GAY MARRIAGE--WHAT NOW?

"BOSTON — A federal appeals court Thursday declared that the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally denies federal benefits to married gay couples, a groundbreaking ruling all but certain to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In its unanimous decision, the three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston said the 1996 law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman deprives gay couples of the rights and privileges granted to heterosexual couples.
The court didn't rule on the law's more politically combustible provision, which said states without same-sex marriage cannot be forced to recognize gay unions performed in states where it's legal. It also wasn't asked to address whether gay couples have a constitutional right to marry..."

WE ARE NOT TAKING ANYTHING FROM HETEROSEXUALS --WHY ARE SO MANY THREATENED? LEAVE RELIGION OUT OF YOUR BRAIN FOR A MINUTE.  THE LGBT COMMUNITY BRINGS SO MUCH TO COMMUNITIES---LOOK AROUND!

MOST RELIGIOUS DOCTRINES PROCLAIM TO LOVE  & HONOR EVERYONE (not a gray staetment)--DUH!

HEART LITERALLY RIPPED OUT (VERY GRAPHIC)---OMG!

American cage fighter 'rips out still-beating heart of training partner after fearing he was possessed by the devil'

OMG!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!!!

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

"Arrested: Jarrod Wyatt was allegedly found standing naked over his dead friend's body in a room bathed in blood

A U.S. cage fighter ripped out the heart of his training partner while he was still alive after becoming convinced he was possessed by the devil, it was alleged today.
Jarrod Wyatt also cut out Taylor Powell's tongue and ripped off most of his face in a brutal assault that police said looked like a scene from a horror film, officers said.
They claim they found the 26-year-old standing naked over his friend's body with parts, including an eyeball, strewn around the blood splattered room in Klamath, California.
Wyatt allegedly told police he had drunk a cup of tea spiked with hallucinogenic mushrooms and became convinced Powell was possessed.
According to an autopsy Powell, 21, bled to death after his heart was ripped out..."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1282647/US-cage-fighter-Jarrod-Wyatt-rips-training-partner-Taylor-Powells-heart.html#ixzz1wS5bw39P

CANCER (SKIN CANCER) LOWERED BY ASPIRIN?

Can aspirin lower skin cancer risk?

"Regular aspirin use, which doctors have long recommended for heart attack and stroke prevention,also may help reduce the risk of some forms of skin cancer, a new study suggests.

An analysis of the medical records of nearly 200,000 Danish adults found that people who filled more than two prescriptions for aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - such as ibuprofen or naproxen - over a 10-year period had a 15% lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma and a 13% lower risk of melanoma when compared with people who had filled one prescription or less.
People who were prescribed high doses of NSAIDs for seven or more years had the lowest skin cancer risk, according to the study, which was published in the journal Cancer..."

Be careful too much & for some people it can cause internal bleeding--check with your doctor!!!!!

PORN STAR KILLER

Source: Gay porn actor suspected of dismembering, mailing body parts...

Rocco Luka Magnotta, 29, is a suspect in the discovery of a man's torso in Montreal.

 

"(CNN) -- A gay porn actor is suspected in the killing of his acquaintance, videotaping and posting online the man's dismemberment and mailing the severed limbs to different locations in Ottawa, including to a political party's headquarters, according to a source with direct knowledge of the investigation.

Authorities are searching for Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, who they say is allegedly responsible for a human torso discovered in Montreal, thought to be linked to a human hand and foot that were separately mailed from Montreal to Ottawa..."

JOBS--THINGS ARE LOOKING UP!

 


This year more people are being hired after college than last year.; the salaries are also higher.

If you want to get a great, high-paying job this year use your engineering degree (next is computer science).

MADONNA'S PAYBACK?

Madonna takes on Gaga with 'Born This Way' mashup

"They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but Madonna's recent cover of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" might not be seen as such.

While rehearsing for her M.D.N.A. tour, the Material Mom made it a point to mashup her classic song “Express Yourself” with Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way..."



"When Gaga first dropped the single, music fans were quick to point out the similarity between the two tracks, something that hasn't been lost on Madge.

"When I heard ['Born This Way'] on the radio, I said that sounds very familiar. It feels reductive," she told "20/20" earlier this year. "I certainly think she references me a lot in her work...

But, Madonna continued, she can't really take offense..."

  MDNA is the twelfth studio album by American recording artist Madonna, first released on March 23, 2012 by Interscope Records. It is also Madonna's first album not to be associated with Warner Bros. Records, the label she was signed to since 1982. As well as Madonna producing the album she worked with a variety of producers such as Alle Benassi, Benny Benassi, Demolition Crew, Free School, Michael Malih, Indiigo, William Orbit, Martin Solveig.


 

HOME RUN FOR THE AMC CHANNEL

'Hatfields & McCoys' makes ratings history

"The History Channel didn't have to battle for viewers on Monday night, thanks to the feuding "Hatfields & McCoys."

The first part of the miniseries came out swinging Monday, with 13.9 million viewers tuning in. The network expressed its appreciation for the show of support on Twitter, noting that the huge turnout made it "the No. 1 non-sports telecast in ad-supported cable history!..."

GREAT CAST TOO!

Not my cup of tea but I appreciate the sentiment of teaching Americans about an important part of their (our) history. KUDOS!

VATICAN SCANDAL AGAIN!

Vatican scandals lift lid on secret power struggle

"By Richard Allen Greene, CNN

(CNN) – Bad luck comes in threes, even for the pope.
The past week has seen his butler arrested, accused of leaking secret papers from the papal apartment; the head of his bank sacked for incompetence; and a demonstration on his front doorstep by protesters demanding that he reveal what he knows about Italy's most famous missing-person case.
It's bad PR for the Vatican, but it may be more than that, experts say. It could affect who becomes the next pope.
The arrest of the pope's trusted butler, Paolo Gabriele, came just a day before the board of the Vatican Bank fired its director, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi.
Two days after that, hundreds of people chanted "Truth, truth!" in St. Peter's Square, holding pictures of Emanuela Orlandi, the daughter of a Vatican employee who disappeared at the age of 15 and has not been seen in the past 29 years.
CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories
No less a figure than the Vatican's chief exorcist said he suspected the girl had been abducted for sexual reasons, adding: "The investigation should be carried out inside the Vatican and not outside..."

WHEN IS THE HYPOCRISY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH-WHICH STARTS FROM THE TOP-"THE VATICAN"- END?
THE MOLESTATION & COVER -UPS OF YOUNG BOYS HAS BEEN RAMPANT FOR YEARS. 
THEY SWEEP EVERYTHING UNDER THE RUG.
 ALL THE $$$ THEY HAVE CAN GO TO WHAT THEY PREACH--CHARITY!!!--NOT  HOW THEY ACT, OPULENCE AND A STYLE OF LIVING NOT IN KEEPING W/ HUMILITY!!!!!!

