Monday, August 31, 2015

SCOTUS Says "No" To Kentucky County Clerk - Must Issue Same-Sex Couples Marriage Licenses


The U.S. Supreme Court rebuffed Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis' request for a stay on a federal judge's ruling that would require her to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Via the Courier-Journal:

“The application for stay presented to Justice (Elena) Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied,” the order said.

Justice Elena Kagan, who oversees the 6th district, referred Davis’ request to the full court, which denied the stay without comment.

A stay issued earlier by U.S. District Judge David Bunning expired Monday.

In a separate development, the Kentucky attorney general is mulling whether to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate whether she violated the state official misconduct statute when her office refused to issue a license to a Rowan County gay couple.

Official misconduct is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 365 days in jail.

Done and done.

Do your job, Kim Davis.

UPDATE:

The Human Rights Campaign issued this statement:

“Ms. Davis’ choices are clear: she must either choose to follow the law or resign her public position. A public official’s personal religious opinion does not give her the privilege to trample over the rights of others. Freedom of religion is important, and Ms. Davis has the fundamental right to believe what she likes. But as a public servant, she does not have the right to pick and choose which laws she will follow or which services she will provide. We are pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has denied the stay.”


And the ACLU had this to say:

“Today the U.S. Supreme Court resoundingly affirmed that government officials must carry out the duties of public office. By refusing to simply issue a form, Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has prevented our clients, four loving couples, from obtaining marriage licenses in the county where they live and pay taxes. Davis has no basis for any further delay in denying couples the freedom to marry.”

News Round-Up: August 31, 2015


Some news stories you may have missed:

• It's time for Monday Men At Work (see above)

• The gay couple in Rowan County, Kentucky, who have been denied a marriage license three times have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the county government and County Clerk Kim Davis.

• A man with a 19" penis says it makes working and having a social dating life impossible.

• Fox and Friends host Elizabeth Hasselbeck doesn't understand why the #BlackLivesMatter movement hasn't been named a "hate group." Seriously.

• Five HIV+ men offer advice to their younger selves about surviving and thriving post-diagnosis.

• Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis is running out of time and options in her fight to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Time to do your job, Ms. Davis.

• Ellen DeGeneres announces GapKids x ED, a new collection for Gap Kids that is for every girl no matter "whether they skateboard or dance, wear dresses or jeans, build forts or paint rainbows, or everything in between."

Music Video: Taylor Swift "Wildest Dreams"


Taylor Swift dropped her latest music video - "Wildest Dreams" - during last night's MTV VMA Awards, where she took home the Video of the Year award for “Bad Blood.”

This video highlights the newest single from her wildly successful album 1989.

In the video, Swift falls in love with a movie co-star (played by the very handsome Scott Eastwood) a la "Out Of Africa."

Lions, giraffes, tigers and more fill the gorgeous landscape as Swift tangles with her own 'inner beasts.'







Matt Baume Looks At The Strange, Horrible History Of "Ex-Gay" Therapy


After several posts about so-called "ex-gay" torture therapy here on The Randy Report, I did encounter a few people who asked me, "What if someone wants to be 'cured' of the gay? Shouldn't they be able to do that?"

And the answer? Of course. Except - it doesn't work.

And the history behind most of the "treatments" is pretty sketchy - forced cuddling, horse stroking, and monkey testicles, anybody?

Smart guy Matt Baume takes us on a disturbing journey through the ages of "curing the gay."

Eye Roll Of The Day: Celine Dion On Being Compared To A Kardashian


Celine Dion's reaction is priceless here.

At an August 27th press conference in Las Vegas for Celine's return to the stage after a year long absence, a reporter "compliments" the diva on her hair calling it "very Kardashian."

Watch for the eye roll.


(h/t GayVegas)

Iowa: Ben Carson Ties Donald Trump in New Monmouth University Poll


Guess who's going to be the next target for Mr. Trump?

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson has surged in Iowa to pull into a dead heat with Donald Trump among likely Iowa Republican caucus goers.

Both Carson and Trump received 23 percent of likely caucusgoers' support, according to the latest Monmouth University poll.

However, Carson leads Trump on favorability - Carson notches an 81% favorable rating while The Donald is down at 52%.

Coming in behind the two front runners, 10% of likely caucusgoers threw their support to Carly Fiorina, 9% to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and just 7% for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R).

At the end of the day (or this day at least) what does this all mean? That the top 3 GOP hopefuls are all non-politicians. That Republicans, at least in Iowa, are tired of career pols and want to maybe try something new?

According to a recent Gallup poll, a dismal 14% of Americans approve of the job the GOP-led Congress is doing.

X Factor: Aussie Seann Miley Moore's Kills With Queen's "The Show Must Go On"


Aussie Seann Miley Moore brings the very unexpected in Week 1 of this season's X Factor UK auditions.

