Sunday, May 31, 2015

Half-Term Governor Of Alaska Criticizes Two-Term Governor Of Maryland

Yesterday, Sarah Palin (former half-term governor of Alaska) took to the safe haven of her Facebook page to criticize former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (who not only served his FULL term as governor, but ran for a second term, won, and served THAT term to it's limit).

Yet another anti-freedom politician jumps in the race today for POTUS. As cool as he is with his rock 'n roll persona, this typical liberal's erroneous grasp of our Bill of Rights merely continues the strange and disastrous agenda of Barack Obama. Good to know he doesn't have much chance of winning. The democrats have greased the skids for their chosen one, despite the media games that play the public with various "competing" campaigns used for gamey distractions.

With today's more-of-the-same distract-sphere – with the politician sounding exactly like all the others – don't you wonder if there are ANY good old fashioned Blue Dog democrats who can represent the left’s party in the 2016 race? I feel kind of bad for democrats who are as embarrassed about their party leaving them as some of us Republicans are about our own party when we hear the GOP talk a good game but dishonorably capitulate when given the majority power to stop Obama's nonsense.

The old saying really is true: those who can, do; those who can't, criticize.

For Palin to naysay from the sidelines is cowardly. She can jump in the race herself anytime she likes. The issue? She doesn't "like." It's much more comfortable, safe, and more profitable to sit on the sidelines and tell everyone how they're doing it all wrong.

O'Malley handled the statement with class. He invited her to have the courage of her convictions.

Which, of course, she doesn't have. She knows she'd lose.

Bringing My Love Of Dogs And Dancing Together


Regular readers know my two personal loves are dogs and dancing, having loved both since I was little.

I came across this video and I'm just blown away. This is a very, very complex routine for a dog to learn. And he's so on point.

Give it up for the dancer and the dog!


سەگێک سەمای بالێ دەکات
سەگێک سەمای بالێ دەکات
Posted by Kurdsat Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday, April 12, 2015

New Music Video: Maroon 5 "This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A Motherf*cker"


Maroon 5 dropped their latest music video last night, "This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A Motherf*cker."

Sorry for the language; there is a "clean" version out there which replaces "Motherf****r" with "A-ha," but this lyric is clearly the writer's intent so I honor that. Feel free to skip if it's not your thing.

I'm a big fan of the band, and especially Adam Levine (and his bare nakedness that we see a glimpse of in the beginning of the clip).

From the band's new album V, released two weeks ago. Find it on iTunes here.

Rick Santorum Super-Cut Of Anti-LGBT Positions


In light of Rick Santorum's recent announcement regarding his run for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, HRC wanted to remind you of his virulently anti-gay positions on a host of issues including same-sex marriage, civil rights and more.

Duggars To Appear On Fox News To "Share" Their Hearts, Tears And Pain On Josh Duggar Scandal


Entertainment Tonight reports that the Duggars, Jim Bob and Michelle of 19 Kids And Counting fame, will appear on Megyn Kelly's show on Fox News.

More than a week after they responded on Facebook to the under-age molestation allegations against their oldest son Josh Duggar when he was 14 years old, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced that they are giving their first sit-down TV interview to Fox News.

News anchor Megyn Kelly landed the highly sought-after interview with the 19 Kids and Counting parents, which she'll conduct on Wednesday, June 3, from the family's Arkansas hometown.

"Next week we will sit down with Megyn Kelly on Fox News to share our hearts with you about the pain that we walked through as a family twelve years ago, the tears we all shed and the forgiveness that was given," the Duggars wrote in a statement. "We appreciate the outpouring of love and prayers for our family at this time."

I'm sure we can count on this interview to have hard-hitting questions... (sarcasm intended).

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Beau Biden, Son Of Vice-President Joe Biden, Passes Away From Brain Cancer At 46


From Huffington Post:

Beau Biden, the son of Vice President Joe Biden, has died from brain cancer, the White House announced Saturday evening. He was 46.

Biden served as Delaware's attorney general for eight years between 2007 to 2015. In 2010, he suffered a mild stroke but recovered and went back to work.

"Michelle and I are grieving tonight," President Obama said in a statement.

From the Biden Family:

It is with broken hearts that Hallie, Hunter, Ashley, Jill and I announce the passing of our husband, brother and son, Beau, after he battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life.

The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau’s spirit will live on in all of us—especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter.

Beau's life was defined by service to others. As a young lawyer, he worked to establish the rule of law in war-torn Kosovo. A major in the Delaware National Guard, he was an Iraq War veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star. As Delaware’s Attorney General, he fought for the powerless and made it his mission to protect children from abuse.

More than his professional accomplishments, Beau measured himself as a husband, father, son and brother. His absolute honor made him a role model for our family. Beau embodied my father's saying that a parent knows success when his child turns out better than he did.

In the words of the Biden family: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have ever known.