THE VATICAN IS AN ARCHAIC, USELESS THEATER--CLOSE THE DAMN INSTITUTION AND LET THE $$$ GO TO THOSE IN NEED--AFRICA & OTHER PLACES WHERE CHILDREN ARE STARVING & SICK.

DYLAN & OTHERS RECEIVE MEDALS FROM OBAMA

"President Barack Obama on Tuesday bestowed the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on 13 people from all walks of life, hailing them for changing the world for the better.

One of them, Dr. William Foege, helped lead the effort to eradicate smallpox, saving millions of lives. Madeleine Albright was the first woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State, and Toni Morrison was the first African-American women to win a Nobel Prize.

Others who stood calmly while Obama placed the medal around their necks included singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, wearing dark glasses indoors and never smiling; civil rights enforcer John Doar; former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens; worker and women's advocate Dolores Huerta; former University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, and former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn..."

( a big oops on Obama's part when he paid tribute to Jan Karski, the former Polish officer who escaped Nazi imprisonment in World War II and provided firsthand accounts to the Western Allies of atrocities. Karski received the award posthumously.

The president's use of the term "Polish death camp," rather than Nazi death camp sparked  lots of outrage in Poland. At least Obama's verbal mistakes are few and far between; unlike our last president who was making them consistently. Ah, what weapons of mass destruction?)

AND  BOB DYLAN:

I never cared for Dylan and as an honoree pales in comparison , to me, with the others receiving this honor, yet he's ambivalent , attention getting scowl attitude is annoying & disrespectful.

 If it's such an effort, dude, don't accept it, stay home & make that screeching cat call you call singing!

 

-MISSING BOY CHILD----HELP...Thank You

MOVIE: "LOVE" (AMOUR) WINS AT CANNES

Postcard from Cannes: 'Love' conquers all

"This was Haneke's second time winning the Palme, just three years after his success with “The White Ribbon." Sunday's honor makes him only the sixth filmmaker to have triumphed twice in the festival’s 65-year history. (Other repeat winners include Francis Coppola and the Dardennes brothers.)
Haneke's “Amour” is a tender, compassionate film about an elderly married couple – played by veteran French actors Jean Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva – confronting the impact of terminal illness..."



 

PHOTOGRAPHER: BOB GRUEN

Bob Gruen captures the immortals of rock new book:"ROCK SEEN"

The legendary rock and roll photographer recalls the music idols whose power can be seen as well as heard has a new book of most of the legendary rock stars. He began with a very young-unbearded-chap by the name of Bob Dylan--lol. He continues to reside in the village in NYC and still has that fascination & enthusiasm he had back when he was a permanent fixture at places like CBGB.

This pictorial book he calls a "family album". He never saw his assignments as "jobs" because he loved being "there".

Of course his most popular, most recognizable and most stolen image is that of the late John Lennon in the NEW YORK CITY cut-off tee shirt (coincidentally a gift from Gruen to Lennon).

You can see him tomorrow:
Photo Talk at Huntington Camera Club
Tuesday, May 29nd
7-9pm
Huntington, NY
______________________
An upcoming documentary at BAM (Brooklyn) & SUNSHINE THEATER(East Village,NYC) in July.

JOHNNY TAPIA, R I P----45

From his autobiography:

"My name is Johnny Lee Tapia. I was born on Friday the 13th. A Friday in February of 1967. To this day I don't know if that makes me lucky or unlucky. When I was eight I saw my mother murdered. I never knew my father. He was murdered before I was born. I was raised as a pit bull. Raised to fight to the death. Four times I was declared dead. Four times they wanted to pull life support. And many more times I came close to dying." 
 
"Sadly, on Sunday, he did. A spokesman for the Albuquerque, N.M., police department told Yahoo! Sports a body found in a home in the city's northwest section was believed to be Tapia's. He said circumstances do not appear to be suspicious and that the cause of death will be determined at autopsy. His death was confirmed shortly thereafter..."

MADONNA'S CHILDHOOD HOUSE TALE

Buying Madonna's house: A tale of family, fame and misfortune: watch video (CNN online), pretty interesting...

 

"Just about everyone in my hometown of Rochester Hills knew Madonna had grown up there, but I would guess there weren't too many who could point out which house had been hers. That is, until we bought it and put it on national TV.

It all started when I returned home from college after my freshman year to find my newfound freedom again weighed down by daily parental oversight. It was that awkward juncture between childhood and adulthood, and one muttered phrase to my dad -- "Did you know Madonna's house is for sale? You should buy it and put it on eBay" -- sent us down a path that would become the story of something much bigger than us, even bigger than one of the world's most famous celebrities...."

 

MOVIES: "BERNIE" & "YOUNG VICTORIA"

This last week I was reminded , once again, that a movie can make two hours go by without investing in much emotional effort as in the recently released movie, "BERNIE". Consequently , another movie can not only suspend you to another place in time -mentally & emotionally- but enlighten and entertain historically, as in the 2009, "YOUNG VICTORIA". The later is -and I don't use this word often- a masterpiece!

Both films are biographical yet worlds apart, in this case literally.  "Bernie" is based on the true story of the modern day quirky, Texas mortician , Bernie Tiede (under-played efficiently by Jack Black) whose complicated involvement with the town's cranky, widow (in a now familiar role Shirley MacLaine has perfected since "Steel Magnolias").
"YOUNG VICTORIA" is  beautifully set in the 19th century. We see a young, rebellious, beautiful Queen Victoria surprise our senses and dispel much of the uptight Victorian principles we so generally accept. Additionally how much her and King Albert did for the less fortunate and for the arts. One cannot ignore the parallels in today's "occupy" movement as well.

I shy away from two things in movies: the Coen brothers (yawn-pretentious, save for "FARGO") and period pieces, but I was wrong on one count here.
I was procrastinating watching "YOUNG VICTORIA" due to the period element and boy was I wrong to deprive myself in what I am now considering one of my top 5 movies EVER! It was flawless!!! Like a good book, I know I am enjoying a film when I don't want it to end. I could have watched this as a mini-series or an 8 hours film. I tip my hat to EVERYONE involved. Emily Blunt wipes the screen with this one, and the restrained passionate performance of Rupert Friend is magnificent; however, it was the entire  collaboration which makes this film exceptional. High praises go to director Jean-Marc Vallée and the cinematographers, as well as the costumer, hairdressers--ALL OF IT!

If you like the Coen brothers-type movies ("Bernie" is not them, but their same style of storytelling, the actual director is Richard Linklater) you will thoroughly enjoy "BERNIE".
Maybe if John Waters had a hand in it I would have enjoyed this black comedy more.