This could have been very average, or done south quickly.

But, no.

Simon Cowell: “I’m going to remember this audition for a very, very long time.”

Via The Mirror:

Take a hairy fur jacket, a PVC skirt, leather platform heels, sheer mesh top, metal waist-synching belt, hoop earrings, heavy make-up and a backwards baseball cap and you have an X Factor sensation before he’d even started singing.

Seann, who revealed he moved to London from Australia to compete on the show, hit all the right notes with his version of Queen’s "The Show Must Go On."

After his crowd-wowing performance and incredibly powerful vocal, he sobbed as a tearful Ora told him: “There is nothing I can say to you apart from I am so happy you came on this show!”

With a standing ovation from the crowd and the judges, the gushing comments just kept coming.

Moore's amazing performance was made even more exciting by the support of the audience. While Moore's appearance is his own wonderful, unique expression of who he is, the audience went right with him.

For those who may not know the song,  it was recorded by Queen late in Freddie Mercury's battle with AIDS. Released in 1991, the song was certified Gold in the US.




(h/t JMG)

Bernie Sanders Edges Closer to Hillary Clinton In New Iowa Poll


To be honest, it's waaaaay early in this election cycle but a new poll from the Des Moines Register-Bloomberg Politics shows Bernie Sanders has whittled Hillary Clinton's once commanding lead in Iowa to only 7 points.

The new survey shows Hillary with 37% support and Sanders at 30%. Veep Joe Biden got 14% even though he's not announced if he will enter the race yet.

When you factor out Biden, the numbers shifted to Hillary 43% and Sanders 35%.

I like both Sanders and Clinton, but I have a hard time seeing Americans electing a politician who self-identifies as "Socialist."

Trailer: Final Season Of Downton Abbey


The sixth and final season of Downton Abbey will premiere on ITV September 20th, and so, there's a new appropriately melancholy trailer as the denizens of the estate prepare to head off in their separate directions.

I know it's really just a fancy soap opera, but I love it.

Here's hoping handsome, gay footman Thomas finds some kind of happiness before the finale.

"Downton Abbey" airs on PBS in the United States and the new season is scheduled to start on January 3, 2016.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Ramin Karimloo Says Happy Trails To Broadway's LES MISERABLES


Tony Award nominee (and overall super talent) Ramin Karimloo said 'so long' for now to the Broadway company of Les Miserables.

Karimloo moves on to the upcoming Prince of Broadway featuring the shows on Broadway producer/director Hal Prince.









In case anyone needs to be reminded of the brilliance that is Ramin Karimloo, here's one of the most recent video performances of Ramin singing "Bring Him Home" from his heart-stopping performance as "Jean Valjean" in Les Miserables on Broadway.

(Couldn't find a great live theatre clip, but you get the bonus of seeing the handsome face here...)

Quote Of The Day: Charles Blow On The Removal Of Jorge Ramos From Trump Presser


"When Donald Trump's security escorted the Univision anchor Jorge Ramos out of a news conference on Tuesday, I decided that I was officially done." - New York Times op-ed columnist Charles Blow

Sam Stanley, Professional Union Rugby Player, Comes Out


Sam Stanley, a 23 year old English professional union player from Essex, comes out as gay in an interview with the Sunday Times.

Stanley told the Sunday Times, “You are so worried about what people will think, and I thought I couldn’t be a macho rugby player the way I was, and there was nothing else I wanted to do with my life.”

Stanley follows Batley Bulldogs' Keegan Hirst, who recently came out as gay. At the time, Stanley publicly praised Hirst via Twitter.

Hirst became the first openly gay rugby league player to take part in a game earlier in August.

Additionally, rugby star Gareth Thomas came out in 2009.

Congrats Sam! Good on you! Visibility is what helps the rest of the world see we're like everyone else. Only maybe a little more fabulous.

I know we'll be seeing a lot more of Stanley in the coming weeks.

And speaking of "seeing more" - check out Stanley's Instagram video playing guitar and singing (naked?) James Bay's "When We Were On Fire:"

A video posted by Sam Stanley (@samstannerz) on


A photo posted by Sam Stanley (@samstannerz) on


Sam Stanley (L) with rugby champion & LGBT ally Ben Cohen (R)

Irish President Signs Marriage Equality Constitutional Amendment

Irish President Michael Higgins on Saturday officially signed an amendment to his country’s constitution that extends marriage rights to same-sex couples in his country.

Higgins amended the Irish Constitution roughly three months after Ireland became the first country in the world in which same-sex couples received marriage rights through a popular vote. The Irish Times reported Prime Minister Edna Kenny’s government next month will introduce a bill that would allow the amendment to officially take effect.