Which Tastes Better: Expensive Or Thrifty Wine?


Vox compares actual wine tastings of expensive to less expensive wines. It turns out just being told a wine is more expensive may make you think it's better.

Pentagon To Add Sexual Orientation To Non-Discrimination Policy


Chris Johnson at the Washington Blade writes:

The Pentagon is preparing to update its Military Equal Opportunity Policy to include sexual orientation as a protected class and the change could be made final as soon as the end of next month, the Washington Blade has learned.

A senior defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed late Friday the Defense Department is planning to update the Military Equal Opportunity Policy to add the words “sexual orientation” as part of the non-discrimination policy.

The proposed change is set to be delivered as early as the middle of next week to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter for his review and final approval, the official said. Each of the military services has already agreed to the change, the official said.

Transgender people are still barred from open service in the U.S. Military.

Hillary Welcomes Martin O'Malley To 2016 Democratic Race


File this under #Class and #Confidence.
Go Hillary.

Former Speaker Of The House Tom DeLay: Americans Should "Rise Up" Against Any Pro-LGBT Ruling By SCOTUS

Former Speaker of the House Tom DeLay

On Thursday, Dennis Hastert, ex-GOP Speaker of the House of Representatives, was indicted on charges he paid off a man he sexually abused decades ago.

This brought to mind former GOP Speaker of the House Tom DeLay, who has had his own run-ins with the law (in 2005 he was indicted for criminal charges of conspiracy to violate election law).

DeLay stopped by Houston radio host Sam Malone's show to tell the listeners that Americans should "rise up" against any ruling by SCOTUS that favors the LGBT community:

“The Supreme Court is about to put out a ruling on marriage and they have no jurisdiction to do so, they shouldn’t have even heard this case, they have no right to redefine marriage and hopefully the American people will rise up and really undermine the legitimacy of the Supreme Court.”

It goes without saying that the Supreme Court's role in the government is to rule on any laws that are found to be unconstitutional. That is literally what the founders of the US created the judicial branch of government to do.



(via Right Wing Watch)

Girl Power

(via BosGuy)

Chris Pratt Drops A Hysterical Essex Accent On The Graham Norton Show

Chris Pratt Does TOWIE

The only way is Chris Pratt. Watch the Guardian of the Galaxy turn Emperor of Essex with an accent that's like totes amaze.The Graham Norton Show. Fridays. BBC One.

Posted by BBC One on Friday, May 29, 2015

Illinois: State Senate Votes 34-19 To Protect LGBT Youth From "Ex-Gay" Torture


The Illinois state Senate on Friday approved a measure, by a vote of 34-19, that will ban so-called "ex-gay" therapy aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBT youth.

The bill passed by a 34-19 vote after receiving House approval this month. It now heads to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk.

Gov. Bruce Rauner has not indicated whether he plans to sign the bill into law.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), points to several mental health associations support banning the practice as studies have shown it can be extremely damaging causing “mental illness, trauma and can increase the risk of suicide.”

The legislation would ban mental health providers from using the controversial treatment on anyone under 18 years old.

Currently California, Oregon, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. have approved similar bans on "conversion" therapy.

New Music: Mika "Good Guys"


Out recording artist Mika drops his newest music video, "Good Guys," from his fourth studio album No Place In Heaven.

With creative and theatrical staging, Mika expresses his frustrations with the gay community throughout the video - "where have all the gay guys gone?" - while he searches for a "good guy."

Mika quotes Oscar Wilde's for his chorus, 'If we are all in the gutter, it doesn't change who we are/cause some of us in the gutter are looking up at the stars.'

Later he acknowledges many of the gay icons who came before him including W.H. Auden, James Dean, Jean Cocteau, Wilfred Owen and others.

The single is available now; the full album release date is June 16th.

I've previously written about Mika here and here.





Tennessee TV Station Refuses To Air Marriage Equality Ad


A Tennessee television station, which previously had no policy on ads regarding same-sex marriage suddenly developed one this week when approached by LGBT advocacy group Freedom To Marry.

The ad featured a gay Republican physician - Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld - who has just returned from deployment in Afghanistan and wants to marry his partner.

From Buzzfeed:

“I’m a Republican, I’m a doctor, and I’m a soldier,” says a voice over by Ehrenfeld as the commercial shows images of him serving in uniform, and back at home with his boyfriend, Judd Taback. “As a military physician, I take care of other people’s loved ones who are wounded in combat. But here at home, I’m fighting a different fight. Because I’m gay, I’m not allowed to marry my partner here in Tennessee where we live.”

The television station refused to air the spot.

“It’s just a very controversial and personal issue, and we just choose to not air a commercial on either side of that debate,” Tom Tolar, the president and general manager of Chatanooga-based WRCB, told BuzzFeed News in a phone interview.

The ad is running on TV stations in Nashville and Memphis.

