January 2009 Archives
Celine on CrackBy on January 30, 2009 2:30 PM | No Comments
Oh that Celine. What a nutty lady. Look at that face! Thanks to James for the link.
God Bless Gay WeathermenBy on January 28, 2009 9:24 PM | 1 Comment
Amazing.
Anti-Abortion Anti-Racist Political CooptationBy on January 26, 2009 11:51 PM | 1 Comment
This is perhaps one of the most outrageous things I've seen in recent memory. UM's anti-abortion group is sending this e-mail around to campus organizations in an effort to spread the message that abortion practices in the US are the equivalent of lynching in the South:
Dear Sociologists of Color,My name is Benjamin Meyers and I am writing on behalf of Students for Life of the University of Michigan. My message is a sobering one and concerns abortion in the black community. I would like to share with you a few facts and figures about abortion in the black community.
1. Since abortion was legalized in the 1973, 49 million pre-born babies have died. Over 16 million of those aborted were African Americans- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Nov 2007)
2. In 2004, white women had 161 abortions per live 1000 births, Hispanics had 211 abortions per 1000 live births, while African American women had 472 abortions per 1000 live births. Over 47% of African American pregnancies end in abortion- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Nov 2007)
3. African American women account for 38% of all abortions, while only making up 13% of the female population- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Nov 2007)
4. Abortion is the leading cause of death among African Americans. In fact, one can stack deaths from HIV-AIDS, violent crime, accidents, cancer and heart disease one on top of the other and still not come close to the 16 million black babies that have died by abortion.
5. Abortion has reduced the African American population by 39.6% - 3 times more than their representative percentage in the total population in the United States- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Nov 2007); U.S. Census Bureau
6. Between 1882 and 1968, 3,446 African Americans were lynched. That number is surpassed within 3 days by abortion. Abortionists snuff out the lives of approximately 1,275 African American children every day- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Nov 2007)
7. 62.5% of abortion clinics are located in the inner city and in neighborhoods where poor and minority people live.
8. Abortion was and continues to be a tool of population control targeted at "undesirable" groups. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood are deeply stained by the sin of racism. Such groups prefer to keep the African American community ignorant of their link to racism, but the truth can not be hid. In the words of Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, "We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population".
There can be no doubt that it is the African American community which suffers the most from abortion. There can be no doubt that abortion takes the life of a human being. There can be no doubt that abortion wrecks a mother psychologically. And there can be be no doubt that abortion is a cancer destroying the African American community.
My goal in writing to you is not to demonstrate the failings of Africa America. It is America that is failing, not just any one community. My goal is to see the African American community rise up and fight this evil. The fulfillment of the dream can not happen unless health and stability is restored in the African American community. And I believe that such healing must start with an end to this silent, but very much real, black genocide.
Please consider joining our efforts to promote the pro-life message on campus. If you believe that abortion is The Civil Rights issue of our time, then please let us know. We would love to do a joint event highlighting the link between racism and abortion sometime in the future here on campus. I hope that you will join our cause.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Meyers, on behalf of Students for Life
You have to hand it to those right-to-lifers -- they know how to co-opt a powerful political message for their own ends!
Photo Shoot, For RealzBy on January 26, 2009 8:31 PM | 3 Comments
Photo by Craig Seymour
How lucky can a boy be? A writer for Guide Magazine called me up while I was driving down to Chicago for an interview. They're doing a short profile on my work as an activist-researcher, which is pretty effing fabulous! But the icing on the case came a short bit after the interview, when the writer called me back to ask if it might be possible to set me up with a photographer in Chicago for a photo shoot while I was in town. Oy vey! Well color me embarrassed! I was a bit overwhelmed. But of course I agreed!
So Saturday morning I met up with Craig Seymour, who's a lovely writer/photographer whose just recently published a book, All I Could Bare, about his experiences as a stripper in DC during the 1990s (see his blog. here). When he arrived, we both realized that shooting outside was not practical -- it was probably negative 10 degrees outside. Gross. So we instead went up to my hotel room and set up a few shots. Above is one of the outtakes, which I think is particularly sexy. And yes, I'm sitting in the bathtub! Anywho, Craig was a real sweetheart and left me a signed copy of his new book! I look forward to reading it next month on the beaches of Acapulco! Thanks, Craig!