But DO NOT miss "YOUNG VICTORIA".
 If you're in love or have ever loved-a person, a cause, a country or the nuances of everyday life you will savor this film from beginning to end.

AMERICAN IDOL RUNNER-UP SALARY

• View PhotoFILE - In this May 23, 2012 file photo, finalists Phillip Phillips, left, and Jessica …

"LOS ANGELES (AP) — Coming in second on "American Idol" may still be a path to superstardom, but it no longer offers guaranteed paychecks worthy of the next pop idol or rock star.

Wednesday night's runner-up, 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez, doesn't have a definite shot at producing an album and could be paid as little as $30,000 in advances for recording singles, according to the "Idol" contract she and other Season 11 contestants signed earlier this year.
The agreement appears to be the first time in "Idol's" history that producers are not offering the show's runner-up an album deal that in previous years came with a guaranteed advance of at least $175,000, an Associated Press review of the Fox show's contracts reveals..."

But let's face it she will have endorsement deals and I have the sneaking suspicion that her future album will sell much more than the handsome Philip.

MAN DISCOVERS HE'S A WOMAN...

"Man Admitted to Hospital for Kidney Stone, Discovers He's a Woman

  Colorado man who was admitted to the hospital for a kidney stone received surprising news when the nurse came back with test results revealing he was actually a woman.

Denver photographer Steve Crecelius said he's felt a little different all his life.

"When I was about 6 years old, I started having these feminine feelings, but that was in the '60s. Wearing my mom's makeup, I thought I looked pretty," Crecelius told ABC News.

So when he went to the emergency room five years ago, he wasn't too shocked when the nurse told him she found traits of both genders in his ultrasound results.

He was intersex, meaning he had both male genitalia and internal female sex organs..."

 

MEMORIAL DAY -MARILYN

SH

 MARILYN MONROE:

SHE MADE MANY SOLDIERS HAPPY DURING THE KOREAN WAR

 LET ALL OF US REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED FOR OUR COUNTRY & CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM ...

In February 1954, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio were newlyweds, on a trip in Japan, when the bride took a detour to Korea to entertain the troops. She performed ten shows in four days, in front of audiences that totaled more than 100,000 soldiers and marines. Later Monroe recalled that the trip "was the best thing that ever happened to me. I never felt like a star before in my heart. It was so wonderful to look down and see a fellow smiling at me."

One of those fellows, Hospitalman 2nd class David Geary, a navy medic, brought his new Argus camera to a concert. As Geary hunted for a seat, someone spotted his Red Cross armband. "Suddenly a voice says, 'Hey doc, c'mere,' and I ended up in the second row, with a beautiful angle onto the stage." Though many photographs of this concert survive, this view is suprisingly rare, for Geary was not a professional photographer or a journalist. His portraits allow us to see Monroe through the eyes of everyday people who made her feel like a star.

sidebar: Marilyn got pneumonia after this concert because it was so cold

GLENN FREY (of "The Eagles") SINGS STANDARDS

Following in the steps of Rod Stewart & Paul McCartney, among others, The Eagles, Glenn Frey does a pretty good job singing standards in "AFTER HOURS".

 The best of this trend (Michael Buble aside) so far is , believe it or not, Seth Macfarlane (yes that Seth Macfarlane, creator & voices of "Family Guy"). This is truly a  renaissance man--what can't he do?

Macfarlane has by far the best voice but I gotta say Rod Stewart's 5 CDs have the best song choices (I am partial to Cole Porter and Stewart sings a lot of his music).

You really wanna kvetch? Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER) has a BROADWAY CD; it's interesting if nothing else. He got lots of notables on board-good for him! I guess his 11 week run on the great white way in "ROCK OF AGES" got him hooked and made some connections for this album along the way.

CHINA BUYS AMC THEATER CHAIN

"AMC Entertainment Chief Executive Gerry Lopez said the Chinese conglomerate poised to take over the nation's second largest theater chain would provide needed debt relief and resources to upgrade many of its cinemas across the country.
"We're going from a group of five financial owners -- private equity funds -- to a single strategic, long-term buyer who happens to love this business and who is already in this business," Lopez said in an interview Thursday. "For us, this is nothing but great news."
After a year of talks, Dalian Wanda Group, China's largest theater operator, reached a deal last weekend to buy Kansas City, Mo.-based AMC Entertainment for $2.6 billion. The pairing, which is subject to regulatory approval, would create what the companies said would be the world's largest cinema operator, with 420 theaters and 5,800 screens in the world's two largest film markets..."

They are claiming that employees need not worry, they are there to improve not remove.

I hope they lower the price of admission and items at the  Concession Stands.

HEY ONE CAN DREAM, CAN'T ONE? 

 

"THE GREAT GATSBY-DIRECTED BY BAZ LUHRMANN

Watch: 'The Great Gatsby' trailer

"After the closely watched casting, the first trailer for Baz Luhrmann's take on "The Great Gatsby" has arrived - and 1920s New York has never looked so good.

With Jay-Z and Kanye's "No Church in the Wild" plus Jack White serving as the soundtrack, we see Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, and Leonardo DiCaprio starring as the man himself, Jay Gatsby..."

I loved  "MOULIN ROUGE" , directed by Baz Luhrmann. Some of my friends swear by "STRICTLY BALLROOM" & my former students loved his version of the updated "ROMEO & JULIET"; however, the 1974 version left true F. Scott Fitzgerald fans underwhelmed. It's tricky to take brilliant writers & update their work in an attempt to hook in the newer generation. This one may work (using , once again Leo DeCaprio with Tobey Maguire & the wonderful Carey Mulligan).
At the very least it will have a new generation interested in reading the classic book. Sales of it certainly shot up after the Redford/Farrow movie. Best of all we were introduced to the fantastic Karen Black back in 1974.

This opens in December of this year. Check out the trailer & judge for yourself.

 

AMERICAN IDOL WINNER: PHILIP PHILLIPS

Philip Phillips wins 'American Idol' over Jessica Sanchez.

Phillips was good & original but not the best contestant , in my opinion. Jessica & Jashua Ledet had far superior voices; the fans spoke however. 

We all know, in the past, the winner isn't always the most successful (Adam Lambert, Clay Aiken,  Chris Daughtry, etc.). 

I wish Philip all the best, you handsome chap!

  ( catch him on LENO, online,  talking about all--Thursday May 24, 2012)

 

I especially wish him health. His health needs to be attended immediately! It's urgent! He wanted to wait for this week, I'm glad he did.  Now go & get well to bring more joy to our world.

Tonight the real moment, for me, came at the end (after a lukewarm show full of forgettable fillers) Jennifer Holliday and  16-year-old dynamo Jessica Sanchez took the stage & blew the freakin' roof off the NOKIA Theater. WOW! WOW! WOW! A you tube must watch!