“We are all delighted,” Tiernan Brady of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network, an Irish advocacy group, told the Washington Blade on Saturday in a statement. “This is a historic moment for LGBT people and everyone in Ireland. After the joyful scenes that followed the resounding yes vote last May it is wonderful that President Higgins has signed the act and made the result official.”

Irish lawmakers in July approved a bill that will allow transgender people to legally change their gender without medical intervention.

Same-sex couples are able to legally marry in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Iceland, Scotland, England, Wales, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico City and several Mexican states, St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

(from the Washington Blade)

Nico Maffey Gets "High By The Beach" With Lana Del Rey

Can we just appreciate the skill, talent and fitness of performer Nico Maffey for just a second?

Impressive display here, set to Lana Del Rey's "High By The Beach."

Happy Sunday!

Transpirando un poquito papuchoooooooooooooo #sweat

Posted by Nico Maffey on Friday, August 21, 2015

Meet Shane Ortega - First Openly Transgender Man In U.S. Military


YouTube personality Raymond Braun chats with Sergeant Shane Ortega, the first openly trans man in the U.S. Military on his life, trans rights and his time in the military on a Hawaiian beach.

Sgt. Ortega served three combat tours, two in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, and engaged in 400 combat operations.

DADDY The Movie World Premieres At Montreal World Film Festival


Gay themed play-turned-feature-film DADDY, starring BearCity star (hottie) Gerald McCullouch, will world premiere today at prestigious Montreal World Film Festival.

DADDY chronicles the intergenerational tale of an older gay male (played by McCullouch) falling for a younger man played by Jaime Cepero, from the NBC show Smash. McCullouch not only stars in the flick but also directed.

Montreal Gazette talked with the handsome McCullouch about whether being out has affected his acting career:

I get asked that question a lot. And I really don’t know how it’s affected my career. I only have the career I have.

I’ve never been one to hide who I am or what I think. And I’ve never understood people’s belief that my eye color, or shoe size, or sexual orientation limits my imaginative capacity to pretend to be someone different.

Mind you, I’ve also appeared in many non-gay-themed shows like Bones and House and Law & Order and many others where I have a wife and kids and no affinity for dudes at all.

And I think the terrain is changing daily of opportunities for out actors and artists. But I’ve been “out” since before it was in fashion. Never really considered being “in.” Not sure what my life would have been. Or my career. Only know the life I have.


DADDY screens at Cinema Quartier Latin at the Montreal World Film Festival:
Aug. 30 at 4:10 p.m.
Aug. 31 at 9 p.m.

Click here for more info and tickets.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Sarah Palin Asks "Does Media Ask Democrats About Bible Verses?" As A Matter Of Fact, They Do


So, the Sarah Palin "interview" of GOP White House hopeful Donald Trump was more snore than sensation. She lobbed softball questions, and The Donald seemed bored.

But in classic Palin, the former half-term governor groused over Trump being asked his favorite Bible verse this week:

So you get hit with these gotchas, like most conservatives do. For instance, asking what's your favorite Bible verse. And I listen to that going, what? Do they ask Hillary that?


Funny you should ask, Sarah.

Courtesy of MotherJones:

Indeed they do! On August 27, 2007, in a nationally televised debate, Tim Russert asked every Democrat on the stage to share their favorite Bible verse:

RUSSERT: Before we go, there's been a lot of discussion about the Democrats and the issue of faith and values. I want to ask you a simple question.

Senator Obama, what is your favorite Bible verse?

OBAMA: Well, I think it would have to be the Sermon on the Mount, because it expresses a basic principle that I think we've lost over the last six years.

John talked about what we've lost. Part of what we've lost is a sense of empathy towards each other. We have been governed in fear and division, and you know, we talk about the federal deficit, but we don't talk enough about the empathy deficit, a sense that I stand in somebody else's shoes, I see through their eyes. People who are struggling trying to figure out how to pay the gas bill, or try to send their kids to college. We are not thinking about them at the federal level. That's the reason I'm running for president, because I want to restore that.

RUSSERT: I want to give everyone a chance in this. You just take 10 seconds.

Senator Clinton, favorite Bible verse?

CLINTON: The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I think it's a good rule for politics, too.

The other Democratic candidates were asked also, but you get the picture.

Of course, the fact that Palin didn't know this is no surprise.

News Round-Up: August 29, 2016


Some news stories you may have missed:

• After Republicans bashing First Lady Michelle Obama for years as having "no class," meet possible First Lady Melania Trump.

• Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro says early rumors for him to be Hillary Clinton's running mate "flattering." I say it's a definite possibility.

• The Democratic National Committee unanimously approved a resolution supporting marriage equality, along with over 60% of the country. The Republicans still think they can turn back time.

• Bill Maher to Josh Duggar: "Dude, you're just horny."

