Voice co-star Adam Levine comes out in defense of the garments:
“It’s so funny ‘cause I love to wear underwear,” he tells AccessHollywood. “I’m not kidding,” the Maroon 5 frontman adds. “It keeps everything in check, you know? Like, I think it’s nice to know everything is set. [With] no underwear… I don’t know what could happen. I don’t want things flopping around. I don’t know if that’s the same for women, it’s a little simpler down there for you guys. I just need a buffer zone between my junk and the outside world.”
Ironically, Maroon 5's latest CD is entitled "Overexposed" - check it out.

Tina Fey is over Todd Akin and other "grey faced" men with $2 haircuts



Favorite line: "I can't even finish this sentence without getting dumber."

Brilliant.

President Obama, first sitting President to vote early

President Obama is the first sitting president to utilize early voting

Michelle Obama shares her "Get out the vote" plan with Jimmy Kimmel

Thursday, October 25, 2012

President Obama supports pro-marriage equality ballot initiatives


Neal Broverman reports at the Advocate:

According to Paul Bell, press secretary for Obama's re-election efforts in the northwestern state, "While the president does not weigh in on every single ballot measure in every state, the president believes in treating everyone fairly and equally, with dignity and respect. Washington's same-sex marriage law would treat all Washington couples equally, and that is why the Presdient supports a vote to approve Referendum 74."

Mainers United has released a message identical to the one above for Maine's Question 1, as has supporters for Maryland's Question 6 and the opposition "good guys" working against Minnesota's anti-gay ballot measure.

Life isn't fair


Washington Post endorses President Obama for re-election


Today, the Washington Post issued a lengthy and detailed op-ed piece endorsing President Obama for re-election. Here's the summation:

So voters are left with the centerpiece of Mr. Romney’s campaign: promised tax cuts that would blow a much bigger hole in the federal budget while worsening economic inequality. His claims that he could avoid those negative effects, which defy math and which he refuses to back up with actual proposals, are more insulting than reassuring.

By contrast, the president understands the urgency of the problems as well as anyone in the country and is committed to solving them in a balanced way. In a second term, working with an opposition that we hope would be chastened by the failure of its scorched-earth campaign against him, he is far more likely than his opponent to succeed. That makes Mr. Obama by far the superior choice.

You can read the entire op-ed here.

Amazing Race: For Team Chippendales it's "family first"



In an extra clip shot standing in the streets of Bangladesh, Team Chippendales' James Davis talks about growing up without plumbing and electricity; Jaymes Vaughan shares that his father is battling cancer.

Watch this un-aired clip from the show, and you’ll start to see why these guys are so passionate about winning.

Team Chippendales, James Davis and Jaymes Vaughan, receive their next clue on The Amazing Race

Kentucky men acquitted of hate-crime, but found guilty of kidnapping charges

Cousins Anthony Ray Jenkins and David Jason Jenskins

The Advocate is reporting that cousins Anthony Ray Jenkins and David Jason Jenkins were found guilty of kidnapping in the 2011 attack on Kevin Pennington, who is gay.

However, they were acquitted of hate-crime charges.

Federal prosecutors had argued that the Jenkinses planned to kidnap, beat and kill Pennington because of his sexual orientation. Defense attorneys argued the dispute happened because of a drug deal turned sour. Attorney Willis Coffey suggested that Pennington’s allegations were motivated by a political agenda.

“Coffey said Pennington pushed the idea that he was attacked for being gay to serve his own political agenda,” according to the AP. “Coffey invoked the name of President Barack Obama, who is unpopular in Kentucky and lost badly in the state four years ago.”

President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009. The legislation expanded federal hate-crime law to cover sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or gender.

The Jenkinses are scheduled to be sentenced in February.

Nate Silver sees numbers trending back up for President Obama

Nate Silver, of the FiveThirtyEight blog for the NY Times, sees numbers slowly trending in President Obama's direction. The President has crept back up to a projected 71% chance of re-election.


Brazilian Magazine JUNIOR features Maklon Barcaro

Shirtless and sexy Maklon Barcaro on the cover of Junior Magazine

Accidental Bear shares the cover of this month's Junior Magazine, featuring the handsome Maklon Barcaro.

The publication is marketed to the gay community with no adult content; includes essays and articles on behavior, culture, fashion, music, art, cinema and Brazilian Men.

Says the magazine, "Junior is sexy without being sexist, modern without being arrogant."

On newstands all over Brazil, 18 cities in Portugal, selected places in Miami and Paris.

