The U.S. Department of Labor today announced its full commitment to implementing equal employment opportunity policies for all department employees and applicants. The policies ensure equal protections for all employees and applicants regardless of race; color; religion; national origin; sex, including pregnancy and gender identity; age; disability, whether physical or mental; genetic information; status as a parent; sexual orientation; or other non-merit factor. New, robust statements signed by Secretary Solis include updated policies on prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, including gender identity and pregnancy. Secretary Solis strongly supports fair equal employment opportunity policies, and creating diversity and fairness in the workplace. “I am expressing my personal commitment to ensure that the U.S. Department of Labor is a model workplace, free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, which fosters a work environment that fully utilizes the capabilities of every employee,†said Secretary Solis. “It is my goal that we achieve and maintain a high-quality, diverse workforce at all organizational levels throughout the department.â€Pregnancy is also new to the above list.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Department Of Labor Announces New Regs Protecting Transgender Employees
Newly issued Department of Labor regulations have added gender identity to the class of employment protections. Via press release:
Superman Renounces U.S. Citizenship
In the 900th issue of Action Comics, Superman renounces his American citizenship after a "clash" with the federal government. GOP flacks are outraged. Outraged, I tells ya! "Besides being riddled with a blatant lack of patriotism, and respect for our country, Superman's current creators are belittling the United States as a whole. By denouncing his citizenship, Superman becomes an eerie metaphor for the current economic and power status the country holds worldwide," Hollywood publicist and GOP activist Angie Meyer told Fox.Wired weighs in:
In an age rife with immigration paranoia, it’s refreshing to see an alien refugee tell the United States that it’s as important to him as any other country on Earth — which in turn is as important to Superman as any other planet in the multiverse. The genius of Superman is that he belongs to everyone, for the dual purposes of peace and protection. He’s above ephemeral geopolitics and nationalist concerns, a universal agent unlike any other found in pop culture.
MASSACHUSETTS: Christianists Attack Openly Gay Supreme Court Nominee
Openly gay Massachusetts Supreme Court nominee Barbara Lenk endured some Christianist assholery yesterday during her marathon seven hour confirmation hearing. Lenk is married to a woman and therefore placing her on the state's highest court will turn children gay. Or something. During her confirmation hearing before the Governor’s Council, some critics testified that her marriage is part of a broader plan to give legitimacy to homosexuality in the public arena. “This will be a clarion call to all that want to indoctrinate our children into homosexuality,’’ testified Sally Naumann, who, like Lenk, lives in Carlisle. “How will we ever be able to say no to our children?" [snip] With her wife, lawyer Debra Krupp, and their two teenage daughters sitting behind her, Lenk was stone-faced during the criticism. Lenk vowed to be a judge who hews to the law and will not be what critics call an activist judge. She also balked when asked to list the cases she handled that dealt with gays or lesbians. “I don’t keep records that way,’’ she said. “I don’t regard these cases in any way of being homosexual or lesbian issues.’’
Royal Wedding...Dress Rehearsal for Prince William & Kate! Fancy fruit cake, please!
They say:
“Life is not a dress rehearsal.”
However, there are specific occasions when dazzling overwhelming high-profile events require them.
So, that is why there was a big turn-out across the big pond in London yesterday, two days before the Royal Wedding of this - or any century for that matter - revs up!
In anticipation of the much-ballyhooed union of two star-crossed lovers – starring Prince William and Kate Middleton front-row-and center at Westminster Abbey – Queen E2 and her handlers (and a large contingent of Windsors and Middletons) purred around the bustling downtown streets in luxury limos (to essentially trot the gauntlet along the route of the wedding motorcade) to ensure that the Royals get it "just right" tomorrow when the future King of England ties-the-knot with his pretty love (kiss-me-Kate).
Abba, Elton John and his boy-toy - and a posse of others - will have to get to the church in their own sweet time without much help from Officials at Buckingham Palace on the other hand.
Meanwhile - Tony Blair, President Obama, and the Duchess of Pork – um - York - need not fight the crush of traffic since the trio of high-profile personalities won't be attending.
Uh-huh!
All snubbed.
Will there be any missed cues or late entrances?
While the blushing bride is expected to utter up - "I Do" - don't expect Kate to gush that she'll "obey".
According to insider scuttlebutt, the future Princess exercised her right to editorial control, alright.
On the sidelines, Dave Letterman and Jay Leno are expected to toss a jibe or two on their highly-rated talk shows Friday night, in the aftermath of the media bonanza.
Especially when it comes to the official wedding cake.
Although the spokesperson for the Royals took great pains to characterize the frothy-looking multi-tiered cake as a rich delicious treat waiting to be served up with a lot of "wow" factor at the chi-chi after-party, the truth of the matter?
The crown jewel of pastries is basically a fruit cake, all tarted up, nothing more nothing less!
However, for the kiddies (the younger hipper set with a sweet tooth or two not inclined to hanker to tradition, gee whiz), there will be a tasty chocolate crisp yummy sure to go down smoothly with a dash of milk, chilled bubbly, even a brewskie!