• Calgary bus driver refuses to drive rainbow-covered Pride bus because "religion." So, basically, no one wants to do their job these days?

• Newly out rugby player (and hottie) Keegan Hirst celebrates at Manchester Pride.

Keegan Hirst

New York Times Op-Ed Questions Homeland Security Raid Of Rentboy


I've been wondering all week why, after almost two decades of operation, the Department of Homeland Security decided to focus on, and ultimately raid, the offices of gay escort website Rentboy.

Especially when you consider that dozens of straight escort sites continue to operate in New York City. Why just target the gay escort site?

Apparently, I'm not the only one as the New York Times editorial board pens an op-ed questioning the motivation and ultimate goals of the office raid.

Here's just an excerpt from the op-ed:

Prosecutors can credibly argue that the site’s operators were breaking the law. But they have provided no reasonable justification for devoting significant resources, particularly from an agency charged with protecting America from terrorists, to shut down a company that provided sex workers with a safer alternative to street walking or relying on pimps. The defendants have not been accused of exploiting sex workers, featuring minors on the website, financial crimes or other serious offenses that would warrant a federal prosecution.

Amnesty International announced this month that it would be pushing for the decriminalization of consensual sex work worldwide. After a lengthy and at times fraught debate, the organization’s experts concluded that sex workers were less likely to be harmed and exploited in places where the trade is lawful. Several gay and transgender rights organizations, including Lambda Legal and the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, issued a joint statement supporting Amnesty International’s position.

[snip]

The Rentboy bust may spook clients and sex workers for a while, but it would be naïve to think it will do much more. Federal authorities should consider whether continuing to spend time and money turning the website’s operators into felons is worthwhile, while far more serious crimes, including human trafficking and sexual exploitation, go unpunished.

I'll add that I personally support the decriminalization of consensual sex work. I think as long as no one is physically harmed and it's between two consenting adults, the government shouldn't be involved.

Drone Spots Man Catching Rays Atop 200 Foot Wind Turbine


Here's a solution for the crowded beaches and pools of summer.

Drone pilot Kevin Miller, shooting video of a giant wind turbine in Rhode Island, was surprised to find a man sunbathing on the top of it.

Via RT:

The bearded man’s identity was unknown at first, with some speculating that he might have been an engineer who had decided to take a short break after conducting some maintenance work.

However, the truth is even more interesting. According to WPRO News, the man is actually a monk who works at the nearby Portsmouth Abbey School. In fact, the school even told the station that it’s not rare for the monk to soak in the sun atop the turbine.

By the way, the video is amazingly crystal clear. Take a look.

Science: Can You Really Have "Too Much" Of A Good Thing?


The guys at AsapSCIENCE ruminate on the possible results from indulging in certain pleasures like coffee, chocolate, alcohol and more.

Be smarter in three minutes. Hit the link.



Eliad Cohen: Good Morning Mykonos

I rarely post from Eliad Cohen's Instagram, mainly because after a while you realize he looks about perfect in every photo.

But thumbing through my Instagram feed this morning, I seriously had to stop and admire the view.

Happy Saturday!

Good morning Mykonos ☀️

A photo posted by Eliad Cohen (@eliad_cohen) on

Friday, August 28, 2015

Donald Trump Presidential Campaign Wrapped Up In One Ad


Pretty much says it all.

From Jimmy Kimmel:
The strangest thing about Donald Trump being on top of the polls for a full month now is that apart from his plan to build a wall to keep Mexicans out, we know absolutely nothing about what he would do as President.

Ordinarily people running for President tell us what they would do if they got the job, but Donald Trump has a much broader approach.

Kentucky: Official Misconduct Charges Filed Against County Clerk By Rowan County Government


The hits just keep coming for anti-gay Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis in Kentucky.

Official misconduct charges have been referred to the Kentucky Attorney General by the Rowan County government against Davis late Friday afternoon.

From the Lexington CBS affiliate:

The Rowan County Attorney's Office said on Friday that it has referred to the Attorney General's Office a charge of official misconduct against Davis. A release from the county attorneys office says Kentucky Bar Association "Rules of the Supreme Court of Kentucky prohibit the Rowan County Attorney's Office from prosecuting Davis" because they are involved in current litigation with Davis.

"Typically, the attorney general's office refers conflict cases to a prosecutor from another county," the release says.

The release says Rowan County Government and the Rowan County Attorney's Office cannot take any other action against Kim Davis.

"Kentucky state government is the only entity that can move to have Kim Davis removed as Rowan County Clerk," the release says.

A spokeswoman for the attorney generals office told WKYT they are looking into the matter.

According to Morehead News:

Official misconduct in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable with imprisonment not to exceed 12 months and fines of $500.

Official misconduct in the second degree is a Class B misdemeanor and carries a potential punishment of up to 90 days imprisonment and fines of $250.