Freedom To Marry has run over two dozen ads supporting marriage equality across the country. This is the first time a station has refused their business.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley Joins The 2016 Democratic Field


Former Governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, joined Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in the hunt for the 2016 Democratic party nomination for president today.

While he faces steep odds against Clinton, who's ahead in all polls by huge numbers, I think it's good to have some debate on where the Democratic party will go.

O'Malley calls for a "new leadership" as he promises to "rebuild the American dream."

Puppyhood


Even if it's a commercial, it's a very cute commercial.

I freely admit to having gotten down on the floor with my dogs at some point to get them to eat.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Former Speaker Of The House Dennis Hastert Indicted Over Payments To Conceal Past "Misconduct" With Another Man


Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert was indicted yesterday on federal criminal charges for allegedly paying a male from his past to try to conceal prior "sexual misconduct," the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday, citing two unnamed federal law enforcement officials.

More from Reuters:

One of the officials cited by the newspaper said the alleged misconduct involved a male and occurred during Hastert's time as a high school wrestling coach and teacher in Yorkville, Illinois, before becoming a lawmaker.

Prosecutors said the charges related to Hastert's alleged effort to hide $3.5 million in payments he was making to a person to conceal past misconduct, but did not detail the nature of the misconduct.

Asked why Hastert, an Illinois Republican who become his party's longest-serving House speaker before leaving Congress in 2007, was making the payments, the official told the Times that it was intended to conceal Hastert's past relationship with the male.

"It was sex," said the official, whom spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hastert, 73, was charged on Thursday with structuring the withdrawal of $952,000 in cash to evade the requirement that banks report cash transactions over $10,000, and lying to the FBI about his withdrawals.

Each count of the two-count indictment carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The unnamed sources underscored that the "misconduct" had nothing to do with his time in office and reached back to his days as a teacher and coach before his political career.

The Republican from a small suburb of Chicago was his party's longest serving Speaker of the House at 8 years.

The issue of hypocrisy comes up should the allegations be true. Hastert had an abysmal voting record against LGBT issues. From Raw Story:

As a federal legislator, Hastert voted regularly against bills to empower gay people. In Congress from 1997 to 2007, Hastert voted for the so-called “Marriage Protection Act,” and in favor of a constitutional amendment to “establish that marriage shall consist of one man and one woman.” The year he stepped down, Hastert voted no on the “Employment Non-Discrimination Act,” a bill to prohibit companies from discriminating against employees “on the basis of sexual orientation.”

Hastert resigned as speaker of the House following allegations that he failed to report former Representative Mark Foley (R-FL) for inappropriate relationships with boys employed as pages at the U.S. Capitol.

President Obama Proclaims June 2015 "LGBT Pride Month"


President Barack Obama has issued a presidential proclamation officially making June 2015  "LGBT Pride Month."

From WhiteHouse.gov:

"From the moment our Nation first came together to declare the fundamental truth that all men are created equal, courageous and dedicated patriots have fought to refine our founding promise and broaden democracy's reach. Over the course of more than two centuries of striving and sacrifice, our country has expanded civil rights and enshrined equal protections into our Constitution. Through struggle and setback, we see a common trajectory toward a more free and just society. But we are also reminded that we are not truly equal until every person is afforded the same rights and opportunities -- that when one of us experiences discrimination, it affects all of us -- and that our journey is not complete until our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law.

"Across our Nation, tremendous progress has been won by determined individuals who stood up, spoke out, and shared their stories. Earlier this year, because of my landmark Executive Order on LGBT workplace discrimination, protections for Federal contractors went into effect, guarding against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Federal Government is now leading by example, ensuring that our employees and contractors are judged by the quality of their work, not by who they love. And I will keep calling on the Congress to pass legislation so that all Americans are covered by these protections, no matter where they work.

"In communities throughout the country, barriers that limit the potential of LGBT Americans have been torn down, but too many individuals continue to encounter discrimination and unfair treatment. My Administration supports efforts to ban the use of conversion therapy for minors because the overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrates that it can cause substantial harm. We understand the unique challenges faced by sexual and gender minorities -- especially transgender and gender non-conforming individuals -- and are taking steps to address them. And we recognize that families come in many shapes and sizes. Whether biological, foster, or adoptive, family acceptance is an important protective factor against suicide and harm for LGBTQ youth, and mental health experts have created resources to support family communication and involvement.

"For countless young people, it is not enough to simply say it gets better; we must take action too. We continue to address bullying and harassment in our classrooms, ensuring every student has a nurturing environment in which to learn and grow. Across the Federal Government, we are working every day to unlock the opportunities all LGBT individuals deserve and the resources and care they need. Too many LGBTQ youth face homelessness and too many older individuals struggle to find welcoming and affordable housing; that is why my Administration is striving to ensure they have equal access to safe and supportive housing throughout life. We are updating our National HIV/AIDS Strategy to better address the disproportionate burden HIV has on communities of gay and
bisexual men and transgender women. We continue to extend family and spousal benefits to legally married same-sex couples.