Shirtless and sexy Maklon Barcaro on the cover of Junior Magazine

Hurricane Sandy heading up the eastern coast


Mitt Romney endorses GOP candidate Richard Mourdock



Within hours of Romney's endorsement, Mourdock made his "pregnancies resulting from rape are a gift from God."

Timing is everything, kids...

Tom Cruise files $50 million defamation lawsuit against tabloids

Tom Cruise files defamation lawsuit against tabloids for $50 million

After printing stories suggesting that Tom Cruise had "abandoned" his daughter Suri, his lawyer Bert Fields filed a defamation lawsuit against the tabloids who ran the headlines.

The magazine covers appeared on Life & Style and InTouch in the weeks after Cruise divorced actress Katie Holmes, with whom he shares 6-year-old daughter Suri, according to a defamation lawsuit Cruise filed against the publisher in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"Tom is a caring father who dearly loves Suri," Cruise lawyer Bert Fields said. "She's a vital part of his life and always will be. To say he has 'abandoned' her is a vicious lie. To say it in lurid headlines with a tearful picture of Suri is reprehensible."

(source)

Gen. Colin Powell endorses President Obama



"When he took over, the country was in very very difficult straits. We were in the one of the worst recessions we had seen in recent times, close to a depression. The fiscal system was collapsing. Wall Street was in chaos, we had 800,000 jobs lost in that first month of the Obama administration and unemployment peaked a few months later at 10 percent. So we were in real trouble. The auto industry was collapsing, the housing was starting to collapse and we were in very difficult straits. And I saw over the next several years, stabilization come back in the financial community, housing is now starting to pick up after four years, it's starting to pick up. Consumer confidence is rising." - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, announcing his endorsement of President Obama.

Stephen Colbert offers Trump $1 million to tea-bag him



In response to the Donald's preposterous $5 million offer to President Obama for his passport and college records.

Colbert just kills me...

Warning - audio not suitable for work. Break out the headset.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

New home sales increase 5.7% in US

The Commerce Department says new home sales increased 5.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted 389,000-unit annual rate in September compared with a month earlier.

At September’s sales pace it would take 4.5 months to sell the houses on the market, the lowest since the peak of the housing bubble in October 2005. This low inventory seems to be a sign that there will be demand for new homes in the future.

Remember folks, Mitt Romney is telling you President Obama "made things worse."

Corporations making record profits, housing market healing, stock market almost doubled, our military is out of Iraq, DADT is gone, unemployment numbers falling,...

Sound worse to you?

(source)

John Franklin Stephens schools Ann Coulter on class


Monday night, the above tweet from Ann Coulter got a lot of attention as she tweeted about the 3rd Presidential debate.  I thought it was tasteless and rude.

My brother has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  So, as someone who loves someone who faces difficulties every day many of us can never begin to imagine, I was offended.  And I made the decision to give the hideous author of the tweet no coverage.

THEN - I read this very moving and powerful letter from Special Olympics athlete and global messenger John Franklin Stephens to Ann Coulter aboout her tweet during the Presidential debate.

THIS is class.

*********************************************************

Dear Ann Coulter,

Come on Ms. Coulter, you aren’t dumb and you aren’t shallow. So why are you continually using a word like the R-word as an insult?

I’m a 30 year old man with Down syndrome who has struggled with the public’s perception that an intellectual disability means that I am dumb and shallow. I am not either of those things, but I do process information more slowly than the rest of you. In fact it has taken me all day to figure out how to respond to your use of the R-word last night.

I thought first of asking whether you meant to describe the President as someone who was bullied as a child by people like you, but rose above it to find a way to succeed in life as many of my fellow Special Olympians have.

Then I wondered if you meant to describe him as someone who has to struggle to be thoughtful about everything he says, as everyone else races from one snarkey sound bite to the next.

Finally, I wondered if you meant to degrade him as someone who is likely to receive bad health care, live in low grade housing with very little income and still manages to see life as a wonderful gift.

Because, Ms. Coulter, that is who we are – and much, much more.

After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. You assumed that people would understand and accept that being linked to someone like me is an insult and you assumed you could get away with it and still appear on TV.

I have to wonder if you considered other hateful words but recoiled from the backlash.

Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.

No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.

Come join us someday at Special Olympics. See if you can walk away with your heart unchanged.

A friend you haven’t made yet,
John Franklin Stephens
Global Messenger
Special Olympics Virginia

(via SpecialOlympicsBlog)

Chris Kluwe's "lustful c*ckmonster" phrase now a radio spot for marriage equality in Minnesota



This is FABULOUS! If you don't know the backstory, I wrote about this on The Randy Report here.