The charge must be tried in court before a designation of first or second degree is placed upon it.

Davis, who has been married four times, refuses to issue marriage licenses to gays and lesbians over her "deeply held religious beliefs."

"Religious beliefs" that clearly don't cover the issue of divorce.

Donald Trump Dodges His Way Around Opposing Marriage Equality


In a recent interview with Bloomberg, 2016 GOP aspirant Donald Trump said he "wouldn't speak to them at all about it" if he were asked by a son/daughter/grandchild about why he opposes same-sex marriage.

Wow. That's 'presidential.'

From LGBTQ Nation:

Trump replied, “Well, it’s the way it is. I wouldn’t speak to them at all about it, other than they are who they are and I want them to be happy and I will love them and I will cherish them.”

“I’ve gone to gay weddings,” he continued. “I’ve been at gay weddings. I have been against it from the standpoint of Bible, from the standpoint of my teachings as growing up and going to Sunday school and going to church and I’ve been opposed to it.”

“We’ll just see how it all comes out,” he concluded, “but if I was ever in that position I’d just have to explain it.”

In recent days, the thrice-married Trump (isn't divorce a bad thing in the Bible too?) has proclaimed the Bible his favorite book; although, he was not able to quote or reference a single verse from the good book.

What's clear to many is Trump's "opposition" to marriage equality is only an attempt to placate evangelical Republicans. I no more believe Trump opposes same-sex marriage than I believe he opposes divorce.

Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis Requests Extension Of Same-Sex Marriage Ruling, Heads To SCOTUS

County clerk Kim Davis (R)
Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, having received a big fat "no" from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding a stay on a federal judge's ruling that would compel her to follow the law and issue marriage licenses, is now heading to the U.S. Supreme Court asking for an "emergency" stay.

The original stay by federal Judge David Bunning expires on Monday, August 31st. That stay was issued in "deference" to the 6th Circuit Court. Davis has asked Bunning for an extension to accommodate time for SCOTUS.

Here is Davis' request:

This Court granted Davis a temporary stay of the Injunction Order through August 31, 2015. (Docs. 52, 55.) The Court’s reason for granting the temporary stay was “deference to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals . . . to give the appellate court an opportunity to review, on an expedited basis,” Davis’ request for a stay pending appeal. (Doc. 55 at 1.)

The Sixth Circuit entered an order denying Davis’ motion for stay pending appeal by Order dated August 26, 2015. (6th Cir. Case No. 15-5880, Doc. 28-1.) Davis filed today, however, in the Supreme Court of the United States, an emergency application to stay the Injunction Order.

Accordingly, Davis now requests that this Court extend the same deference to the Supreme Court, to give the Supreme Court an opportunity to review and finally decide Davis’ emergency application for stay.

WHEREFORE, defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff Kim Davis respectfully requests that this Court extend the temporary stay of the Injunction Order pending the Supreme Court’s final disposition of her emergency application for a stay pending appeal, by the form of the proposed order attached hereto.

It is doubtful that SCOTUS would grant the "emergency" stay. Davis' cases hinges on flouting the ruling made BY SCOTUS.

And speaking of that ruling, all requests that come from within the 6th Circuit are routed to Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagen, who sided in favor of marriage equality in the recent historic ruling.

In her filing with SCOTUS, Davis' lawyers contend that since there are county clerks in Kentucky (several hours away), gays and lesbians can still get married, so what's the harm?

SRSLY.

UPDATE: Federal Judge Bunning denied an extension of his original stay.

We'll see what SCOTUS says...

Bye Felecia.

Cool Thing Of The Day: Skylight Opens Up Second Floor

We have finished the install of the new balcony Velux in Staines... What a great way to give you that bit of extra space in your loft conversion!

Posted by Vampbox.com on Thursday, August 20, 2015

Viral Video: West Des Moines School Teachers Parody "One More Day" From LES MISERABLES


For all the teachers and theater fans. This flash mob will make you smile.

Almost 2 million views so far.

While the West Des Moines Community School District Superintendent was beginning her speech to the staff of WDMCS at the district-wide welcome back meeting, the teachers of the district created a flash mob to the enjoyment of their unsuspecting colleagues. With only one more day of preparation left, the teachers shared their talents by performing a parody of the song, “One more day” from Les Miserables.

How about the impressive voices???

You can read the clever lyrics below the video.