At press time, roving reporters were still hovering the crowded terrain at a fever pitch, still anxious to get first dibbs on a publicity still sure to nab millions!
A shot of Kate's designer frock to be worn to Westminster Abbey for the ultra-tony social event of the year would be a mighty coup for any self-respecting paparazzi worth his weight to snap up.
Bet your sweet bippy, that even if the pricey gown doesn't make an entrance early on the world stage - that within minutes of the breathtaking reveal - trendy rip-off designers in the rag-trade will be rustling up cheap knock-offs to flog to commoners anxious to don for their own romantic day of wedded (eternal?) bliss.
News at 11!
http://www.thetattler.biz
Can Wills & Kate top Lady Diana's Royal Wedding?
Maggie Gallagher On The HRC
"To anyone who has been at the forefront of the marriage fight, there is little new in the extraordinary effort to punish a whole law firm because HRC doesn't like its client. Gay marriage advocates have again and again used class networks of power to attack individuals, livelihoods and whole business enterprises to make support for marriage so expensive that they can effectively silence opposition to their views. But this time it happened in full public view."In a truly Orwellian statement, HRC President Joe Solmonese praised King and Spalding's decision to abandon a client under fire as an example of putting 'principle above politics.' Oh Joe, oh Joe. It's important for all of us to remember that life for ordinary gay people can still be difficult, even as a powerhouse gay movement flexes its cultural, financial and behind-the-scenes political power to repress the rights of others to organize, speak, donate and now hire a lawyer to defend marriage. One thing is clear: This is not a movement that needs extraordinary intervention by the courts to protect its rights." - NOM chairman Maggie Gallagher, writing for Yahoo News.
Oklahoma Gets Official State Gospel Song
On Tuesday, Oklahoma's House voted unanimously to make Swing Low, Sweet Chariot the official state gospel song. No other state has an official religious song. When state Representative Jabar Shumate of Tulsa (left), the Oklahoma bill's House sponsor, was asked by a colleague to give a rendering of the song on the House floor on Monday, he declined, saying his pastor told him to always sing solo -- "so low nobody can hear." Even without a performance, no one voted against the song. "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" was written in 1862, when Oklahoma was still Indian Territory, by a Choctaw Freedman named Wallis Wallis. It's said the Red River made Wallis think of the Jordan River, and the song was loosely based on a Bible passage that describes the Prophet Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot. "It should be a source of pride to all Oklahomans that this meaningful song was written in our state," Shumate said.Gov. Mary Fallin signed the bill into law last night.
Atlas Bugged
Furious about them there liberal critics, the producer of this year's biggest cinematic flop, Atlas Shrugged, says the movie's two planned sequels probably will not happen.
"Critics, you won," said John Aglialoro, the businessman who spent 18 years and more than $20 million of his own money to make, distribute and market "Atlas Shrugged: Part 1," which covers the first third of Rand's dystopian novel. "I’m having deep second thoughts on why I should do Part 2." "Atlas Shrugged" was the top-grossing limited release in its opening weekend, generating $1.7 million on 299 screens and earning a respectable $5,640 per screen. But the the box office dropped off 47% in the film's second week in release even as "Atlas Shrugged" expanded to 425 screens, and the movie seemed to hold little appeal for audiences beyond the core group of Rand fans to whom it was marketed.Aglialoro says the cruelest review of all came from the New York Times, who never mentioned the film.
Quote Of The Day - Sally Kern
"We have a high percentage of blacks in prison and that’s tragic, but are they in prison just because they are black or because they don’t want to study as hard in school? I’ve taught school, and I saw a lot of people of color who didn’t study hard because they said the government would take care of them." - Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, outdoing even herself. Oklahoma's GOP-dominated House has just voted 59-14 to place a ban on affirmative action on this year's ballot.
Tony Perkins Vs. Coca-Cola
Ever since King & Spalding dropped their DOMA cases, word has been that their top hometown client Coca-Cola had some role in convincing them to pull out. Yesterday FRC president Tony Perkins hinted that Coke may be next on their shitlist. Via press release:
While this form of corporate terrorism may have paid off temporarily, even the press is chiding HRC for its own intolerance toward the legal process. But that doesn't faze homosexual activists. They were all too eager to take credit for their campaign of intimidation. "We did all of this, and we're proud to have done it," Sainz bragged. According to the email traffic, King & Spalding "was starting to hear from companies that... they might have to rethink their relationship with [the firm]."
Rumors are flying that one of those companies was Coca Cola. People closest to the story are suggesting that the soda king did most of the arm-twisting. "Sources... confirm that one of King & Spalding's top clients, Coca Cola, also based in Atlanta, directly intervened to press the firm to extricate itself from the case." A spokesman for the company refused to comment. But if the allegations are true, I guarantee that FRC won't hesitate to!