(Don't worry - the 'word' is bleeped out...)

Could Chris Kluwe get any cooler?

U of Mass students "served" papers by police



Towleroad shares this awesome feel-good video: two football players for U of Mass get "served" by two police officers, only to find out they're being awarded full athletic scholarships for their work on and off the field.

Smile time...

The world widely favors President Obama administration over Mitt Romney


In a show of how much the world - and US allies respect President Obama -  BBC World Service poll surveying 22,000 people in 21 countries found a wide preference for President Obama in the presidential race, who scored 50 percent favorable among all respondents to Mitt Romney’s 9 percent.

Almost a quarter, 24 percent, gave some variation of an answer that it made no difference. Only 16 percent said they didn’t know, a reminder of how closely the world follows American politics.
 
The poll surveyed many of the world’s most populous countries. It emphasized famously Obama-friendly Western Europe but skipped Russia and the Arab Middle East.

Here are the results from Globescan’s report:


(via JoeMyGod)

Donald Trump offers $5 million for President Obama's passport and college records


Blowhard Donald Trump's "October Surprise" is a big flat tire. 
The real estate mogul, reality TV star and de facto leader of the "birther" movement, made his "big announcement" about President Barack Obama on Wednesday, saying he would give $5 million to a charity of Obama's choice in exchange for releasing his college records and passport application.

In an interview with "Fox & Friends" on Monday, Trump said, "I have something very, very big concerning the president of the United States. I will be announcing it sometime probably Wednesday and it's going to be very big."

"Will it change the election?" co-host Gretchen Carlson asked Trump. "Possibly," Trump replied. "It's very big—bigger than anybody would know."
This is the kind of thing that changes nothing in the current election.  I'm guessing the Donald was feeling ignored lately...

(source)

Google employees for marriage equality



The same team that produced Google's 'It Gets Better' video have put together a great new clip for The Four, in which Google employees speak candidly about their support for marriage equality and urge people to get behind the same-sex marriage battles in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington.

Mitt Romney endorsed candidate: pregnancy from rape is "something God intended to happen"



Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, who has been endorsed by Mitt Romney in a direct-to-camera TV ad, said that at a debate this week that he opposes abortion even in the case of rape because a pregnancy from rape is “something God intended to happen.”

Mourdock's full comment: "I've just struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from god. And even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

Romney’s ad for Mourdock is the only direct to camera ad Romney’s done for any Senate candidate in the general election.

(via Towleroad)

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Ellen Degeneres honored with Mark Twain Award

Ellen DeGeneres honored with the Mark Twain Prize for humor

Last night at Washington DC's Kennedy Center, Ellen DeGeneres was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for humor.

MetroWeekly's Randy Shulman and the Washington Post were on hand and spoke with DeGeneres as well as Lily Tomlin, Sean Hayes, John Leguizamo,Jane Lynch, Steve Harvey, Jimmy Kimmel, and Kristin Chenoweth about her career and her legacy.

The WaPo writes:

As her friends made clear Monday night at the Twain ceremony, DeGeneres has played splendidly across the media gamut. She’s been an awards show host (trifecta: Grammys, Emmys, Oscars), a sitcom star (two bore her name), a voice actor (”Finding Nemo”), a commercial shill (American Express, JC Penney, and on and on) and an advocate for various causes. She was even a judge on “American Idol.”

DeGeneres probably deserves a Twain award just for one legendary quip. While hosting the Emmy Awards just after the terrorist attacks of 2001, she asked, “What would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?”

For all the talk of equal rights, DeGeneres is just the fourth woman to receive the Twain Prize in its 15 years, following Whoopi Goldberg, Tomlin and Tina Fey.

Washington: Bill Gates makes $500,000 donation to support marriage equality

Bill and Melinda Gates donate $500,000 to support the approval of Referendum 74

Bill and Melinda Gates have donated $500,000 to support the approval of Referendum 74, the ballot measure that would put the state's legislatively-passed marriage equality law into effect, the AP reports:

The donation was announced Tuesday by Washington United for Marriage, which is working to approve Referendum 74. The donation was made on Oct. 15, but didn't publicly post online with the Public Disclosure Commission until Tuesday. Referendum 74 asks voters to either approve or reject the law allowing same-sex marriage that was passed by the Legislature earlier this year.

Bill Gates had made a $100,000 contribution to the campaign earlier this year.