Lyrics:
One day more!
Another year and one more planning day.
As we start this road to the end of May;
These students who in spring were here
Will surely come to school this year.
One day more!
--------
I am not ready for today.
What shall I do once school has started?
--------
One day more.
--------
Tomorrow you’ll be halls away
Because the summer now has parted
--------
One more day all on my own.
--------
Do we know the common core?
--------
No more time for preparation.
--------
Will my lesson be a bore?
--------
I’ve run out of planning time.
--------
Please collaborate with me
--------
Soon the students will be here
--------
One more day before we start!
--------
Do I join her for PD?
--------
Learning targets bring you freedom!
--------
Shall I join their PLC?
--------
Common assessments shall be made
--------
Formative or summative?
--------
Will you come and plan with me?
--------
The time is now, the day is here!
--------
One day more!
--------
One more day to education,
We will help these students grow!
We'll be ready for these schoolboys
We will teach what they don’t know!
--------
One day more!
--------
Watch 'em run around,
Catch 'em if they fall,
Making sure the classroom’s
Ready for them all,
Here’s a little crayon
There’s a little glue
Markers, pens, and pencils
They know what to do!
--------
One day to a new beginning

Raise the flag and say the pledge!

Every student will arrive

And I hope I will survive!

There's a new world for the teaching

There's a new world to be taught

Do you hear the school bells ring?
--------
All right,
I’ll join,
your PLC!
--------
One day more!
--------
I am not ready for today.
What shall I do once school has started?

We’ll become these student’s heroes
We will lead and they will go
We will build them a bright future,
We know things that they don’t know.

One more day all on my own!
--------
One day more!
--------
Tomorrow you’ll be halls away
Because the summer now has parted

One more day to education,
We will help these students grow!
We'll be ready for these schoolboys

Watch 'em run around,
Catch 'em if they fall,
Making sure the classroom’s
Ready for them all,
Here’s a little crayon
There’s a little glue

--------
Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!

(h/t JMG)

Donald Trump's Language Towards Latinos Makes Ricky Martin's Blood "Boil"


Music superstar Ricky Martin is fed up with Donald Trump's attacks and demeaning tone towards the Latino community, and he's not going to stay quiet about it.

In a spanish language op-ed (translated on Billboard.com), Martin unleashes his displeasure over The Donald's harassment that Martin says makes his "blood boil."

“The fact that an individual like Donald Trump, a candidate for the presidency of the United States for the Republican party, has the audacity to continue to gratuitously harass the Latin community makes my blood boil.

When did this character assume he could make comments that are racist, absurd, and above all incoherent and ignorant about us Latinos?

From the beginning his intention was transparent: basically tell barbarities and lies to remain relevant in the public opinion, for votes or simply to stay on the media’s radar.

Yesterday’s episode against journalist Jorge Ramos, one of the most beloved and respected Latinos in world media, has gotten to the point of enough is enough.

Jorge Ramos was doing HIS JOB as a journalist at a press conference in which he appeared freely and democratically, representing one of the most important Latin television networks in the world and with the same right to freely exercise his profession as all other journalists.

But this new character in American politics verbally attacks him and ejects him from the press conference.

This action from Trump doesn’t surprise me, what does surprise me is that as Hispanics we continue to accept the aggressions and accusations of people like him who attack our dignity.

Enough is enough!

If we are united for some things we should be united for others. We have already shown the United States who we are and we cannot allow this behavior.

We have to defeat the power that Trump pretends to have over Latinos, anchored in low rhetoric and xenophobic speech, which his campaign team is convinced works for him.

Let’s show that our Latin race is to be respected, let’s not allow a political hopeful to plant his campaign in insult and humiliation. Let’s demand respect for those first generations of Latinos who came to the United States and opened a path for us. We have fought for every right that we have today.

Xenophobia as a political strategy is the lowest you can go in search of political power.

This is an issue that unites us and we need to battle it together, not just for us but for the evolution of humanity and those to come.”

Sarah Palin: Asking Donald Trump's "Favorite Bible Verse" Is A Gotcha Question

Sarah Palin

For several days now, GOP White House hopeful Donald Trump has been freely stating in his campaign appearances that the Bible is his favorite book.

When asked this week if he could share a favorite Bible verse, he was kind of stumped saying it was "too personal" to share.  (The impression to many, after that response, was that perhaps Trump wasn't all THAT familiar with the Bible).

Personally, I think if you're bringing up the Bible and how much you like it, referencing one inspirational verse isn't too personal. Especially when Trump is the one bringing up the Bible.

Well, former half-term governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin (who has been clearly campaigning for the running mate spot on a Trump ticket) came to The Donald's defense on her Facebook page:

WTH, LAMESTREAM MEDIA! STAY OUT OF MY BIBLE. WTH? Lamestream media asks GOP personal, spiritual “gotchas” that they’d NEVER ask Hillary, or they’d feed the question to her and/or liberal cohorts before they asked it on-air (we know how these things work, lapdog media… the public’s on to you), so good on Trump for screwing with the reporter. By the way, even with my reading scripture everyday I wouldn’t want to answer the guy’s question either… it’s none of his business; it IS personal; what the heck does it have to do with serving as commander-in-chief; and these reporters trying to trip up conservatives can go pound sand until they ask the same things of their favored liberal pals. I’ll cover this in my interview with Donald Trump and other candidates tonight on the One America News Network show “On Point.” The more the media does this, the more they empower America to reject them and their bias as voters run to the anti-status quo candidates daring to Go Rogue.