CNN's John King Confronts Donald Trump Over "Embarassing" Birther Issue
Trump continues to insist that a CNN poll shows him even with the president. King points out that CNN has never issued such a poll, much to Trump's anger and denial.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Open Thread Thursday
We're not just LGBT activists here. Tell us where your other passions lie. Animal rights? Environmentalism? Workers rights? The peace movement? Globalism? Brights?
Huntington Hospital...Quack Doctors Teyan Ovsepyan & Gregor Paronian guilty of malpractise! Incompetent Nurses Violate Patient Rights!
Huntington Hospital
(A Memorial for those who died here!)
With a nod to documentarian Michael Moore (SiCKO) - once again - I shed a searing spotlight on a medical facility on the West Coast that is not only an outright disgrace to the profession but to the community-at-large.
At Huntington Hospital, for instance, two doctors by the name of - Tevan Ovsepyan and Gregor Paronian - are currently masquerading as professionals in medical environs in the tony enclave otherwise known as upscale Pasadena (CA).
The truth of the matter?
Both physcians (I used the term loosely) are incompetent quacks; in fact - so much so - that their acts of negligence rise to the level of malpractice.
For example, neither doctor is skilled (or trained) well enough to properly diagnose an infected (ailing) patient.
In fact, boh Ovsepyan and Paronian, would have trouble treating the common cold (given the rumors that have been whispered in my ear).
Patients have complained that they were admitted to the disreputable hospital, and their insurance carriers billed (bilked) thousands of dollars, then - released - without any resolution to their medical problems!
"Take an aspirin over-the-counter," one incompetent M.D. (Tevan Ovsepan) recommended to a startled patient bent over in excruciating pain.
A visit to another hospital, for a second opinion, resulted in therapy for a serious infection which lasted over five days for the bedridden "Ovsepyan" victim.
Paronian, on the other hand, found it so difficult writing a prescription that a Nurse on duty (with all the charisma of a slug) was forced to rewrite the order legibly for the arrogant shit (so that the pharmacist could fathom the troubling scrawl).
By the way, the document was rejected by the pharmacy in the end scenario, because the odd-ball slip of paper (and its bizarre contents) did not meet the standards necessary to pass muster upon close scrutiny.
Notwithstanding, the dumpy low-energy nurses at Huntington Hospital, leave a lot to be desired too.
Patients are often left hungry, because the lazy nurses on duty, are often off gossipping with their fellow workers or outside puffing on a cancer stick.
When the issue was raised, the poor-excuse for a Nurse passed the buck, naturally (her name was Kim).
During the course of a two-day stay one patient lamented that his sheets were not changed once.
Can you guess?
The waste can was left to spoil and spill out ominous aromas that could have felled a healthy elephant in one nasty swoop.
I surmise that the maintenance worker was downtown at INS trying to secure his legal papers.
Yes.
The Staff at Huntington have difficulty with the King's English, too.
Unhappy patients were often left without - due to communication problems with staffers - who couldn't converse effectively (or just didn't care about the well-being of their charges).
Poor shits!
Meals are usually served cold and tasteless.
And, If you're lucky, the waitress might fill your coffee cup to the half-way mark.
But, don't count on it.
If you're pining for creamer, sorry kiddo, you'll have to gulp it down black.
They're a stingy unsophisticated low-class lot low-lifes at Huntington to be sure.
One patient was discharged without any improvement in his care - and in the final analysis - felt like he was kicked out because his time clock was up.l
A nurse fessed up.
"Another patient is already slated to move into the Hospital room."
In spite of the fact the coffin-sized cold-water flat was not cleaned, or sanitized, or what-have-you.
An individual may actually exit the premises plagued with a host of uglier infections than when he or she first ventured in.
In a nutshell, Huntington is a bloody nightmare and a cesspool of disease.
A shoddy excuse for a healing facility.
A word of Saintly advice?
Avoid this dump like the plague.
And, of course, report the doctors who terrorize the patients here to the State Medical Board.
You just might save a life or two in the process!
News at 11!
http://www.thetattler.biz
Two Turds transformed into work of art at Huntington!
Celebs with brains
You know, I really admire celebrities who not only succeed in show-biz but also make education a priority. I know most celebs are drop outs and some only finish high school but there are a handful which I truly admire.
Take for example James Franco...
He is an Oscar nominee, was an Oscar host, a successful actor, director, screenwriter and producer but do you know, adding to it all, he is also currently a Ph.D student in English at Yale University. Not only that, he has been accepted into another doctorate programme at the University of Houston which he will pursue a Ph.D in literature and creative writing in September 2012. Now, may I ask, where does he have the time to do it all???? He is sooooo SMART!!!
Besides that, another Oscar nominee and winner with brains is Natalie Portman:
She has always been very dedicated in her studies. She even skipped the premiere of one of the Star Wars movie so that she could study for her final exam in high school. She graduated from Harvard university with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2003. She was quoted as saying, "I'd rather be smart than be a movie star!" Well, good choice because not only she can add Harvard into her resume, now she's also an Oscar winner! She didn't really miss out on anything actually!
Next is Dakota Fanning who is a child star. From young, she has been a very promising actress yet she chose to finish high school and go on pursuing her education in college.