"And because we know LGBT rights are human rights, we are championing protections and support for LGBT persons around the world. All people deserve to live with dignity and respect, free from fear and violence, and protected against discrimination, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, we celebrate the proud legacy LGBT individuals have woven into the fabric of our Nation, we honor those who have fought to perfect our Union, and we continue our work to build a society where every child grows up knowing that their country supports them, is proud of them, and has a place for them exactly as they are.

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2015 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth. - BARACK OBAMA.

Gay Hotelier Ian Reisner Lied Regarding Making Campaign Contribution To Sen. Ted Cruz

Quisling NYC businessman Ian Reisner

Boys, boys, boys. You've GOT to get your act together and your stories straight.

For weeks gay NYC hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass have been in trouble with the NYC LGBT community because they held a "fireside chat" with virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz last month.

Initially, the two men were "surprised" by the uproar saying they didn't really understand the degree to which Cruz opposes LGBT rights. And they stressed that the evening was not a fundraiser of any kind.

“There were no checks given, it was nothing like that,” Reisner told New York magazine.

Next, came the community boycott of their businesses including the niche hotel The Out NYC, followed by a full-on "apology tour" stressing that they will work hard to regain the gays' trust.

That lasted a couple of days until Weiderpass published an attack on the LGBT community including one passage calling the gays "cheap." Now there's damage control for you.

"It is amazing that my businesses are being boycotted by some because I hosted a discussion with an elected official. Not a fundraiser. Not an endorsement. A dialogue," wrote Weiderpass in an op-ed for The New York Observer. "Despite media reports to the contrary, I did not organize the Cruz dinner, but did embrace the opportunity—again, in a non-fundraising setting—to discuss a number of important issues, including support for Israel and support for gay rights."

Well, the proverbial "other shoe" dropped today as the New York Times reports that Reisner actually DID write a check to Cruz's campaign - for the maximum amount of $2,700.

It was only AFTER the scandal escalated that Reisner apparently asked for his check back - probably because the donation would should up on Mr. Cruz’s campaign finance filing when it becomes public in July.

“In the interest of transparency, I gave Senator Cruz a $2,700 check to show my support for his work on behalf of Israel,” Mr. Reisner said in a statement he provided after The Times learned of the donation from two people with direct knowledge of it. “When I realized his donation could be misconstrued as supporting his anti-gay marriage agenda, I asked for the money back. Senator Cruz’s office gave the money back, and I have no intention of giving any money to any politicians who aren’t in support of L.G.B.T. issues.”

Bolding is mine.

Umm, yes Mr. Reisner, contributing to a politician's campaign is generally seen as supporting their positions. Unless you inherited all your money, there's no way you could be a successful businessman and not understand such rudimentary concepts.

It just keeps getting worse for these guys.

Interestingly, when asked about the $2,700 check, Reisner's buddy Weiderpass seemed "surprised" to learn about the donation as he attended an event last night at New York's Marriott Marquis hotel.

And guess who also just happened to attend last night's event?

Yes - Sen. Ted Cruz.

"Ex-Gay" Activist Rants On The Josh Duggar Child Molestation Scandal

Christopher Doyle, an "ex-gay" activist write for the Christian Post today defending the ongoing Josh Duggar (of 19 Kids and Counting) child molestation scandal.

In his rant, Doyle compares the media coverage Josh Duggar is getting to how the media treated the arrest last November of one of the co-founders of the Human Rights Campaign, Terry Bean.

"Undoubtedly, the Left needed to dig up dirt against the Duggar family to discredit the family's conservative, Christian image. But for the liberal media to sensationalize this issue, and some of the articles are just vicious, is simply hypocritical, especially considering they barely mentioned the arrest of Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Co-Founder, Terry Bean, who was accused last November and charged with a felony for sexually abusing a 15 year old boy.

Did you see national headlines for weeks about this scandal of a sitting member of the Board of Directors of HRC? Of course not, because the media wouldn't dare implicate the world's largest gay activist organization.

Let's be honest, with 19 kids and Counting, is it a surprise to any of us that one of the Duggar children would struggle with sexual immorality or addiction?"

Where Doyle fails in his "comparison" is that Bean was an executive at an advocacy organization - NOT a celebrity on a TV reality show that has run for ten years with millions of viewers.

The difference in media interest between a reality celeb (whose fame hinges greatly on an image of "moral superiority") and an executive are completely understandable.

Of course both's behaviors were wrong. But the media coverage of a reality celeb caught in a hypocrisy scandal will always trump the interest in an exec.

(h/t JMG)

Rep. Alcee Hastings Delivers The Best Congressional Bitch Slap Ever


I don't know how I missed this last month, but it's awesome. If you like folks to say exactly what they think, Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida is your guy.