Also two former Idol contestants got engaged on stage--cute...

download PHILLIPS' original song : "HOME"

(NOVEMBER 2012)--GOOD MAN: JUST HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR THE VICTIMS OF "SANDY HURRICANE" IN STATEN ISLAND, NY

 

 

 

GAY WEDDING IN COMICS, AGAIN--GREAT!

"The Marvel comic-strip, X-Men, is to feature its first same-sex wedding, as an openly gay superhero proposed to his boyfriend in an issue that went on sale this week.

The current issue of Astonishing X-Men, No. 50, sees Jean-Paul Beaubier, whose alter-ego, Northstar, can move at super-human speeds, proposing to his partner of three years, Kyle Jinadu.

Their wedding will be featured in the next issue, out on 20th of June, Marvel Comics has confirmed. The comic-strip first broke ground by announcing that Northstar, a character in the series since 1979, was gay back in 1992...."

The ARCHIES #16 issue featured two male soldiers getting married--and the world did not end...RELAX people..it's called evolution and catching up with the rest of the world.

911 DUST CAUSES LONG-TERM HEALTH PROBLEMS

Study: 9/11 WTC dust sickened residents years later

"Several years after dust from the World Trade Center twin towers found its way into thousands of homes and nearly every crevice in lower Manhattan, area residents still suffered health problems, according to a new study.

People living in homes damaged after 2001's Trade Center attacks were more likely to report respiratory illness or disease years later, when compared with people whose homes were not damaged, according to a recent analysis of World Trade Center Health Registry data.

"This study highlights the magnitude of the 9/11 attacks by showing that people exposed to dust in their homes continued to have respiratory problems even five to six years after the fact," said study author Dr. Vinicius Antao, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, in a press release..."


Recently, singer Donna Summer (according to TMZ) says the debris/dust from 911 may have caused her lung cancer.  They claimed she was living in the area at the time.

..who knows?

RONALD REAGAN'S BLOOD FOR SALE?

"The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation threatened legal action over the online sale of a vial purportedly containing dried blood from the former president following a 1981 assassination attempt.

"If indeed this story is true, it's a craven act and we will use every legal means to stop its sale or purchase," said a statement from John Heubusch, the foundation's executive director.

Bidding for the vial topped 9,181 pounds (nearly $14,500) as of Tuesday, with two days left in the sale. The item is being offered by PFC Auctions, based on the island of Guernsey, a British dependency.

"Dried blood residue from President Reagan ... can be seen clearly in the vial with a quarter-inch ring of blood residue at the end of the inserted rubber stopper," the listing says..."

MICHAEL McKEAN HIT BY CAR, SAFE!

Actor Michael McKean hit by car in NYC

"Actor Michael McKean was hit by a car while walking along a New York City street on Tuesday, suffering a broken leg, the New York Post reports.

Harriet Sternberg, his manager, told the Post McKean was being checked out at St. Luke's Hospital.
“He has sustained multiple injures and we are trying to find out the extent of other injuries,” the Post quoted her as saying.
McKean, 64, played the lead singer for the band Spinal Tap in the movie "This is Spinal Tap" among numerous other roles..."

LADY GAGA ON THE SIMPSONS' FINALE

"Lady Gaga comes to Springfield on "The Simpsons" finale.

In the Season 23 finale of "The Simpsons," (Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox) Lady Gaga comes to Springfield to help Lisa with her self-esteem in an episode titled "Lisa Goes Gaga."
In two preview clips released by Fox, the pop icon puts on a concert (clad in meat-inspired hummingbird and Grammy dresses) urging Springfield's citizens to appreciate each other for what makes them unique..."

YOU CAN CATCH IT ONLINE IF YOU MISSED IT - DON'T MISS IT!!!

ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT SHOW--DO NOT MISS IT!

 NEW TV SHOW ONLINE BY THE LEGENDARY MITCH WEISS\
 www.NYVLiveTV.com NYVLive
 
streamed live on your computer this Friday May 25 at 11pm (EST).  And again, each Friday night after that.

 Entertaining with great NY talent performing.  Music, magic, dancing, acrobatics, and spoken-word... all in one show hosted by Harrison Lee.

If you want to be in the studio audience in NYC as my guest, just email me:

 mitchweiss@mindspring.com

To watch the show, here are the instructions:
Log on to www.NYVLiveTV.com
at the top of the home page will be a red button that says:
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SHOW AT 11PM on FRIDAY.
That's it.  The show will also be available later in the week.
Instructions will be posted on the same website.

 MITCH WEISS (a permanent fixture & visionary in the theater, literary & music scene):

 Published author of “Managing Artists in Pop Music” and NYU professor in Artist Management and Broadway theatre management. Also a union member in ATPAM (Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers). Management for Village People (“YMCA”, “Macho Man”), Ari Gold (“Where the Music Takes You”, “Human”), Karen Mason (8 time MAC Award winner for best female vocalist), The Glamazons (vocal group finalists on “America’s Got Talent), and Olympic-gold-medalist-turned-actor Greg Louganis. Also: Disney Theatricals, Broadway’s A CHORUS LINE and THE GRAPES OF WRATH, Big Apple Circus, NY Shakespeare Festival and much more…

OBAMA KEEPS PROMISE, ONCE AGAIN...

"Chicago (CNN) -- NATO leaders signed off Monday on President Barack Obama's exit strategy from Afghanistan that calls for an end to combat operations next year and the withdrawal of the U.S.-led international military force by the end of 2014.

Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters at the conclusion of a two-day summit of the alliance leaders that the plan calls for handing over security responsibilities to Afghan forces in 2013, then withdrawing foreign forces the following year..."

LET'S TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN BACKYARD & TAKE ONE MORE STEP IN PUTTING THE BUSH YEARS BEHIND US...

REMEMBER TRY TO "BUY AMERICA" PRODUCTS

LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN

ARSENIO HALL WINS CELEBRITY APPRENTICE

"Celebrity Apprentice upset! Even though Clay Aiken raised more money in the final challenge, Donald Trump picked late night legend Arsenio Hall as the winner. “I’ve been a runner-up before. I’m going to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Aiken, who lost out on American Idol in 2003 to Ruben Studdard. Oh well.
Hall got an extra $250,000 for his charity, The Magic Johnson Foundation..."

HOWEVER

 On his first task, a while ago, Clay Aiken did win for his charity $20,000 . As an added bonus, Crystal Light also contributed $30,000, making Clay’s contribution to his charity, $50,000.

GOOD FOR YOU BUDDY

The money went to:

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/21/2810178/arsenio-hall-wins-celebrity-apprentice.html#storylink=cpy

CEMETERY SCAMS-CORPORATIONS OWN THEM & WILL RIP YOU OFF

 The bottom line is that most of the cemeteries that you are familiar with in your hometown are, more than likely, run by one of the industry’s biggest corporations.