First zinger of the 3rd Presidential debate





(via Buzzfeed)

Marriage for All Families: Stories from Maryland



The fourth installment of New Left Media's series on couples in the four states with same-sex marriage ballot measures this November, produced in association with The Four.com, focuses on Liz and Angela and their son Mekhi.

Post-debate polls show President Obama clear winner



According to a CBS snap poll 53% of uncommitted voters handed the night to Obama, while only 23% said Romney was the winner, and 24% are undecided.

PPP's post debate poll in the swing states, conducted on behalf of Americans United for Change, finds that Barack Obama was the big winner in tonight's face off. 53% of those surveyed in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin think Obama was the winner to 42% who pick Romney.

According to CNN, 48% of registered voters who watched Monday night's third presidential debate say that Obama won the showdown, with 40% saying Romney did the better job in a debate dedicated to foreign policy. The president's eight-point advantage over the former Massachusetts governor came among a debate audience that was slightly more Republican than the country as a whole.

George Clooney "duets" with Neil Diamond



OUT.com shares this cute video of George Clooney and Neil Diamond.

While attending the Carousel of Hope Ball in Beverly Hills last Saturday, the Oscar-winning actor was coaxed by singer Neil Diamond into singing a few bars of his hit "Sweet Caroline."

Clooney, who was honored with the Brass Ring award for his humanitarian efforts, had been assured by Diamond that he wouldn't be put on the spot to sing along. US magazine reports Diamond joking to the crowd, "I promised him that I wouldn't [ask him to sing], but I lied."

Singer or not - watching this reminds me what a good looking guy Clooney is. I know that's redundant to even say, but, damn...

Stonewall Democrats on Log Cabin Republicans endorsement of Romney


Today, the Log Cabin Republicans endorsed Mitt Romney for president. National Stonewall Democrats Executive Director Jerame Davis had the following reaction:

"The Log Cabin Republicans have proven once and for all that they are not an organization aligned with the LGBT movement. They are a Republican front group bumbling their way into fooling LGBT voters that it's OK to support a party that would legislate us back into the closet. Their endorsement of Mitt Romney isn't just shameful - it's insulting.

"Mitt Romney stands for nothing positive for LGBT people. He supports a federal marriage amendment (which was a reason for Log Cabin to refuse to endorse George W. Bush in 2004). He supports McCarthy-like investigations into our community for evidence of 'harassment of Christians'. He opposes the repeal of DOMA. He opposes ENDA. He's even said things as basic as the right to visit your sick or dying loved one in the hospital is a 'privilege' and not a right. [snip]

"So there you have it - the Log Cabin Republicans, who screamed loudly and forcefully for months that liberal groups and LGBT movement posturing weren't going to affect their endorsements have instead allowed the interests of money sucking GOP insiders and the fear of a conservative performance troupe to decide their endorsement for them. It's reprehensible. Have they no decency?"

(via JoeMyGod)

Best moment from 3rd Presidential Debate: "Fewer horses and bayonets"



Best moment from the third Presidential debate - Mitt Romney has been using the same Navy line throughout the campaign, and Obama was prepared to answer it.

OBAMA:

"I think Governor Romney maybe hasn’t spent enough time looking at how our military works. You — you mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets — (laughter) — because the nature of our military’s changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines.

"And so the question is not a game of Battleship where we’re counting ships. It’s — it’s what are our capabilities.

"And so when I sit down with the secretary of the Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we determine how are we going to be best able to meet all of our defense needs in a way that also keeps faith with our troops, that also makes sure that our veterans have the kind of support that they need when they come home. And that is not reflected in the kind of budget that you’re putting forward, because it just don’t work."

(via Towleroad)

Campaign ad: President Obama's plan for next 4 years



President Obama released a new ad shortly after last night's debate appealing directly to voters and asking them to compare his plan for America to that of Mitt Romney's.

The ad will run in New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Colorado.

Here's the text of the ad:
"There's just no quit in America and you're seeing that right now. Over five million new jobs, exports up forty one percent, home values rising, our auto industry back and our heroes are coming home.

We're not there yet. But we've made real progress and the last thing we should do is turn back now.

Here's my plan for the next four years: Making education and training a national priority; building on our manufacturing boom; boosting American-made energy; reducing the deficits responsibly by cutting where we can, and asking the wealthy to pay a little more. And ending the war in Afghanistan, so we can do some nation-building here at home. That's the right path.

So read my plan, compare it to Governor Romney's and decide which is better for you. It's an honor to be your President and I'm asking for your vote. So together we can keep moving America forward."