Look no further, even in Malaysia, Yuna, the singer-songwriter and Andrea Fonseka, Miss Malaysia both finished their law degrees in a local University and Singapore respectively before embarking on different paths..
Yuna, has become Malaysia's most influential singer online, and is now signed by a label who is based in New York!! Okay, if you are signed in New York, you know you have really made it!!!
Andrea Fonseka, who was Miss Malaysia Universe 2004 is now the national director of Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation(MUMO) and is the one responsible for revamping the entire pageant.
And then we have Willow Smith, the rising singer with famous parents, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith dropping out of primary school to pursue her singing career...
Oh well, at the end of the day, it's really your own choice...Some people take the road less taken while others are not necessarily risk takers...
But, what I learnt from the likes of James Franco and Natalie Portman is that you can really have the best of both worlds if you work hard and prioritise!
Take for example James Franco...
He is an Oscar nominee, was an Oscar host, a successful actor, director, screenwriter and producer but do you know, adding to it all, he is also currently a Ph.D student in English at Yale University. Not only that, he has been accepted into another doctorate programme at the University of Houston which he will pursue a Ph.D in literature and creative writing in September 2012. Now, may I ask, where does he have the time to do it all???? He is sooooo SMART!!!
Besides that, another Oscar nominee and winner with brains is Natalie Portman:
She has always been very dedicated in her studies. She even skipped the premiere of one of the Star Wars movie so that she could study for her final exam in high school. She graduated from Harvard university with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2003. She was quoted as saying, "I'd rather be smart than be a movie star!" Well, good choice because not only she can add Harvard into her resume, now she's also an Oscar winner! She didn't really miss out on anything actually!
Next is Dakota Fanning who is a child star. From young, she has been a very promising actress yet she chose to finish high school and go on pursuing her education in college.
Look no further, even in Malaysia, Yuna, the singer-songwriter and Andrea Fonseka, Miss Malaysia both finished their law degrees in a local University and Singapore respectively before embarking on different paths..
Yuna, has become Malaysia's most influential singer online, and is now signed by a label who is based in New York!! Okay, if you are signed in New York, you know you have really made it!!!
Andrea Fonseka, who was Miss Malaysia Universe 2004 is now the national director of Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation(MUMO) and is the one responsible for revamping the entire pageant.
And then we have Willow Smith, the rising singer with famous parents, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith dropping out of primary school to pursue her singing career...
Oh well, at the end of the day, it's really your own choice...Some people take the road less taken while others are not necessarily risk takers...
But, what I learnt from the likes of James Franco and Natalie Portman is that you can really have the best of both worlds if you work hard and prioritise!
Kate Hudson...flashes 9 carat engagement ring! Music to her ears! Bling to eyes!
Looks like the love bug has been flitting about this spring.
Have Wills & Kate triggered a yearning for lazy mornings in bed, romantic treks down the aisle all gussied up and ready to tie-the-knot, and wet sloppy kisses on exotic jaunts to far-away-places on the restless high seas?
When fans get a gander at love-happy Kate Hudson (and musical boy-toy Matt Bellamy) the response appears to be a resounding "yes!".
"I'm engaged!" Hudson fessed up excitedly on the morning show, after Matt Lauer was blinded by a dazzling 9 carat sparkler on her hand this morning!
"I haven't really announced it," Kate gushed, as she beamed pretty ear to ear.
"I was waiting for someone to notice the ring."
So, Cupid's arrow has struck, I expect.
How do those lyrics from that loopy pop tune go?
Let me tell you 'bout the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the moon up above
And a thing called "Love"
Let me tell you 'bout the stars in the sky
And a girl and a guy
And the way they could kiss
On a night like this
When I look into your big brown eyes
It's so very plain to see
That it's time you learned about the facts of life
Starting from "A" to "Z"
Let me tell you 'bout the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the moon up above
And a thing called "Love" (Yeah!)
When I look into your big brown eyes
It's so very plain to see
That it's time you learned about the facts of life
Starting from "A" to "Z"
Let me tell you 'bout the birds and the bees
And the flowers and the trees
And the moon up above
And a thing called "Love"
May cupid's arrow find you happy, healthy, and head-over-heels in love!
Later!
http://www.thetattler.biz/
JMG Blog Year Eight Begins
Today is the seventh blogiversary of this here website thingy. As is tradition for today, here is my very first post.
And onward to JMG year eight.
April 27th, 2004I appreciate all of you being here for these last seven years. Help yourselves to some cupcakes and punch. Please don't let the cat out.
I was born and raised in rural North Carolina.
My fondest childhood memory is of playing in the dense, acrid, poison fog that was belched out by the county mosquito control truck during its daily dusk-time trip down our dirt road.
The cry of "Smokey! Smokey!" would fly up and down Nine Foot Road once the first faint sound of the pest control truck's generator was detected in the distance. Trailer screen doors would slam open and kids would pour into the street for ten minutes of gleeful, giddy, mad dashing around in the thick white clouds of DDT. We would smash into each other with full force in the blinding swirls and just scream and laugh hysterically, pick ourselves up and start running again. Parents had not a whit of concern about their children playing directly behind the spewing pipes of a pest control truck. In fact, NOT being allowed to play in the poison fog was often held out as potential punishment for misbehavior.