In general, it is only the very tiniest – and most remote -- of cemeteries that are run by the small, local groups. In most U.S. cities the largest, best known cemeteries are owned by the giant, national (or even multi-national) corporations that dominate the industry. These companies are Service Corp International, Stewart Enterprises, Carriage Services and, one of the newest national players in the industry, Keystone North America.

"DIGNITY MEMORIAL" is part of a huge corporation, SERVICE CORP. INTERNATIONAL, who last year made 365 million dollars on the "death care industry".
Although funeral parlors are regulated by the FCC to protect consumers, cemeteries are not..."


THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF!!!

BE CAREFUL!!!

Case in point:

BLACK CEMETERY SCANDAL

"CHICAGO, IL - An archaeologists' report says investigators found bodies dumped in an unused corner of a suburban Chicago cemetery in greater numbers than first thought.
Burr Oak Cemetery manager Carolyn Towns and several others were charged in July 2009 in an alleged scheme to unearth bodies to make way for new burials, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The site is of special significance to Chicago's African-American community because it was one of the first to allow blacks to bury their loved ones.
The exhumed coffins and bodies were allegedly dumped in an unused corner of the cemetery in numbers far greater than the original investigation found, the newspaper reported...."

All this to make way for more bodies; hence, more money for the corporation running it.

ROBIN GIBB DIES-62

Another Saturday Night Fever coda: The Bee Gees' Robin Gibb died Sunday May 20 at 10:46 am. He was 62 years old, and had been battling colon cancer.

 While continuing in the Bee Gees, Gibb also promoted his new solo career. During the 1980s, Gibb released three solo albums (How Old Are You?, Secret Agent, and Walls Have Eyes). These three albums were more successful in Europe than in the UK or US, with How Old Are You? spawning the hit single "Juliet". However, Gibb's 1984 single "Boys Do Fall in Love" did reach the Billboard Magazine top 40 list of hits. Gibb also recorded several extended versions of dance songs, including "Boys Do Fall in Love", "Secret Agent", "Like a Fool" and the rarest, "You Don't Say Us Anymore"; many of these extended versions were released to radio disc jockeys only.

What WE can ALL take form Gibb's death:

GET A  COLONSCOPY !!!!

About 15 years ago I went to a routine colonoscopy & they found 23 polyps in my colon in my colon, luckily I had them removed since they were all benign -do not wait till it's too late--especially if you are 50 yrs old or more!

It is a painless procedure & highly necessary.




My musical childhood is dying slowly but surely:
Whitney
Donna
Gibbs
Jackson

So many others...
So very sad!

R I P and condolences to the families
 

MICK JAGGER SCORES HIGH & KRISTEN WIIG LEAVES SNL-May 19, 2012

OMG
TOO FUNNY!

 On the recurring skit "SECRET WORD" Mick Jagger hit a home run---he personified the classic, closeted contestants of yesteryear (i.e. Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Lynde, Dom DeLuise, Clifton Webb, Vincent Price, etc.).Kristen Wiig with her usual, brilliant persona on this skit, a la Kitty Carlisle, offered a hysterical laughter volleyball with Mick!

He continued to blow the roof off the place with his first musical number, using the Rolling Stones vibe, with Foo Fighters & Arcade Fire.

 He should have quit while he was ahead, the improv  song on the next presidential election fell flat, that God the genius of  Jeff Beck saved the song.

The truly emtional moment, of course, came at the end with the cast saying good-bye-in true SNL humor-to one of the most versatile performers in SNL history, Kristen Wiig. 

Hope to see much more of you soon Queen Wigg (sounds like an SNL drag queen skit, lol)

GOOD LUCK & THANKS FOR ALL THE LAUGHS !!!

 

GAYS RIGHTS: NAACP Endorses Gay Marriage (UPDATE)

"Less than two weeks after President Barack Obama announced his public support for gay marriage, a prominent African-American civil rights organization is following suit.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's board of directors voted to endorse gay marriage on Saturday, according to a tweet from NAACP officer Maxim Thorne.

Metro Weekly procured the full resolution from the 64-member unit, which is highlighted by an affirmation of the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause:.."

I am so glad the NAACP & other preachers, reverends and African-American citizens are joining with the right to have "rights"...


Thank You!

"American Idol" singer Phillip Phillips operated, doing well...

For those of you following "Amrican Idol", poor Philip Philips' kidney condition is reportedly  getting worse. His doctors want an operation ASAP but Philips is determined to sing one more week on the show--who can blame him? He's one of two left & can take the top prize.

PLEASE SAY AN EXTRA PRAYER FOR THIS TALENTED & SWEET YOUNG MAN

And let this be a reminder that, above all else, health, love, family & friends are what matter...

God Bless you Philip!!

YAY!!!----- “The surgery went well,” says a source close to the show

EW has confirmed that American Idol winner Phillip Phillips underwent a six and a half hour surgery yesterday to remove several kidney stones, which TMZ (who first reported the news) says “were so huge there was no chance he could’ve passed them on his own.”

Phillips’ longtime kidney issues plagued his run on Idol, causing him excruciating pain and preventing him from participating in various Idol duties, like the weekly Ford music video shoots.

“The surgery went well,” says a source close to the show. “He’s doing well and looking forward to starting the Idol tour in July.” (The Idols Live tour kicks off July 6 in Detroit.)

The surgery is the latest beat in a medical drama that’s been brewing for months.

download PHILLIPS' original song : "HOME"

( catch him on LENO, online,  talking about all--Thursday May 24, 2012)

 

ANDERSON COOPER WINS JEOPARDY-$50K FOR THE TREVOR PROJECT

"WASHINGTON -- CNN's Anderson Cooper, playing on behalf of an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBT youth, won Friday's "Jeopardy!" Power Players, beating New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and NBC's Kelly O'Donnell.
The Trevor Project*, Cooper's sponsored charity, won $50,000..."

This is when celebrity is used for great causes:

 Kelly O'Donnell and  Thomas Friedman both won $10,000 on behalf of their charities, the Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation and Conservation International, respectively.

*THE TREVOR PROJECT-WE SAVE LIVES

" THE TREVOR LIFELINE – 866.488.7386
[U.S. CALLS ONLY]
The Trevor Lifeline is the only nationwide, around-the-clock suicide prevention and crisis intervention lifeline for LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Lifeline is a free and confidential service that offers hope and someone to talk to, 24/7. Volunteer Lifeline counselors staff our three call centers, The Randy Stone Call Center East Coast, The Randy Stone Call Center West Coast and The Harvey Milk Call Center. Each year, tens of thousands of calls are fielded from young people across the country. The Trevor Lifeline is accredited as an exemplary crisis intervention program by the American Association for Suicidology (AAS)..."