Trailer: Iron Man 3

Monday, October 22, 2012

President Obama wins in a landslide with kids across USA


President Obama wins in a landslide with kids across the country.

Nickelodeon's Linda Ellerbee said Monday that the president captured 65 percent of the vote to beat Republican Mitt Romney in the network's "Kids Pick the President" vote. More than 520,000 people cast online ballots through the children's network's website over one week earlier this month.

Since it began in 1988, the kids have forecast the adults' vote all but once, when more youngsters voted for John Kerry over George W. Bush in 2004.  That year hinged on the close votes in one state: Ohio.

Obama answered questions submitted by Nickelodeon viewers for a special earlier this month. Romney didn't participate.

CW Network picks up full season of ARROW

The CW has ordered a full season of Arrow, the network announced Monday.

The show, which stars Stephen Amell and is based on the Green Arrow comic book character, was one of the fall's early breakout hits, drawing 4.14 million viewers for its premiere.

It was also the only new drama to maintain its viewership among adults 18 to 49 in its second week.

Stephen Amell shirtless promo for ARROW

Cheat sheet for third Presidential debate


Any questions?

Soledad O'Brien to Rudy Guiliani: "You gotta stop putting words in my mouth"



I've always been a fan of Soledad O'Brien. And I'm really loving her "no nonsense" approach to interviews these days. Ask a question - ask for the answer.

Soledad O'Brien and Mayor Rudy Giuliani had a very heated exchange over President Obama's response to Libya on Monday's "Starting Point."

O'Brien replayed a clip of Matthew Dowd, a former member of George W. Bush's administration, defending the White House against criticism that it doesn't have the answers about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. He said that it took far longer than two weeks to get to the truth about weapons of mass destruction. O'Brien asked Giuliani if Dowd had a point. "So we're gonna blame this on Bush too?" Giuliani said.

 "You gotta stop putting words in my mouth, sir," O'Brien interjected. After some back-and-forth, she continued, "Every time I ask you a question, you like to push back as if somehow the question being posed to you is unfair. It's not. I'm a journalist, you said some things. I'm trying to get some accurate responses from you. You are welcome to answer."

Soledad O'Brien for the win!

(via HuffingtonPost)

Campaign ad: "Rebuilding"



I could not agree with this ad more.

Not only did the President get us out of Iraq and is currently getting us out of Afghanistan, but he got the man who planned the 9/11 attacks.

Regarding Osama bin Laden, Mitt Romney said "It's not worth moving heaven and Earth and spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person."

Romney also floated the idea of using a voucher system to help veterans get health care.

No.  Not good enough for our veterans.

Clear choice here, kids.

Michael Jarboe on The Candi & Randy Show


Several weeks ago there was a story in the news about United Airlines allegedly killing supermodel Maggie Rizer's dog. As I read the story, I was struck by how terrible it would be to travel your pet with you only to find they passed away on the flight in cargo.

Unfortunately, model Michael Jarboe had his heart broken when during a United Airlines flight, through alleged possible neglect, his dog Bam Bam passed away.

Michael joined us on The Candi and Randy Show to talk about his loss and how things have developed since the accident.

Michael Jarboe and his dog Bam Bam

Kelly Clarkson likely voting for President Obama


Kelly Clarkson says that despite being “a Republican at heart,” she’s likely voting for President Obama, largely because of his stance on marriage equality.

“I can’t support Romney’s policies as I have a lot of gay friends and I don’t think it’s fair they can’t get married,” Clarkson told the U.K.’s Daily Star last week as she prepared to close her concert tour in London. She noted that she has “been reading online about the debates and I’m probably going to vote for Obama again, even though I’m a Republican at heart.”

She added that she’s attracted to the president’s policies on women’s issues as well. “I’m not a hardcore feminist but we can’t be going back to the ’50s,” she said. “Obama is a great guy. I’ve met him and I’m a fan of Michelle too. She has been busy promoting better education and healthy diets, which is something we could all use a dose of reality on.”

(via Gay.net)

Broadway-bound Kinky Boots opens in Chicago

Kinky Boots, the new musical by Cyndi Lauper & Harvey Fierstein, opened last night at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, the show appears to be headed in the right direction as Chicago gives the creators the opportunity to fine tune the piece.