This epic clip gets better and better.

The Duggars Respond To Sexual Abuse Debacle


From Funny Or Die, this parody is actually more funny in that the two actors are pretty much telling the true story of the Josh Duggar scandal.

Clip description: Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of 19 Kids and Counting, finally come forward to tell their side of totally covering up their son Josh's sexual molestation scandal.



The A-Z of YouTube: Celebrating 10 Years


YouTube celebrates 10 years with this creative video showcasing a taste of just about everything the video site has to offer:

From the silly to the profound, from the personal to the political, we’re celebrating a decade of your creativity and self-expression. And, we’re doing it from A to Z.

With over 75 references and 18 filmmaking styles, we've tried to capture some of the richness and variety of YouTube from the last decade.

See how many references you recognize :)

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Broadway Cares Presents Cyndi Lauper With $150K For True Colors Fund


Tom Viola, director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS - who I'm proud to have known for over 25 years - writes this:

I had the pleasure of dropping by the stage door of the Hirschfeld Theatre this week to join the cast of Kinky Boots in presenting Cyndi Lauper with a “big check” representing the $150,000 donated to True Colors Fund by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS from the more than $1.2 million in resources raised by the show since it opened in April 2013.

Broadway Cares salutes Cyndi and True Colors Fund for everything they have done to advance equality for all and, in doing so, helping to end homelessness for gay and transgendered youth. “You change the world when you change your mind!” But our voices are stronger and the change embraces us all when we stand together.

Cyndi Lauper is the Tony Award winning composer of the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots and the founder of the True Colors Fund, which works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves.

Former NY Gov. George Pataki Joins The 2016 GOP Klown Car


Official Presidential campaign launch video for George Pataki, former Governor of New York, now in the hunt for the 2016 GOP nomination.

North Carolina: Governor Will Veto "Magistrates Marriage Refusal" Bill

Via press release from North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory:

"I recognize that for many North Carolinians, including myself, opinions on same-sex marriage come from sincerely held religious beliefs that marriage is between a man and a woman.

"However, we are a nation and a state of laws. Whether it is the president, governor, mayor, a law enforcement officer, or magistrate, no public official who voluntarily swears to support and defend the Constitution and to discharge all duties of their office should be exempt from upholding that oath; therefore, I will veto Senate Bill 2."

Olivia Newton-John & John Farnham Announce LIVE Concert CD


After the record-breaking Australian tour, TWO STRONG HEARTS, uniting superstars Olivia Newton-John and John Farnham, Sony Australia is announcing a treat for the fans who couldn't get to the concerts.

Via press release:

Sony Music Entertainment Australia is proud to announce the new live album from John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John, TWO STRONG HEARTS LIVE, set for release on Friday June 26th.

The album will be available to pre-order starting Friday, May 28th.

Click here to pre-order through iTunes

Link coming soon to order physical CD in USA


Together, Farnham and Newton-John’s voices are bound up in the collective DNA of Australian music lovers. Recorded in Melbourne with the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, the twenty-one track album features fifteen duets with two of Australia’s most iconic singers.

With a 60-piece orchestra behind them, Farnham and Newton-John recently sold out houses around the country. With Chong Lim leading the orchestra, alongside Farnham’s core band and singers, audiences were treated to a thrilling series of gigs that saw each artist dig into their own personal songbook with stunning results.

Today, in 2015, Farnham and Newton-John remain our ‘King and Queen of Pop’. Both are national treasures and, together on stage, they’ve got a helluva set list between them.

“Olivia and I opened the show together,” explains John, “we finished the show together and there was lots of interaction in between. It’s terrific singing with Olivia.”

“It’s a perfect blend of songs,” continues Olivia. “The show just flowed so well. We do duet and sing parts of each other’s songs as well as our own. It was a wonderful experience.”

Highlights From TWO STRONG HEARTS LIVE will be released on June 26th.

Click here to pre-order through iTunes

Complete Tracklist:

1. Overture
2. Two Strong Hearts
3. Let Me Be There
4. Xanadu
5. I Honestly Love You
6. Tenterfield Saddler
7. No One Comes Close
8. Love To Shine
9. Suddenly
10. Dare To Dream
11. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
12. Burn For You
13. Hit The Road Jack/Fever
14. You’re The One That I Want
15. Summer Nights
16. Hearts On Fire
17. If Not For You
18. Every Time You Cry
19. Physical
20. You’re The Voice
21. It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Want To Rock ’N’ Roll)

Watch the teaser video from TWO STRONG HEARTS LIVE below:

Olivia Newton-John & John Farnham - TWO STRONG HEARTS LIVE CD from Randy Slovacek on Vimeo.