KUDOS!!!----esp. to our boy, Anderson..it's your year!!!!!!!

FACEBOOK STOCK, IS IT FOR YOU?

"Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg rang the opening bell remotely, from company headquarters in California.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Facebook's stock market debut finally came and went -- but for all the breathless hype, shares ended right near their offering price.
On Thursday night, Facebook (FB) set its final IPO price at $38 a share. When the stock began trading at 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday, the first trade came in at $42.05 per share -- a gain of nearly 11%..."

My advice is if you are able to buy, go ahead,  but you may need $250 -$500 K in the bank to even try (you may get leftovers and buy some from private traders). My real advice is if you intend on having grandchildren then buy (and leave it to them in your will), I have a feeling not too much $$$ in shares will go up in my lifetime., so I'll bow out.

I have never liked intangible things like stocks; then again, I don't know too much about it.
 I was a firm believer in real estate & look how that turned out!
 I still believe that at least with real estate you have shelter and a tangible commodity.

WHO KNOWS???
I DON'T...

GAYS & JUDGE JUDY

Judge Judy: "I Don't Understand the Preoccupation With Gays Being Permited to Marry" 

 Today on "The View" Judge Judy (Judith Sheindlin), once again, reaffirmed her position on same-sex marriage. She is for it! 

THANK YOU!

Sure I adore her, but objectively she IS one of the smartest women on TV and has extensive experience with family law. 

Like me & many of my friends who think the government should stay out of our private lives, Steindlin says in this case it should NOT involve a state by state decision, it should be federal. 

                            RIGHT-ON 

Only then can we FINALLY be equal. We can then have ALL the federal rights which even if we marry now elude us.

Tune into her new online "ask Judy" show.

Sounds great!

BETTY WHITE ROAST AT THE FRIAR'S CLUB-NYC

Lisa Lampanelli: "Betty is a Renaissance woman -- she was born in 1543.... On her first game show, the grand prize was fire."

Many many more guffaws...

Betty White truly is America's Sweetheart..no one w/ such love & versatility . God bless her for donating so much of the $$$ she makes to animal rights & care.

There will never be a funnier Sue Ann Nivens, Rose Nylund or, of late,  Elka Ostrovsky ("Hot in Cleveland); not to mention her produced show,  "Off their Rockers"--love it!

We adore her and that's why she deserves a roast.

Laugh more check her out on CNN online

DONNA SUMMER, THE LEGEND, DIES-63

LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012^[1]), known by the stage name Donna Summer ("the Queen of Disco").

 



Two of my favorite Donna Summer quotes:

 “My life was changed in one breath from God.”
 “God had to create disco music so I could be born and be successful.”

I hear ya, Donna !!!

Donna Summer is one of those artist I didn't fully appreciate when the world was going wild over her; instead I thought Gloria Gaynor was far superior in song choices and attitude.  I always gave both huge props for their God -given ,"take you to church " heavenly voices, however.  
Today I realize Summer was just ahead of her time. For years I had wanted to actually see her perform; sadly, now I never will.  
Nostalgically,  the OSCAR winning song, "Last Dance", was the first time I slow danced with a man in public at "Feathers' in River Edge, NJ.  It was 1978. 
 My face was both red & very happy!

  Another Marilyn Monroe reference...


"While singing background for the hit-making 1970s trio Three Dog Night, Summer met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. She eventually signed a deal with the European label Groovy Records and issued her first album, Lady of the Night, in 1974.
In 1975, Summer approached Moroder with an idea for a song she and Bellotte were working on for another singer. She had come up with the lyric "love to love you, baby". Moroder was interested in developing the new sound that was becoming popular and used Summer's lyric to develop the song. Moroder persuaded Summer to record what was to be a demo track for another performer. She later said that she had thought of how the song might sound if Marilyn Monroe had sung it and began cooing the lyrics. To get into the mood of recording the song, she requested Moroder turn off the lights while they sat on a sofa with him inducing her moans and groans. After hearing playback of the song, Moroder felt Summer's version should actually be released..."


  It's interesting that we are now in the mist of some highly religious African-Americans condemning the LGBT community and writing vile things since Obama came out in favor of same sex marriage. While reflecting about the past I remembered how angry I was at Summer when she allegedly made those hateful remarks regarding AIDS and gays. I have moved on but I was never 100% convinced she wasn't just saving her pocket. I wanted to believe her but honestly I never was totally convinced. Still I gave her the benefit of the doubt and embraced her music once again. 



 CONTROVERSY:

"In the mid 1980s, Summer was embroiled in a controversy. She had allegedly made anti-gay remarks regarding the then-relatively new disease, AIDS, which as a result had a significantly negative impact on her career and saw thousands of her records being returned to her record company by angered fans. Summer, by this time a born-again Christian, was alleged to have said that AIDS was a punishment from God for the immoral lifestyles of homosexuals.^[10][11] However, she denied that she had ever made any such comment and, in a letter to the AIDS campaign group ACT UP in 1989, she said that it was "a terrible misunderstanding. I was unknowingly protected by those around me from the bad press and hate letters... If I have caused you pain, forgive me." She went on to apologize for the delay in refuting the rumours and closed her letter with Bible quotes (from Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians).^[12]
Also in 1989, Summer told The Advocate magazine that "A couple of the people I write with are gay, and they have been ever since I met them. What people want to do with their bodies is their personal preference."^[13] A couple of years later she filed a lawsuit against New York magazine when it reprinted the rumours as fact just as she was about to release her album Mistaken Identity in 1991.^[14] According to a Biography television program dedicated to Summer in which she participated in 1995, the lawsuit was settled out of court though neither side was able to divulge any details..."

SKECHERS SNEAKERS MAY OWE YOU $$$

Washington (CNN) -- "For overweight Americans, and those looking for a healthier lifestyle, the claim was almost too good to be true -- wear Skechers Shape-ups footwear and watch the pounds melt away. At a news conference Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission said the shoemaker's claims weren't true and alleged Skechers violated federal law by misleading consumers.

According to the FTC, Skechers agreed to pay a hefty $40 million fine to settle charges the California-based company deceived consumers by making "unfounded claims that Shape-ups would help people lose weight, and strengthen and tone their buttocks, legs and abdominal muscles..."

So if you bought "shape-ups" by Skechers you may be entitled for a reimbursement - RUN???

I try to tell people there is no easy way to get in shape; the trick is portion control, eat real food and exercise (no mystery or magic potions), but I don't blame those who bought the "shape-ups" ( I think people figured, why not, it can't hurt, right? And they don't, SKECHERS can continue to sell them but they cannot make the false promises they had.

GO-GO PERFORMER-CHUCK BROWN- DIES-75

"  Chuck Brown, known as the "Godfather of Go-Go," a genre blending funk, jazz and soul and other musical forms, died Wednesday, his manager said.