The article in Guide will be out next month. I'll post it here when it drops!
Patti LuPone Freaks OutBy on January 26, 2009 5:42 PM | No Comments
Amazing. Listen to diva extraordinaire Patti LuPone, at a recent performance of Gypsy, stopping the show to scold the audience for taking pictures:
Fierce.
ABC Squashes Ugly BettyBy on January 26, 2009 5:34 PM | 3 Comments
Say whaaaaaaaaaaat? ABC has apparently benched Ugly Betty. Via EW:'s blog:
Things are looking pretty gloomy for Ugly Betty.In a just-announced Thursday night scheduling tweak, ABC is benching Betty beginning March 26 and replacing it with episodes of Samantha Who? and the new Megan Mullally-Cheryl Hines comedy In the Motherhood. The network's release concludes by saying, "Ugly Betty will return to Thursday nights at 8:00 p.m. following the run of In the Motherhood and Samantha Who?"
After crunching the numbers, that puts Betty's return (provided Sam Who/Motherhood don't tank) sometime around (gulp) June -- a.k.a. outside the regular season. Now, granted, Betty hasn't exactly been killing it in the ratings this season, but it's still one of ABC's signature shows. At least I thought it was.
Ugh! I heart Ugly Betty! Damn you, ABC! While it's not a cancellation, it's a step away from that. Rescheduling a show in TV land is generally the nail in the coffin.
To Chicago!By on January 23, 2009 9:43 AM | No Comments
To celebrate my French friend Rostom's birthday, me and some friends are headed down to Chicago for a week of fabulousness. Expect some fun photos to come! Yay!!! I can't wait to get the FUCK out of Ann Arbor! Even if the high temp in Chicago tomorrow is supposed to be 10 degrees. Sigh. Can't win 'em all! At least it'll be snow-free.
Adios, Douche Bag!By on January 20, 2009 2:05 PM | No Comments
My friend Bill Jesdale just sent this photo over. Priceless. Not sure where it was taken -- his friend from SFSU sent it over.
21st Century TransitionBy on January 20, 2009 1:54 PM | 1 Comment
The White House's website was updated immediately after the swearing in ceremony. Pretty cool!
And Here They AreBy on January 20, 2009 1:23 PM | No Comments
As they watch the thief FORMER President Bush (how I've longed to write those words) escape DC in a helicopter. Doesn't Michelle look fabulous? God bless her.
WTF was that poem?By on January 20, 2009 1:04 PM | 1 Comment
Jesus H. Christ. Talk about an awful delivery of a rambling, pointless poem. Yale Professor Elizabeth Alexander gave perhaps the most boring, dreadful piece of the inauguration ceremony. Perhaps it was a secret strategy to clear the National Mall quickly.
Barack's Big Day!By on January 20, 2009 7:11 AM | 2 Comments
After just discovering that I get basic cable (I really didn't know), I'll probably curl up on my couch and watch the ceremonies here at home.
Where will you be watching?
I Love Jesus, But...By on January 19, 2009 6:00 PM | No Comments
God bless Southern women. And God bless Ellen. Hilarious..
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. (Or, How I'm Getting Old.)By on January 19, 2009 12:43 AM | 5 Comments
I awoke my second night during my Christmas vacation in North Carolina to a horrible burning sensation in my left hand. Not quite the same as the "pins and needles" you feel when a limb falls asleep, more like a singing pain mixed with a dose of strange numbness. I rolled over to a different position, thinking that my circulation had simply been obstructed (I owe my bad circulation to my mother), but to no avail. The pain persisted. I finally found a comfortable position to lie in, and managed to fall back asleep.
But the next night, the pain returned. It continued throughout my holiday, progressively getting worse and preventing me from sleeping a full night without waking up. Sometimes it was mild -- an annoying, lingering feeling that just barely prevented my slumber. Sometimes it was agonizing, causing me to double over with tears welling up in my eyes. What was happening to me? Arthritis? I'm only 25 for fuck's sake! I asked my family members, but they all regarded me with suspicion as I may have a habit of hyberbole from time to time. But this was no exaggeration: I was in pain.