Comedy Central's Larry Wilmore Breaks Down The Josh Duggar Scandal



(h/t JoeMyGod)

Armistead Maupin Weighs In On Gay Hoteliers Debacle


Writing on his Facebook page today, legendary gay author Armistead Maupin had this to say about the ongoing scandal/boycott of NYC gay hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass:

"I'm the only gay man I know who has never been to Fire Island. I have not made a point of staying away -- its charms are legendary, of course -- but the occasion has simply never presented itself.

"Now, it's quite likely that I will remain forever virginal in that regard. Or at least until these guys are no longer collecting money at the dock. When I coined the term "A-gay" forty years ago, these were just the sort of creeps I had in mind. It was never intended as something to aspire to."

The post was in response to a less than flattering profile in the New York Times about the two men and the scandal surrounding them.

North Carolina Legislature Approves Bill Allowing Magistrates To Opt-Out Of Same-Sex Marriages


Having already passed in the North Carolina Senate, the state House approved legislation last night that would allow some state officials to opt out of same-sex marriage duties based on "sincerely held religious" objections.

Court officials could request to recuse themselves for up to six months — during which time they could not perform any other marriages — and the recusal could be based on a religious objection to any type marriage, including between same-sex couples.

The bill passed by a vote of 66-44.

The bill now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory for his signature.

The governor avoided questions about the legislation yesterday but told a Charlotte radio station in March: "I don't think you should have an exemption or a carve-out when you swore an oath to the constitution of North Carolina or to the Constitution of the United States of America."

The Campaign For Southern Equality issued a statement that read in part:

“This discriminatory bill treats gay and lesbian couples as second-class citizens and distorts the true meaning of religious freedom. We urge Governor McCrory to veto this discriminatory bill.

We have the freedom to practice religion in our place of worship and to hold private beliefs. But as Americans, we’ve agreed that we will be governed by the principles of equality and fairness in our public and civic life.

Senate Bill 2 is discriminatory and rooted in animus - it must not become law,” says Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality.

Hulu Pulls "19 Kids & Counting"


TMZ is reporting that the online streaming service Hulu has already taken 19 Kids & Counting off their servers.

The popular streaming site was bombarded with messages from users who wanted the show 86'd in the wake of the Josh Duggar molestation scandal.

Hulu responded quickly, saying, "The show page has already been removed, and is no longer hosted on Hulu."

This puts even more pressure on TLC to make a move. As we reported, we're told the network is leaning toward cancellation, but at this point, they may not have a choice. Advertisers are fleeing in droves.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Where In The World Are Gays Happiest?


Planet Romeo, a dating/community site, recently compiled data on public opinion, public behavior and life satisfaction to see how gays around the world felt about their lives in what they call The Gay Happiness Index.

From Advocate.com:

Coming in at number one in all the world as the country where gay men are the happiest is Iceland, followed by Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Uruguay, Canada, Israel, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg (where the country's out prime minister earlier this month became the first national leader in a legal same-sex marriage).

The United States ranks 26th on the list. The map below shows the highest-ranked countries appearing in green, with the lowest-ranked countries in red.

Worth noting in your travel plans: the 10 countries where gays are least happy - Kazakhstan, Ghana, Cameroon, Iran, Nigeria, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Uganda.

Rick Santorum Is Back In The Hunt


Rick Santorum, an uber-vocal advocate for conservative family values and longtime opponent of LGBT rights, began his 2016 White House bid on Wednesday, promising to fight for working-class Americans in a new election season that will see him find his footing in a different Republican Party.

The former Pennsylvania senator surprised many by scoring a second-place finish in the race for the Republican presidential nomination four years ago. But this time, he may not even make it to the debate podium as the most recent Fox News poll for GOP contenders puts him at only 2% or 12th on the crowded list of hopefuls.

“I am proud to stand here, among you and for you, the American workers who have sacrificed so much, to announce that I am running for president of the United States,” the 57-year-old senator said, flanked by factory workers and six of his seven children in a cinderblock warehouse near his western Pennsylvania hometown.

“The last race, we changed the debate. This race, with your help and God’s grace, we can change this nation.”

New Music: Emily West "Bitter"


Ok, wow, Emily West. Wow.

The glamorous powerhouse singer/songwriter (and LGBT ally) from last year's America's Got Talent drops her first single from her upcoming debut album All For You via Portrait/Sony Music Masterworks.

All For You is now available for pre-order and will be released on August 14th.

In the video for "Bitter," West gives you a bit of Trisha Yearwood twang with Megan Hilty glamour and power. It's a potent combination that really is singularly Emily West.

"I liked the idea of mixing 'everyday life' with the 'glamorous' - glamorous with grit. With this, I had to take a lot of selfies and New Yorkers would shout out 'Selfie!' I'd get embarrassed, but ultimately making the video for 'Bitter' was a blast." - Emily West

West is currently headlining a multi-city tour, and is the opening act for comedian Jay Leno. Her fall tour will begin in September.