Brown, 75, died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, manager Tom Goldfogle said. The performer, whose career spanned four decades, died of multi-organ failure from sepsis.

"Go-Go" originated in Washington, D.C., in the early 1970s..."

I remember "go-go" going back to the 60's (my Cuban parents would actually call all American  dances "go-go" and they would insist to show visitors my moves , which I did; I was a ham early on !

WIKIPEDIA does say that the dancing & the genre of music were different--whatever, I can still do "the four corners" and that my friends remains "go-go" to me...

GAY, BLACK, JEWISH RAPPER (Y-LOVE) COMES OUT

Jewish rapper Y-Love comes out publicly as gay

"In a move that he admits could cost him some fans, New York rapper Yitz “Y-Love” Jordan, considered "the first black Jewish MC," has come out publicly as a gay man of color.

"I feel like I have wasted years of my life worrying that my ‘public reputation’ will be negatively impacted by my identity," Jordan said in a statement. "Now that I'm over 30, I simply can't care as much about what people think, despite the prospect of alienating the community I dedicated my life to as an artist and a man. My hope is it will open their eyes – and hearts.

  Jordan is of Puerto Rican and Ethiopian descent, and converted to Hasidic Judaism in 2000 before going on to study at Jerusalem’s Ohr Somayach yeshiva..."

HIV IMPORTANT OPTIMISTIC NEWS--"CYCLODEXTRIN"

Anderson Cooper, on his daily talk show, "ANDERSON", had  a show entitled "Renegade Moms" (you can watch the episode online),  the big deal was about "pink slime" found in ground beef; that was fine & dandy, but what really made my mind blow up with optimism was the mom who took matters into her own hands to battle her twins' disease ( they suffer from what is commonly known as "childhood Alzheimer") and discovered that by infusing  "cyclodextrin" directly to the brain this sugary substance made her daughters significantly better; by chance she  found it can also benefit HIV patients.

I do not mean to minimize  any of the moms whether it was the one championing "pink slime" or the tragic death of the other mom who lost her daughters to car rental negligence, but I wish they had focused a bit more on such a promising and easily available substance such as cyclodextrin with it's multiple effects. Anderson should have elaborated on this fact or even had a show on all new advances on HIV/AIDS, maybe he will. so far the show is a home run
____________________________________________.

 "September 23, 2010 – Oakland, Calif. – Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to introduce Trappsol® Cyclo™ (Hydroxypropyl Beta Cyclodextrin or HPßCD) into the brains of six year old identical twin girls dying of a rare brain-destroying cholesterol disease called Niemann Pick Type C (NPC). Known as “childhood Alzheimer’s,”

Approximately 500 children worldwide have been diagnosed with double genetic mutations on the Niemann Pick Type C cholesterol gene, yet what scientists learn about these children may have implications that reach far beyond this ultra rare genetic cholesterol disease. Recent published research reports of the role for the NPC1 gene in Alzheimer’s disease and human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) make Niemann Pick Type C disease and gene research relevant to millions of people worldwide.
______________________________________________

ADULT ALZHEIMER:

Today I find out that by 2025 we will be ahead of the disease that hits about 5 million people a year. They are being very successful about using an insulin filled inhaler. great strides are being made with this :

 "Researchers from the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle found that patients who received an insulin nasal spray experienced improved memory when compared to those who did not receive the spray treatment. Alzheimer’s patients in the study also showed better overall daily function..." Go to ABC "INHALED INSULIN for ALZHEIMER" for more details.

GAY MARRIAGE: JAY-Z SUPPORTS IT

“I’ve always thought it as something that was still holding the country back. What people do in their own homes is their business and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It’s no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination plain and simple…I think it’s the right thing to do, so whether it costs him votes or not – again, it’s not about votes. It’s about people. It’s the right thing to do as a human being...”

THANK YOU SO MUCH JAY-Z!!!

We at the LGBT community thank you, considering some backlash form the African-American religious sector

ARTIST BEN HEINE--WOW!

"BEN HEINE (born June 12, 1983 in Abidjan, Ivory coast) is a Belgian multidisciplinary visual artist. He is best known for his original series "Pencil Vs Camera", "Digital Circlism" and "Flesh and Acrylic"..."

I was just introduced to this visionary..check him out :

BenHeine.com

go to "projects"...my favorite pieces are  his "Digital Circlism"

the Marilyn Monroe is out-of-this world!!!!

GAYS (and everybody) SAVE "HARRY'S LAW"

Please stand with me from avoiding the cancellation of the intelligent, fair-minded show "HARRY'S LAW" (starring Kathy Bates) on NBC...Once again David E. Kelley has written a mature show which promotes fair-minded issues and provocative plots...it's genius!

So many mindless reality programs are thriving (mostly due to  viewer complacency and low budgets)--let's keep great shows on

I will be starting petition on FACEBOOK, please help...
This Sunday's episode hit home so hard I was balling..so relevant, so fair...


HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU...

LOCAL DJ DIES-66

"According to reports, the author and on-air personality best known for long stints on WFUV-FM and WNEW-FM, suffered a brain hemorrhage on April 15 and died Thursday..."

  "As a DJ on WNEW-FM in the 1970s, he established a loyal following by spinning records by lesser-known artists and album cuts beyond the hit singles.One of his favorites was Poco, a country-rock band he championed.He helped launch the careers of singer-songwriters like Suzanne Vega, John Gorka and Christine Lavin. Grammy winner Shawn Colvin told The New York Times in 2001, "Pete helped pave the way for so many of us. He was a rare guy in radio then..."

 Sadly, I do not recognize the name, but I still appreciate his contributions. I mainly write this for those radio aficionados who most likely knew more about his legacy. 

REST IN PEACE DEAR MAN...

MAN GETS STUCK INSIDE WOMAN

I hear this is not uncommon in dogs but a man stuck inside a (cheating) woman--oopsie--oh shit !!!

In Kenya, an extramarital affair becomes VERY public when apparently the woman's "V" cramped or some say a witchdoctor cast a spell after her suspecting husband asked for proof of her infidelity.

the whole thing is on youtube

Be careful guys, this is something "Ben Gay" cannot cure....lol

GO TO YOU TUBE:

Man Stuck Inside After Getting Caught with Someone's Wife

• by MrKT3001
• 1 year ago
• 139,901 views

Control your Self ..Kenyan witchdoctors do wonders. This man was caught in Nairobi with someone's wife in a guest house.

CYNDI LAUPER ADVOCATES for LGBT in D.C.

 

Cyndi Lauper visits Capitol Hill to advocate for homeless LGBT youth

"On Thursday, Grammy and Emmy award-winning artist and advocate Cyndi Lauper visited Capitol Hill to speak on behalf of homeless LGBT youth. She was asking for more funding and programs to provide needed housing and support services for homeless youth. Lauper's visit comes on the heels of President Obama's endorsement of marriage equality.