It didn't take me long to suspect that the culprit was likely carpal tunnels syndrome. I'm a computer addict -- and have been since I was very young. I think I published my first website when I was thirteen ("No Doubt Emporium," a fan site dedicated to the band). A quick read of the Wikipedia entry regarding the problem confirmed my suspicion:
Many people that have carpal tunnel syndrome have gradually increasing symptoms over time. The first symptoms of CTS may appear when sleeping and typically include numbness and paresthesia (a burning and tingling sensation) in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, although some patients may experience symptoms in the palm as well.[3] These symptoms appear at night because we tend to bend our wrists when we sleep, which further compresses the carpal tunnel.
The pain I had been experiencing was this "paresthesia." I decided not to see a doctor, as I believed I had found the problem's source and a potential remedy for the time being. I went to the pharmacy the next day and I bought the lovely wrist brace you see in the photo above. It's god-awful ugly, but relatively comfortable. And best of all: my symptoms are gone. No more waking up at night to searing pain in my hand. Just pleasant sleep. Thank God for that. Now if I can just find a Bedazzler for cheap on Ebay and pimp this brace out...
If I've learned anything from this ordeal, it's that our bodies can be terribly uncooperative. I'm 25 and will likely wear this brace to sleep for many years to come -- perhaps until I die if I never have a surgical intervention. I imagine rolling over and wrapping my arm around my lover in a daze while the sun is rising, only to hear his screams of terror when this brace lands with a thud on his side. Very sexy. Ugh.
Hot Tubbin', Round DeuxBy on January 19, 2009 12:11 AM | No Comments
So perhaps one of the only luxuries available to us as graduate students in Ann Arbor is the lovely little establishment "Oasis Hot Tubs," which rents out themed outdoor tubs that are quite lovely. It's quite fabulous, and I insisted that after we thoroughly enjoyed our last trip the first week back we make a return to celebrate MLK weekend. Let's face it: when it's negative 17 degrees outside, a bit of steam and bubbles in necessary to survive! As the photos prove, we had a *fabulous* time. Lots of smiles and laughter. The photo of Maxime above is truly magnificent. I'm proud to have taken it. Here's some more photos I liked from the day:
As Nat says, "Tits and Teeth, Dahling!"
That's Andre's "I'm seriously listening to you" face.
By on January 18, 2009 11:50 PM | 2 Comments
I had the unfortunate task of enduring Lagerfeld Confidential, an alleged "insider's" view of the world of Karl Lagerfeld -- Chanel's chief designer for the past 20 years. It's pathetic. He's clearly a megalomaniac who insisted on editing out unflattering footage caught by the sycophant director. In the entire film, not a single person speaks about Karl, probably for fear of his wrath. It's just a series of rambling life-isms from Karl attempting to appear intellectual and visionary. Instead, he comes off as quite trite and uninspired. Perhaps most outrageous: his claim that he does not like marriage because it's an institution of the "bourgeosie," a class he would not wish us to ape. More outrageous: his claim that he not materialistic. It was a dissapointment. I had hoped someone so eccentric would have made for a more interesting subject for a documentary. I was wrong!
God Bless Mae WestBy on January 15, 2009 1:21 AM | 4 Comments
My friend Maxime popped over today for a delicious tranny movie night. First, Myra Breckinridge, featuring Raquel Welch (and a pseudo-lesbian scene with a new actress by the name of Farah Fawcett) and Mae West. Then, a bizarre slasher flick by the name of Sleepaway Camp. Ridonc. But Mae West in Myra was fantabulous. See for yourselves:
Loves it!
By on January 14, 2009 8:35 PM | 1 Comment
Make. It. Stop.
New Research: Virginity Pledges Still Don't WorkBy on January 13, 2009 11:13 AM | 1 Comment
New research is out that demonstrates just how ineffective virginity pledges are in promoting healthy sexuality. The data here is interesting, because it is longitudinal (meaning they followed a group of people over a period of six years) and matched-casewise (meaning people in the non-pledging group were matched with people in pledging group on a number of social factors, a method aimed at reducing statistical noise/bias). Of the findings, as reported by SIECUS:
* Five years after the pledge, 82% of pledgers denied having ever pledged.