Via press release:

Driven by her love and fear of New York City, West got on a plane, got lost on the subway, and found herself auditioning for America's Got Talent. This gave her the opportunity to demonstrate her vulnerability and versatility to a wide audience.

As a finalist on Season 9, West won crowds over, including AGT judge Howard Stern, with re-imagined versions of songs like the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin," Sia's hit "Chandelier," and Cyndi Lauper's classic "True Colors," all of which appear on her upcoming album, along with three original songs.

Lauper, one of West's greatest supporters and mentors, performed "True Colors" on AGT with West, a track which resonated with fans from multiple generations.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

May 31 - Austin, TX @ Long Center (w/ Jay Leno)
June 4 - Chicago, IL @ Davenport's Piano Bar
June 18 - Chicago, IL @ Davenport's Piano Bar
June 25 - Chicago, IL @ Davenport's Piano Bar
July 4 - Aurora, CO @ Aurora Municipal Center
September 23 - Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
September 25 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
September 26 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues
October 2 - Minneapolis, MN @ Dakotas
October 8 - Boston, MA @ Regattabar
October 9 - Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere

Check out the video for "Bitter" below, and after that see her on last year's Americas Got Talent where she kills singing Sia's "Chandelier."

And of course, hit her up at the official website - emilywestofficial.com



Colton Haynes Keeps It Simple For Men's Fitness

Click to enlarge pic

Boy Culture points up Randy Report favorite Colton Haynes (MTV's Teen Wolf, CW's Arrow) in the June Men's Fitness talking on his big screen release San Andreas, where he plays a rookie on a helicopter rescue team.

Whether it's as a hero on the big or small screen, Haynes always looks pretty "heroic."

Happy Hump Day!

Fox News Barely Mentioned Duggar Scandal At All


According to Media Matters, Fox News pretty much ignored the Josh Duggar/child molestation allegations that dominated much of last week's news cycle.

As many now know, last week In Touch magazine reported that in 2006, Jim Bob Duggar - patriarch of TLC's reality show 19 Kids and Counting - waited over a year before telling police that his son, Josh Duggar, had confessed to molesting several female minors, including his sisters, when he was a teenager.

In the aftermath of the revelations, TLC pulled 19 Kids from its schedule.

From Media Matters:

The revelations drew widespread criticism in the media, with many outlets pointing out the Duggar family's reputation as a torch-bearer for conservative values and strong involvement in Republican politics and anti-LGBT activism. The revelations look to many like hypocrisy from a family that's become a political powerhouse in socially conservative circles in recent years by wielding its reality show influence to stump for "family values," Republican politicians, and the repeal of legal protections for LGBT people.

But while MSNBC and CNN have reportedly heavily on the Duggar scandal, Fox News has largely ignored the story. According to a Media Matters analysis, Fox News spent less than two minutes covering the story between May 21 and May 25, compared to almost an hour of coverage from the other cable news networks.

Bolding is mine.

No big surprise here, although to see the actual disparity is telling. The Duggars are held up as bastions of morality by Fox News, so it's no wonder they don't want to highlight the clear hypocrisy in play here.

Funny: Actual Complaints From Dissatisfied Travel Agency Customers


Via Facebook, these are actual complaints received by Thomas Cook Vacations from dissatisfied customers:

1. "They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach. It was very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax."

2. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food."

3. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish."

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price."

5. "The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room."

6. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as white but it was more yellow."

7. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallartato close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be banned."

8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared."

9. "Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers."

10. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local convenience store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."

11. "The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun."

12. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair."

13. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller."

14. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the resort.' We're trainee hairdressers and we think they knew and made us wait longer for service."

15. "When we were in Spain, there were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners."

16. "We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning."

17. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."

18. "I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes."

19. "My fiancée and I requested twin-beds when we booked, but instead we were placed in a room with a king bed. We now hold you responsible and want to be re-reimbursed for the fact that I became pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

No Same-Sex Marriage For Germany Despite 75% Approval For Marriage Equality

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel

Germany will not be following in Ireland's footsteps in joining the 21st century by legalizing same-sex marriage.

Reuters reports that Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition has agreed to small improvements in the country's domestic partnership laws, but according to spokesman Steffen Seibert, "Same-sex marriages are not a goal of this government."

Although there are growing divisions within the party, Merkel's Christian Democrats are still overwhelmingly opposed to same-sex marriages partly due to fears it could upset voters on the right.

However, polls show 75 percent of Germans are in favour of legalising gay marriages, as are the Social Democrats (SPD) and all opposition parties.

Merkel's cabinet gave same-sex couples more rights but this move was dismissed by critics as inadequate for a country that in 2001 became one of Europe's first to allow registered civil partnerships.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas, of the SPD, sounded disappointed that Germany could not take a bigger leap.