Speaking of the President's decision Lauper said, "President Obama's support of marriage equality gives hope and encouragement to the millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people who feel ostracized and alone. But our work is not done. We must continue to work on behalf gay and transgender Americans - and especially children - who have been driven from their homes, bullied, and abused..."

VIDAL SASSOON DEAD-84

"Famed hair stylist and fashion icon Vidal Sassoon died after a long illness, and the Los Angeles County coroner's office has plans for an autopsy.
Law enforcement sources did not disclose the nature of the illness, but numerous media organizations have been reporting for some time that Sassoon, 84, was battling leukemia. The sources said he died at his Mulholland Drive estate and that his doctors will make final death notifications..."

In "ROSEMARY'S BABY" one of my favorite interchanges is:
Guy Woodhouse: What the hell is that?
Rosemary Woodhouse: I've been to Vidal Sassoon.
Guy Woodhouse: You mean you actually paid for it?"

She was stating what everyone wanted, a cut from the master, the legend, VIDAL SASSOON. Sassoon set the standard in London and America followed suit in droves , anything with the brand SASSOON meant quality, chic and "cutting" edge (of course that was before he sold his brand  to sharks who then destroyed it).

The last documentary I really enjoyed was the 2010 "VIDAL SASSOON: THE MOVIE" (if you have not seen it, run and rent it). I was hoping Mr. Sassoon would one day sign the poster I have of it for me; regretfully, that will never happen.

Rest In Peace Mr. Class, Mr. Trendsetter...You brought beauty, style and happiness to many.

THANK YOU!

SAME SEX MARRIAGE, OBAMA/BIDEN-YES!

"WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said on Wednesday he believed same-sex couples should be allowed to get married, marking a shift in his evolving position on the issue that is likely to please his political base and upset conservatives.

"It is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," Obama said in an interview with ABC's Robin Roberts.
Obama's comments came days after Vice President Joe Biden said he was comfortable with gay marriage..."

I knew I had voted fro the right party and the right team--THANK YOU!

RE-ELECT OBAMA/BIDEN in NOVEMBER...

MET BALL-NYC, 2012

I remember, as a much younger man, attending the Metropolitan Fashion/Costume Ball yearly--what a high for my fashion conscious group to mingle with celebrities outdoing each other. It was at the MET (forget the baseball team) BALL that made us conjure up the best designer threads we could afford and soak in the glamour of the "Oscars East". It was there I first saw" The Donald" (tall I remember)-still married to Ivana (before her surgeries in a tacky green gown not worthy of the more elegant ones); literally rubbing elbows with Bernadette Peters (whose skin was pure porcelain) and seeing my pal & designer extraordinaire , Isabel Toledo, telling me how thrilled she was working in the museum fashion restoration department.

For one night we all felt like celebrities--silly & wonderful all at the same time.

Last Monday the tradition continued and this much older man never attends anymore, my priorities have shifted and I am in a less shallow place; but hey, if I ever receive an invitation, I would dust off my tux and go!

I gotta say though most of this year's gowns looked expensive and obviously couture, overall they were ugly, ill-fitted and making "more" appear just that, more than certainly needed. Rhianna- who is becoming the trendsetter to watch these days was not bad, but my favorite from head to toe was
Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren--WOW! The Jonas brothers looked amazingly dapper as well.

This is pure fun, not a world changer. However, if you ever get a chance to attend, it's quite fun. Just the mere fact that fashion meets high art in one of the most famous museums in the world tickles one's many senses.

 I would first recommend you attend my favorite night in NYC nightlife: the gala for "BAILEY HOUSE", in it's 24th year, every February. It's not only celebrity filled but the silent auctions are great (no such thing at the Met Ball). It's a more interactive event as well.  And there is a great reason to participate in this event :


"The Annual Auction & Party of Bailey House is where New York’s compassionate trendsetters raise money to house homeless people with AIDS/HIV through a magical evening of cocktails, mingling, and bidding wars..."

Dutin Hoffman Saves a Life

Dustin Hoffman saves jogger's life

"If you're in trouble, a nearby celebrity might be the one to call.

Dustin Hoffman is the latest in a string of heroic Hollywood stars, as he recently rushed to the rescue of a London jogger whose heart stopped while he was working out at Hyde Park, the London Evening Standard reports.
According to the paper, the 74-year-old actor was walking in the park on April 27 when he saw 27-year-old Sam Dempster, a lawyer, "staggering and frothing at the mouth" before he collapsed..."

GAYS STAY AWAY FROM NORTH CAROLINA

GAYS STAY AWAY FROM NORTH CAROLINA: we shall not go where we're not wanted !


"A day after North Carolina became the latest state to approve a constitutional amendment defining marriage as solely between a man and a woman, opponents of the referendum are beginning Wednesday to explore their next options.

North Carolina voted Tuesday to outlaw same-sex marriage, which was already prohibited in the state. Supporters pushed for the constitutional amendment, arguing that it is needed to ward off future legal challenges..."

I really thought we had evolved more than the continued homphobia that prevails some states.  This is why I believe it should be voted on a federal level--read the Constitution & the Bill of Rights--it's rights for ALL!!!!!!!!!!
What is the fear behind gays having the same rights like everyone else--we are NOT the boogey men. It does NOT affect your life in the least--WHY?WHY?WHY?  I'm almost sure they are quoting some  archaic bible verse and they're convenient interpretation..

VERY SAD!

SHAME ON YOU NORTH CAROLINA

Thank you to those with fairness & their hearts & intelligent enough to do the just thing, the evolved stance..

( Voters approved the amendment by a 61%-39% margin)

TELEVISON MERGER: ABC/DISNEY & UNIVISION

More mergers...
One day we will all be watching 3000 channels owned by one company--and it looks like Disney (scary since they are monopolizing BROADWAY, but I have better things to think about like how the hell do I get to FLUSHING, NY this week and not get lost or bump into the World's Fair sphere)

But yes my friends, we will now have a 24 hour CNN type "espanol" version brought to you by those famous ears, DISNEY & CO.

"Walt Disney Co. and Univision Communications Inc. said Monday they have agreed to launch a 24-hour cable news channel targeting Hispanics that will broadcast in English..."

The joint venture between Disney's ABC News and Univision News aims to reach the rapidly growing US-born Hispanic population, which often speaks English more than Spanish and is now fueling the group's growth more than Spanish-speaking immigrants.

The still-unnamed channel is slated to begin in 2013, the companies said in a joint statement. A website, as well as mobile and social-media content, are set to debut this summer ahead of the presidential election, in which the Hispanic vote is expected to play an important role.