I think this explains a lot about me.
And onward to JMG year eight.
Julianne Moore As Sarah Palin
From the coming HBO movie about the 2008 campaign. Game Change stars Moore as Palin, Ed Harris as John McCain, Woody Harrelson as Steve Schmidt, McCain’s senior campaign strategist; Ron Livingston as Mark Wallace, another top McCain advisor; and Melissa Farman as Dancing with the Stars contestant Bristol Palin.
Tweet Of The Day - NOM
NOM has picked up on Sen. Ruben Diaz' claim of receiving death threats over a comment left on a Village Voice blog post. Because an anonymous internet comment is SO much worse than 20,000 screaming evangelicals waving signs that we will all burn in an eternal lake of fire.
NEW YORK: Five State Senators MAY Be Changing Their Minds On Marriage
Gay City News reports that five New York state senators who voted against same-sex marriage in 2009 are now "taking no public position" on the issue. Obviously, this could possibly bode well for the upcoming vote promised by Gov. Cuomo. At least six changed votes would be needed for the bill to pass.
According to statements on the record (to Gay City News and/ or other media), two Democrats who previously voted no –– Joe Addabbo and Shirley Huntley of Queens –– and three Republicans in the same category –– James Alesi of Fairport, Greg Ball of Brewster, and Joseph Griffo of Utica –– are currently taking no public position on the marriage bill. Griffo’s undeclared status first became known in an April 26 email message to Gay City News from his office. Rayan Aguam, the senator’s director of communications & community relations, wrote, “Senator Griffo won't comment until it's clear which bill will come before the Senate for a vote. He wants to see all the details of the legislative proposal laid out before him before he makes his decision. It wouldn't surprise anyone if Senator Duane's current bill is amended or if another bill is substituted.†The position of freshman Republican Jack Martins of Garden City is not fully clear from the public record, and he did not respond to Gay City News’ request for comment.The most surprising name on the above list is Democrat Shirley Huntley, whom you may recall famously declaring in 2009 that she would never vote for gay marriage, "not even if you gave me a million tax-free dollars!" In her 2010 reelection campaign, Huntley claimed that she'd been the subject of death threats by gay activists. Last month the state Attorney General's office investigated Huntley for allegedly running a taxpayer-funded charity scam. That case is still ongoing.
Book Fail
For weeks World Net Daily has been flogging nutjob Jerome Corsi's coming birther book, encouraging readers to pre-order it on Amazon so that it debuts at the top of bestsellers lists. Even though it doesn't come out for weeks, today Corsi's now-doomed title ranks at #29 on the overall chart and is #1 on several of Amazon's niche categories.
SAN FRANCISCO: Anti-Circumcision Group To Place Ban On City Ballot
A San Francisco anti-circumcision group has collected enough petition signatures to place a city-wide ban on the practice on the November ballot. Legal experts, however, said even if such a measure were to pass, it would likely be quickly overturned as an unconstitutional attack on the grounds of religious freedom. Chief opponent Lloyd Schofield, 59, acknowledged circumcision is a ritual among Jews and a common practice among Muslims, but insisted it should be outlawed. "It's excruciatingly painful and permanently damaging surgery that's forced on men when they're at their weakest and most vulnerable," he said. San Francisco officials say Schofield's group submitted about 12,000 signatures supporting his proposed ban, which is more than enough to get it on the ballot in November.The proposed measure would make it a crime to circumcise a boy under the age of 18.
Bryan Fischer: "Ex-Gay" Fugitive Lisa Miller Is The Rosa Parks Of Kidnappers
"Tennessee pastor Timothy Miller is now in jail. His crime? Allegedly helping a mother protect her daughter from the pernicious influence of sexual deviancy ('deviancy: actions or behaviours that violate cultural norms'). [snip] Rosa Parks gained civil rights immortality because she refused an order to obey an unjust law. If there was ever a contemporary case in which civil disobedience is justified, the Lisa Miller case is it. May God have mercy on Lisa Miller, her daughter Isabella, and Pastor Timothy Miller. And may God, the Judge of the living and the dead, bring the guilty before his bar of pure and uncompromising justice." - American Family Association radio host Bryan Fischer, writing on his AFA blog.RELATED: Fischer posts this disclaimer at the top of the above-linked column: "It should be noted that the American Family Association has taken no formal position on either Lisa Miller’s actions or the actions of Pastor Timothy Miller."
OHIO: Insurance Group Offers Reward For Name Of Anti-Gay Horse Killer
Over the weekend, eight horses were burned alive in their rural Ohio barn in an arson attack on a property owned by a gay man. The words "fags are freaks" were found spray-painted on the barn. Today a $5000 reward has been offered for the name of the perpetrator.