"Expanding rights for registered partnerships is another step toward giving same-sex unions the same rights as marriages," said Maas. "We haven't reached the goal yet."

Texas: Rep. Garnet Coleman Will "Kill" His Own Bill Before Allowing Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment To Pass

Texas Rep. Garnet Coleman will kill his own bill before allowing an anti-gay amendment be attached
Texas Rep. Garnet Coleman
We all were pretty sure the anti-gay bill Texas House Bill 4105, filed by state Rep. Cecil Bell, was dead in the water. The legislation would  attempt to thwart a possible SCOTUS ruling in favor of same-sex marriage by cutting off any state funds used to issue a marriage license to same-sex couples.

When Republicans in the state House couldn't get the legislation to the floor before deadline last week, it was almost a done deal. I say almost because the one sliver of a chance for the anti-gay marriage legislation to get to a vote would be if it could somehow be attached as an amendment to another bill still in play. BUT - it would have to be "germane" to the active bill.

Yesterday, state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., a Democrat who opposes same-sex marriage, attached Bell's bill to a non-controversial bill, House Bill 2977.

Now, the author of THAT bill, Rep. Garnet Coleman, says he will kill his own bill before he allows the anti-gay legislation to pass.

From the Houston Chronicle:

A Democratic state senator has dredged up anti-gay marriage legislation that advocates thought was dead this session, attaching the language to an uncontroversial county affairs bill under the noses of his fellow Democrats. While gay rights advocates decried the move, the bill's original sponsor in the House said he would never let his legislation pass with the anti-same-sex marriage language in-tact. "I'm the author of the bill. I will resolve the bill," said Rep. Garnet Coleman, D- Houston, a staunch gay marriage advocate.

House Bill 2977, as Coleman originally filed it, was an uncontroversial county affairs placeholder bill, meant to act as a vehicle for lawmakers to ensure important local issues can be passed late in the session. As the bill was headed to the Senate committee for approval this week, however, Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. attached a number of other bills to Coleman's legislation, including one that would seek to block a Supreme Court ruling in favor of gay marriage.

If the bill passes in the GOP-dominated Senate, which Coleman expects it to, it would need to return to the House, where the lower chamber's members would have to concur with the changes. Coleman said if he can't strip the anti-gay marriage off his legislation, then he would withdraw it completely. "If I can't get it off, then the bill goes to bill heaven," Coleman said. "I don't support that legislation or that language."

Southern Republicans Talk Gay Marriage, Fracking & 'That Woman'

Bette Midler Tweets Josh Duggar


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Music Video: Mat Slovacek "What It Takes"


I came across this country singer, who's fantastic, and of all things, we have the same last name.

Apparently, we both come from the same area of Texas, we both share the same last name and there's a slight resemblance - although Mat clearly swims in the deeper end of the handsome part of the DNA pool.

So I've decided we're distant cousins or something. Because I want to.

I think he's terrific so I wanted to make sure I share with you shiny happy people.

Check out his new video below and you can follow him on Facebook here, follow on Instagram here and find his music on iTunes here.



Jeb Havens Covers Stevie Nicks' "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You?"


Sexy Jeb Havens continues his "Closer Covers' series with a sensitive performance of Stevie Nicks' "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You?"

Havens writes, 'Channeling the incredible Stevie Nicks, trying out her gorgeous song "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You?" on the keys/mic setup in my closet.'

Find more of Jeb's music on iTunes here.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry: Rand, Ted and Marco Should Go Be Governors Before Running For Prez


Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry has advice for Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio: Go run for governor before you run for president.

He shared that thought with the Weekly Standard in an interview last week:

"I’ve had more than one individual say, 'You know what, if you want to be the president of the United States, you ought to go back to your home state and be the governor and get that executive experience before you go lead this country,'" said Perry.

The former governor calls the senators "Marco, Ted, and Rand," and made sure to say he has "great respect" for the trio. "They are smart as a tree full of owls," said Perry, "These guys are very, very capable United States senators."

Perry ran a short, unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination for president in 2012.

He has signaled he will probably announce a second presidential bid on June 4 near Dallas.

Jim Bob Duggar: Incest Should Be Punishable By Death


Gawker has an interesting story regarding 19 Kids& Counting celeb Jim Bob Duggar, father of admitted child molester Josh Duggar, whose position on incest seems to have evolved since his 2002 campaign for US Senate.

Jim Bob’s platform on his campaign website—preserved via web cache—states that he believes “rape and incest represent heinous crimes and as such should be treated as capital crimes.” Jim Bob offered this belief to explain his position on abortion (only acceptable if both the mother and the baby were going to die anyway, of course):

Click pic to enlarge

Jim Bob lost the Republican nomination for Senate to Arkansas’ incumbent Senator Tim Hutchinson. His son Josh remained very much alive and went on to molest several underage girls including some of his sisters from 2002-2003.