A couple of the reviews from opening night:

Hedy Weiss, Sun-Times: While no one would mistake this new musical, which celebrated its pre-Broadway opening Wednesday night at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre, as groundbreaking in any way, it is an ideally crafted, altogether feel-good show — something of a “La Cage aux Folles” for the recession-plagued, anti-bullying, “it WILL get better” generation. And its solid if predictable storytelling (Harvey Fierstein’s take on the popular little British film comedy of 2005), its accomplished and varied score (an impressive first Broadway effort by Cyndi Lauper, that petite paragon of pop, who has penned several numbers that are sure to become keepers), its conveyor belt-smooth flow (courtesy of director-choreographer Jerry Mitchell), and its strong, winningly genuine cast, all conjoin to make it an engaging entertainment.

Michael Roberts, Showbiz Chicago: Kinky Boots has something unique going for it that will add to its success; that is Billy Porter...I would venture to say that Kinky Boots will do for Mr. Porter what Hello, Dolly did for Carol Channing, Funny Girl for Streisand; Phantom for Michael Crawford and Evita for Patti LuPone. This is will become a show and role that will be forever synonymous with Mr. Porter, and rightfully so...Alongside Mr. Porter is the equally engaging Stark Sands as Charlie Price. Though his character could stand a little more development in the second act, Sands has remarkable stage presence and chemistry with his co-star…The book for Kinky Boots is classic Harvey Fierstein, who always has the innate ability to create an environment where his characters can be bigger than life one minute, then intensely internal the next…The material at hand is perfect fodder for [Jerry] Mitchell to develop the environment to allow his actors to find their truth…A musical would be nothing without the music, and for this, Cyndi Lauper is a revelation...Not since Rent has there been a musical that is poised to have at least three numbers cross over to the pop charts.

The marquee of Kinky Boots in Chicago

Jerry Mitchell, Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein celebrate the opening of Kinky Boots in Chicagp

Pictures via Broadway.com

The Chippendales go purple for Spirit Day in Las Vegas

Chippendales Chaun Thomas and Gavin McHale wear purple cuffs and collars for Spirit Day in Las Vegas

Chippendales' Chaun Thomas and Gavin McHale wore special purple cuffs and collars at a press event Friday to support Spirit Day in Las Vegas.

Not only did the guys and the iconic Las Vegas sign "go purple," but Friday evening the lights of the Vegas Strip went purple in honor of the nation-wide anti-bullying day.

Orlando Cruz wins first boxing match since coming out

Openly gay boxer, Orlando Cruz, wins first match since coming out

As soon as he walked out to a cheering crowd displaying flags of his native Puerto Rico, boxing’s first openly gay fighter could finally breathe and do what he came to do, slugging his way to a victory by unanimous decision over Jorge Pazos.

"That was my moment, my opportunity, my event," Cruz said Friday night after the bout, his mother Dominga Torres-Rivera seated beside him. "And I won."

Cruz was touched by the support on display at the Kissimmee Civic Center outside of Orlando, the latest in a continual outpouring since his announcement two weeks ago that made him the first active male athlete in a major sport to come out.

"I was very happy that they respect me. That’s what I want - them to see me as a boxer, as an athlete and as a man in every sense of the word."

More on Cruz at EdgeOnTheNet

Sleeping dogs dreaming

Carol Costello of CNN takes on Bryan Fischer of AFA


CNN anchor Carol Costello fires back at hate group spokesman Bryan Fischer, who last week denounced her for hanging up on his claims that the Nazi Party was founded by gay men: "Well Mr. Fischer, if that's the definition of the gay gestapo, then I'm a proud card-carrying member."

Carol Costello for the win!

Video: Blond explains "Why I'm Voting for Mitt Romney"



Apparently, this woman is serious AND she has 200,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel.

Oh - and she's an aspiring model/actress. Just putting that out there.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

SNL: Presidential Debate #2



Make sure you get to the 10:15 mark.

SNL loves election years...

Mitt Romney's foreign policy approach: "blunder and bluster"



In a series of interviews, Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Senator John Kerry, Admiral John Nathman (ret.), and Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy explain why Mitt Romney is not prepared to be commander-in-chief.

They each lay out how President Obama's leadership has made America stronger, safer and more secure while Mitt Romney has nothing to offer except bluster, chest-thumping, and a commitment to endless war.

Remember - regarding Osama bin Laden, Mitt Romney said "It's not worth moving heaven and earth spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one man."

President Obama, on the other hand, is the president who gave the order to capture bin Laden. That's a fact. Mitt Romney said wouldn't have continued the hunt for the man who organized the 9/11 attacks.

Romney was also trying to make political gain out of the Libya tragedy within hours of the attack on the US embassy.

Think about all that - who do you want to vote for?