Brent Whitehouse hopes a reward of up to $5,000 offered by the Blue Ribbon Arson Committee will help find the person responsible for setting a fire that killed his horses and destroyed his barn Sunday night. The State Fire Marshal's Office has ruled the fire was arson. Derogatory statements were painted on the barn walls and doors just before the fire, said Shane Cartmill, spokesman for the fire marshal's office. Whitehouse said because of those statements, the fire marshal's office is looking at the possibility of a hate crime. The reward, sponsored by the Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association, works with law enforcement, firefighters and insurance industry personnel in an effort to combat arson. The fire marshal's office is asking anyone with information regarding the fire to contact them.
Not The Mama
Dinosaurs debuted 20 years ago today.
The sitcom lasted for four seasons and 65 episodes (58 episodes aired during the first run; the remaining aired in syndication) before ultimately ending with the extinction of dinosaurs. (Inevitable, we suppose.) While 'Dinosaurs' was a sitcom, the show broke the mold by not having a studio audience or a laugh track. Brought to life by a cast of experienced Henson puppeteers and seasoned voice actors, 'Dinosaurs' is heralded as one of the most ambitious sitcoms ever.Talk about a guilty pleasure.
Tony Perkins: Gay Activists Are Cowards
"The people who avoid a debate are the ones afraid of losing. That's why the groups like GetEQUAL and others are forming what is basically a mobile protest unit. Yesterday, its activists rallied outside the offices of King & Spalding--only to learn that its attorneys had bailed on the case. So what did they do? Hopped in the car, drove across town to Paul Clement's new firm, and started demonstrating there. 'I think Bancroft PPLC just bought itself a world of pain,' wrote one blogger. 'Go get them!!!' As far as they're concerned, the Constitution doesn't decide who gets lawyers--homosexuals do. FRC's Peter Sprigg was on target in a message he tweeted earlier today: Being falsely accused of bigotry may not be as bad as proving beyond all doubt that you're a coward!" - Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, via press release.
Today In Ambiguously Gay Advertising
Dozens of you have sent in the below Budweister ad in which some are seeing a gay subtext to a soldier's coming home story. I'm not seeing it.
Trump Takes Credit
"Today I'm very proud of myself, because I've accomplished something that no one else has been able to accomplish. I want to look at it, but I hope it's true. But he should have done it a long time ago." - Donald Trump, who went on to demand the president's college transcripts. Trump also claimed that a CNN poll shows he running neck-and-neck with the president. CNN immediately denied that any such poll exists.
Obama Releases Birth Certificate, Birthers Leap Out Of Tall Buildings Nationwide
Talking Points Memo: It's surreal and weird and faintly ridiculous that it's come to this. But this morning the White House caught the press corps seriously off guard by handing out copies of the anti-Holy Grail of birtherism, the fabled 'long form' birth certificate.The president will speak to this issue in a press conference this morning. So far there hasn't been a peep from Donald Trump or the idiots at World Net Daily. Heh.
UPDATE: World Net Daily reacts predictably:
If the document proves valid, it could answer the questions raised by those who have alleged he was not actually born in Hawaii. But it also could prove his ineligibility because of its references to his father. Some of the cases challenging Obama have explained that he was a dual citizen through his father at his birth, and they contend the framers of the Constitution excluded dual citizens from qualifying as natural born citizens.
Andrew Sullivan On "Hunky Jesus"
"I am a First Amendment absolutist, as readers know. And I'm also a solid defender of the right to blasphemy. But there are smart ways of doing this, ways that illuminate broader issues - think of 'The Book Of Mormon' or any South Park episode. And then there are smug, cheap and unfunny shots at the faith of other people. Really, this makes me feel like Bill Donohue. You want to grow some balls? Hold a Hunky Mohammed Contest on Ramadan. And, by the way, thanks for doing your bit to empower every religious right prejudice about gays." - Andrew Sullivan, on the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
BRITAIN: Court Rejects Catholic Bid For Exemption From Gay Adoption Laws
A British appeals tribunal has rejected the demand of the Catholic Church that they be exempted from laws banning discrimination against gay adoptive parents. As we've seen happen in several U.S. cities, church adoption officials say they'd rather close their doors and let children go without families than abide by the law.
Leeds-based Catholic Care have said they will have no choice but to end their work finding homes for children if they are forced to comply with the new equality regulations which prohibit discrimination against same-sex couples wanting to adopt. The case went to the High Court last year before being referred to the Charity Commission, who would not back Catholic Care’s position. And the Charity Commission’s stance was upheld today by a first-tier tribunal which dismissed the appeal.
AFA: Obama Ignored Easter!
Except for his hosting of the Easter Prayer Breakfast and his drop-in at the White House Easter Egg Roll. But as we know, facts matter little to the American Family Association, whose audience laps up the lies without question.
David Barton On Earth Day
"Are you kidding me, Earth Day in the schools? We've got to save the Earth? I mean, that's like a tick trying to save a whole heard of cattle. I mean, ticks go along for the ride, they don't manage the cattle, they don't tell them where to go. And that's our arrogance in thinking that we can do something to save the planet and control where the planet goes. You know, we're just along for the ride and we're insignificant peons on this thing." - Dominionist David Barton, who says that environmentalism is "anti-Biblical."