Palin famously could not name one publication - newspaper, magazine, website - she regularly read when asked by Katie Couric in 2008 when Palin was the GOP vice-presidential nominee.

Palin considered that a "gotcha" question.

Scammed: Ashley Madison Hookup Site Had Practically NO Real Female Accounts


According to Gizmodo, who took a serious look at the data dumb from the Ashley Madison cheater's site, an enormous percentage of the "female" accounts were fake.

An ENORMOUS amount were fake.

Then, three data fields changed everything. The first field, called mail_last_time, contained a timestamp indicating the last time a member checked the messages in their Ashley Madison inbox. If a person never checked their inbox, the field was blank. But even if they’d checked their messages only once, the field contained a date and time. About two-thirds of the men, or 20.2 million of them, had checked the messages in their accounts at least once. But only 1,492 women had ever checked their messages. It was a serious anomaly.

The pattern was reflected in another data field, too. This one, called chat_last_time contained the timestamp for the last time a member had struck up a conversation using the Ashley Madison chat system. Roughly 11 million men had engaged in chat, but only 2400 women had.

Overall, the picture is grim indeed. Out of 5.5 million female accounts, roughly zero percent had ever shown any kind of activity at all, after the day they were created.

The men’s accounts tell a story of lively engagement with the site, with over 20 million men hopefully looking at their inboxes, and over 10 million of them initiating chats. The women’s accounts show so little activity that they might as well not be there.

So out of 5.5 million female accounts, the data shows only 1,400 or so had ever checked messages.

Whoa, bros. You got hosed.

Hate Group Leader: Obama Is Setting Up A Way For Courts To Legalize Prostitution

Bryan Fischer

Hate group leader Bryan Fischer hypothesizes (in his cyncial, bizarro world logic) that the real reason for the raid on the corporate offices of Rentboy is to set up a complex set of events that would lead to President Obama fighting for legalizing prostitution.

From Fischer's essay:  

So the question naturally is why. Why would Obama suddenly bring the hammer down on homosexual prostitution?

Maybe, in the wake of the Ashley Madison hack, he wants to get all the client information from this website in federal custody to protect the identities of his political and social friends who may be customers.

Or Obama believes, with homosexuality being the flavor of the year in the world of sexual abnormality, this is the moment to haul homosexual prostitutes into court and get some federal judge somewhere to rule that prostitution cannot be made illegal under the United States Constitution.

With no prayer of getting a bill legalizing prostitution through Congress, his best hope is the court system.

And his best chance to get the favorable ruling he wants, given the current cultural zeitgeist, is if the defendants in courts are homosexual prostitutes rather than heterosexual ones. What politically correct judge today would dare to rule against the sin of sodomy anywhere at anytime?

In other words, Obama is pursuing this action not because he wants to punish homosexual prostitutes but because he wants the Supreme Court to exonerate them.

Obama knows that this action will be challenged in court, and that when the appeal makes it to the Supreme Court, he can count on the Court’s five homosexual activists to rule that laws against money for sex are antiquated, outmoded, and so 18th century.

And poof, the last vestige of moral standards with regard to adult sexuality will be gone.

In other words, Bryan Fischer has now completely lost his mind.

(h/t JMG)

Music Video: Macklemore And Ryan Lewis "Downtown"


Over 1.4 million views in a day.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (who had the second biggest hit of 2013 with their "Thrift Shop") are feeling some "downtown" vibes in their latest track.

And they like a whole lotta different vibes in the down town. Starting a bit silly on shopping spree for a moped, the video journey takes a turn into West Side Story land for a minute, then swings into full on parade through the streets of Spokane, Washington.

All that, and it works.



Thursday, August 27, 2015

News Round-Up: August 27, 2016

Ramin Karimloo

Some news stories you may have missed:

• He sings! He acts! AND he looks like this! Broadway Style Guide shares workout tips from the fabulous Ramin Karimloo, star of Broadway's "Les Miserables."

• Despite losing AGAIN in court, Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis refuses to issue marriage license to gay couple for the 3rd time.

• In other Kentucky news, the state's largest public school district passed important protections for transgender folks.

• Former Will & Grace star will headline the Los Angeles premiere of the hit Broadway play, Act of God.

• Chick-Fil-A may lose chance at Denver Airport location over anti-gay history.

• Former half-term governor of Alaska Sarah Palin is still campaigning to be Donald Trump's running mate.

• What is it about a man and his horse?