* Pledgers and matched non-pledgers did not differ in whether they had premarital sex, whether they tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases, or whether they reported having anal or oral sex.
* Pledgers and matched non-pledgers also did not differ in their average number of lifetime sexual partners (~3 each) or average age at first sex (21).
* Though pledgers and matched non-pledgers had similarly high levels of religious belief and negative attitudes about birth control, virginity pledgers were substantially less likely to protect themselves against STDs and pregnancy.
* Pledgers and matched non-pledgers taken together reported less vaginal, oral, and anal sex than the general adolescent population.
* They also reported less birth control and condom use than the general adolescent population.
* While pledgers and matched non-pledgers taken together had fewer positive test results for gonorrhea than the general adolescent population, they tested positive at the same proportion for Chlamydia and trichomonaisis.
Can we get rid of these awful things once and for all?
About Last Night...By on January 11, 2009 2:53 PM | No Comments
My sincerest apologies to my neighbors. I believe Nat and I were dancing to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" at this point.... 2:30 AM? Oy. But isn't that photo kinda fierce? Totally worth disturbing the peace.
Tony's First Column: "Sex and the Sojourner"By on January 9, 2009 2:13 PM | No Comments
My dear friend and GMH heart-throb Tony Valenzuela has just published his first column for Guide Magazine introducing his new column, "To Your Health." He explains what he means by health:
"Health" -- a term that is historically, politically and institutionally loaded for gay men -- has been a constant theme in that frank deliberation. Pleasure and health are like sibling rivals, one trying to outdo the other yet needing each other to thrive. In the months to come, this column won't seek that "balance" between the two that we're told incessantly to pursue. Instead, I prefer the notion of sustainability, allowing occasions for delicious hedonism from time to time.
I'm so looking forward to having regular installments of Tony's wisdom!
Quotes from People's Profiles: AssholeryBy on January 7, 2009 5:05 PM | 2 Comments
Okay this isn't a quote from his profile, but I just *had* to share this charming little note I got from this divorced 42 year old on Manhunt. Never talked to him before in my life. Sounds like a real winner!
Hey you profile says it all----you Do Gay SEX for a living------got that right new to guys Bi Male---amazes how you gay guys total LIFE priorities revolves around SEX---I've never talked to more SHALLOW ---SUPERIFICIAL---BULLSHITERS ---ASSHOLES- ----IN MY LIFE------ IN THE END----YOUR STUDY SHOWS---THE GAY LIFESTYLE----DOSENT EVEN "QUALIFY" AS A "LIFESTYLE" ITS TOTAL BULLSHIT. DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU?????
Sigh. I don't know why people think it's acceptable to treat people you've never met before like that. Clearly they weren't brought up right.
Seattle: Terrorists Threaten 11 Gay BarsBy on January 7, 2009 10:03 AM | No Comments
Apparently 11 gay bars in Seattle received a copy of the letter above threatening to poison their clients with the deadly toxin ricin. Via Dan Savage (via JMG):
Eleven gay bars in Seattle received letters today addressed to the "Owner/Manager" from someone claiming to be in the possession of ricin, a deadly poison. "Your establishment has been targeted," the letter begins. "I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target at least five of your clients.""I felt sick when I read it," said Carla, the owner/manager of Re-bar. "It's so vile. It's just hatred. It made me worry for all the other bars, and for my bartenders, and our clientele."
According to the CDC's website, someone who has ingested "a significant amount" will develop vomiting and diarrhea within the first 6-12 hours; other symptoms of ricin poisoning include hallucinations, seizures, and blood in the urine. There is no antidote for ricin but ricin exposure is not invariably fatal.
"I just had the police come pick [the letter] up," said Keith Christensen, the manager of the Eagle, when reached by phone. Christensen had already heard about the letter from other bar owners and managers, and so he didn't open it. "It's probably nothing," Christensen added, "but the economy is really screwing all the bars right now, and the last thing we need is something ramping up the not-go-out mode people seem to be in right now. It's really freaky that someone would do something like this at a time like this."
Scary! The Seattle Times says the FBI is investigating.