A Book For Exhausted Parents
A sample verse: "The cats nestle close to their kittens now. The lambs have laid down with the sheep. You're cozy and warm in your bed, my dear. Please go the fuck to sleep."
Liberty Counsel Denies Involvement In Lisa Miller "Ex-Gay" Parental Kidnapping
Even though their most famous client magically turned up at a Nicaragua house owned by the father of Mat Staver's secretary, the Liberty Counsel chairman is denying being involved in the disappearance of "ex-lesbian" Lisa Miller, who fled the country in 2009 rather than comply with a court order to share child custody with her former partner. "It's absurd to try to suggest Liberty Counsel had anything to do with the whereabouts or the disappearance of Lisa Miller," Mathew Staver, Dean of Liberty University's School of Law and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. Staver served as Miller's attorney through 2009. [snip] "She simply stopped communicating by phone, by e-mail, by letter," said Staver. "We have no idea where she went." Staver says Miller's actions forced Liberty Counsel to drop her case. [snip] But some believe Liberty had another motive and took part in hiding Miller - a claim Staver says is 100-percent false. "None of us would be stupid enough to place our careers and our futures and our law licenses on the table to try to help someone violate the law," said Staver.Is anybody buying this? I'm betting the FBI isn't.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Royal Wedding!!
Me as much as many other girls in the world cannot wait for the over-hyped royal wedding!! I can't wait to see how beautiful Kate Middleton will be in her wedding gown walking down the aisle!
The royal wedding will be this coming Friday and E! Channel and NTV7 will be airing it live in the afternoon starting at 4pm and 4.30pm respectively *excited*
This is like a fairytale dream come true *so jealous* Who would ever thought marrying a prince charming one day will ever come true XD
Well, it did for her! And both of them look quite like the perfect couple =))
So, are you going to watch the royal wedding as well??
The royal wedding will be this coming Friday and E! Channel and NTV7 will be airing it live in the afternoon starting at 4pm and 4.30pm respectively *excited*
This is like a fairytale dream come true *so jealous* Who would ever thought marrying a prince charming one day will ever come true XD
Well, it did for her! And both of them look quite like the perfect couple =))
So, are you going to watch the royal wedding as well??
NEW YORK CITY: Lady Gaga To Donate $1M To Groups Supporting LGBT Youth
Hometown girl Lady Gaga has pledged to donate $1M to the Robin Hood Foundation, which will distribute the funds to five NYC-based organizations that support impoverished LGBT youth. Among the beneficiaries is the Hetrick-Martin Institute, where many of Ali Forney Center's homeless gay kids go to school. Visit Gaga's Facebook page and vote on your favorite charity. The top vote-getter gets half the money and that might make it hard to choose, but what a great problem to have! And you don't have to be a New Yorker to participate.Voting is open until May 6th.
DOC U...Haskell Wexler & James Longley appear @ IDA Panel Discussion! Hollywood!
Doc U focuses on filmmakers!
In the wake of innovative new technological advances (where cameras are cooler, niftier, and more flexible in nature) - and in view of a proliferation of in-your-face reality-based shows on TV touting gladiator-style entertainment programming - the role of the documentary filmmaker is being held up to closer scrutiny.
With that scenario unfolding in mind, three high-profile filmmakers were invited to attend a panel discussion last night at DOC U (under the auspices of the International Documentary Association) in Hollywood at the Silent Film Theatre on Fairfax Avenue to discuss the boundaries of the medium - if any - that exist today in an atmosphere where there appears to an "anything goes" or "take no prisoners" mentality.
The three panelists - at the top of their game right now (and as different as night and day in their approach to their scintillating projects) - openly discussed their roles with the aim of shedding some light on the kind of dilemmas that filmmakers face today.
Richard Pearce moderated the event as part of a DOC U series sponsored by ida (International Documentary Association).
In the old-world charm of the Silent Film Theatre (where publicity stills of Hollywood legends graced the dusty walls), Joan Churchill ("Dixie Chicks: Shut up and Sing"; "Role of a Serial Killer", "American Family"); Haskell Wexler ("Medium Cool", "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf") and James Longley ("Irag in Fragments") succeeded in rustling up a riveting cinematic event that ended up being upbeat, thought-provoking and inspiring to the packed house comprised mostly of aspiring young filmmakers interested in pursuing a mainstream career in documentary filmmaking.
When asked what were some of the ethical problems that documentary filmmakers faced today on the fast-shifting film terrain that has literally transformed the industry, the discussion became a lively informative debate.
For example, Ms. Churchill underscored that it was important to be "inside the circle" - and not outside of it - for a project to succeed.
After all, cementing a trust between filmmaker and subject is of paramount importance in the overall scheme of things.
The low-key down-to-earth filmmaker gave an example.
One day, an unexpected tragedy caused Churchill to shoot a handful of intimate personal scenes - that were highly sensitive, in nature - in respect to a subject featured in her documentary.