Thursday Theatre Throwback: Julia Murney & Sutton Foster "I Know Him So Well" From CHESS



Pretty close to perfect here.

The late 80s musical CHESS, about the game itself and geo-political gamesmanship, had an excellent Actors Fund concert redux back in 2003 starring Julia Murney, Josh Groban, Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, Norm Lewis and Adam Pascal.

This duet of "I Know Him So Well" with Murney and Foster requires hitting "repeat" several times, it's so good.

Love the score, and I'm a big fan of the ladies here.

Kentucky County Clerk Casey Davis Prepared To Die Over Right To Deny Gay Couples Marriage License

Kentucky County Clerk Casey Davis

Although Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis has gotten most of the headlines lately over refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, she's not the only Kentucky county clerk to do so.

Casey County Clerk Casey Davis recently appeared on a local Kentucky radio show and said he's prepared to die over his right to deny gay couples a marriage license.

“Our law says ‘one man and one woman’ and that is what I held my hand up and took an oath to and that is what I expected.

"If it takes it, I will go to jail over — if it takes my life, I will die for because I believe I owe that to the people that fought so I can have the freedom that I have, I owe that to them today, and you do, we all do.

"They fought and died so we could have this freedom and I’m going to fight and die for my kids and your kids can keep it.”

You can listen to Davis via Right Wing Watch below:

Tom Hardy - Master Of Dubsmash

Now, y'all know I love me some Tom Hardy.

Terrific actor. Easy on the eyes. And now - Dubsmash master!

I should put a plug here for his upcoming movie, Legend - where Hardy plays twin brothers - which hits theaters on September 11.

Here's just a few clips of Tom's Dubsmash hits. More at DigitalSpy.

Kill me now :)




(via DigitalSpy)

Wealthy GOP Donor Who Mocked Hillary Clinton's Marriage Had Ashley Madison Account

(image via Gawker)
I think you file this under "Delicious Irony."

It would seem that an über-wealthy hedge fund investor and Republican donor, who has publicly made fun of Hillary Clinton staying in her marriage to "a liar and a cheat," had an account on the cheaters networking website Ashley Madison.

The account was recently uncovered in the data dump when hackers released the website's info for the public to see.

From Gawker:

The name and email address of Dan Loeb, founder of hedge fund Third Point LLC and prominent contributor to the Romney campaign, appear in the company’s database of users, and Loeb confirmed in a statement to Gawker that the account is authentic.

Once an Obama supporter, Loeb has since turned into a very generous supporter of Republican candidates and conservative Super PACs—he gifted $1,000,000 to the right-wing American Unity PAC and a quarter million to the Ending Spending Action Fund just last fall, along with tens of thousands of dollars straight to the Republican Party.

More recently he’s become a vocal detractor of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. In June, he posted a joke to his Facebook page that described Clinton as a put-upon spouse trapped in a loveless marriage with a cheating husband who thinks she’s a lesbian.

I asked Loeb about this account, and received this statement via public relations rep Steven Rubenstein:

“As my family, friends and business colleagues know, I am a prolific web surfer. Did I visit this site to see what it was all about? Absolutely – years ago, at the time I was invested in Yahoo and IAC and was endlessly curious about apps and websites. Did I ever engage or meet with anyone through this site? Never. That was never my intention — as evidenced by the fact that I never provided a credit card to set up an account.”

Interestingly, Loeb's profile data shows that the last time he checked "private message" on the site was on December 9, 2013 — eight months after he joined Ashley Madison.

Now, why would he be checking private messages if he had no intention of hooking up?

Things that make you go "hmm..."

My Favorite Thing Today: "For The Record: Baz" In Las Vegas


Michael and I recently have fallen in love with this new show - For The Record: Baz - in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay.

Staged at the Light nightclub, the musical is an environmental musical mashup of songs and romances from Baz Luhrmann's movies "Moulin Rouge," "Gatsby" and "Romeo + Juliet." The show is a co-production with Cirque du Soleil's theatrical division and LA based company For The Record.

Brilliantly staged, cutting in and out of the three different storylines, the show flies by at breakneck speed. And a talented cast to die for.

It's a sexy, sumptuous, edgy new vision for musical theatre. I loved it.

Sadly, I hear the show is closing at Mandalay Bay in search of a new home. Fingers are crossed the producers find a longterm home for this post-modern mashup spectacle.

So, go see the show this weekend before the curtain comes down - for now - on "For The Record: Baz."



We’re proud of the way #BAZVegas has broken entertainment boundaries in #Vegas and are working diligently to find a new home on The Strip. We invite everyone who’s wanted to indulge with us in A Little Party to join us before Sunday. Get tickets here: www.BazLasVegas.com
Posted by BAZ Las Vegas on Wednesday, August 26, 2015