Instead of swooping down like a vulture - in pursuit of her prey - Churchill was prompted to act ethically instead.
Once the shy soft-spoken director captured the unexpected turn-of-events on film, she turned the footage over to her subject, and left the matter in her hands.
Whether the footage would be included in the documentary would rest on a decision made by the young lady involved - not the director - Joan Churchill.
In this way, the filmmaker managed to establish a rapport with the individual after-the-fact - and ultimately - gained the woman's trust and respect.
In the end scenario, Churchill was given permission to use the thought-provoking material, which was not surprising in view of the way the filmmaker handled the issue.
In one hilarious moment, out-of-the-blue, Mr. Haskell took the mic and shouted out.
"What am I doing here? What am I doing here?"
At first, audience members thought the legendary filmmaker was having a senior moment.
However, when Haskell continued, his message - which came across a little off-the-wall a few seconds earlier - ending up ringing crystal clear.
"As a filmmaker, I have to ask. What am I doing here? What am I trying to accomplish?"
Then, there was the issue of putting creativity - and the artist's vision - on the line.
What sacrifices must be made, if any?
When John Longley's clip - "Iraq in Fragments" - was previewed last night, it was evident that he took risks - personally and professionally - in a nervy bold-faced effort to land his precious footage in the can.
Because of his sensitivity to the subjects - and his keen ability to instinctively tip-toe thorugh a potentially-volatile situation unscathed - he was able to pull a remarkabe coup off.
Film buffs in the audience - myself included - were astounded when the breathtaking stunning images he conjured up on film splashed across the screen with great cinematic style.
Unlike Joan Churchill (who said she didn't care what the film looked like because she was just concerned with the content) Longley's film turned out a remarkable work of art.
Which underscores the obvious.
Documentaries don't have to be boring accounts of mundane subjects thrown together with the express purpose of teaching and/or enlightening the masses.
Indeed, judging from the response of the audience at last night's panel discussion, it is evident that documentary filmmakers are not only breaking exciting new ground in the realm of documentary film, but garnering ia helluva-a-lot of interest to boot!
From the bottom up.
"You don't need a lot of money to make a film if you make it yourself. You just have to pay for your equipment," underscored Joan.
And, it didn't escape my attention, that there were quite a few advantages to working para-military-style with quality hand-held cameras in tow.
After all, the easy-to-use lensers are capable of zooming in, out, and documenting far - out-of-the-way - intimate places that 35 mm cameras can't begin to.
Even the lights can drag a cameraman down and hinder the shooting process as well.
Moderator Richard Pearce ("Hearts and Minds", "Food, Inc.") was a charming inquisitive host who carried off the challenge of fielding questions admirably.
Pearce began his professional career in the late 1960’s as a documentary cameraman.
His early credits as a cinematographer include four Oscar-winning films: Woodstock, Marjoe, Interviews with My Lai Veterans and Hearts and Minds.
Pearce made his feature directorial debut with the period drama "Heartland" which won the Golden Bear at the 1980 Berlin Film Festival and opened the New York Film Festival’s first “Showcase of American Independents.”
Haskell Wexler took home statuettes for his work on Mike Nichols' "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and Hal Ashby's "Bound for Glory".
Wexler has worked with Norman Jewison, George Lucas, Michael Moore, and John Sayles.
He directed two features, Medium Cool and Latino.
I caught a screening of Medium Cool earlier this year in San Francisco which was screened in tandem with a major exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Post: 03/03/10
http://ambiralbedjo.blogspot.com/2011/03/san-francisco-museum-of-modern.html
Both films broke the mold of conventional story telling by using the immediacy of documentary-style filmmaking.
Wexler was the first Cinematographer to every land a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Joan Churchill began her career doing camera work on a series of music films such as "Gimme Shelter" (Rolling Stones), No Nukes (directed by Haskell Wexler), and Barbara Kopple and Hail, Hail Rock and Roll, (directed by Taylor Hackford).
Churchill is probably best-known for her work on the cult series "An American Family "(which broadcast originally on PBS).
Early on in his film career, James Longley was honored for his work by prestigious organizations.
"Portrait of Boy with Dog" was awarded a Student Academy Award® in 1994 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
He made his first feature documentary "Gaza Strip" in the early months of the second Palestinian uprising.
In 2002, Longley began pre-production work on his second documentary feature "Iraq in Fragments".
The film was awarded jury prizes for Best Documentary Directing, Best Documentary Editing, and Best Documentary Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival.
"Iraq in Fragments" went on to win the top documentary film awards at major national and international festivals, garnered an Emmy Award nomination for Best Documentary Cinematography, and an Academy Award® nomination for Best Feature Documentary.
After the panel wrapped - film buffs, the press, and invited guests - strolled back to the patio (under a romantic star-lit sky) to sip on wine, snack on delicious crackers and cheese, and chat each other up.
At this point, a couple of revelations overcame me, which are worthy of sharing.
For starters, steer clear of the talent's "handlers" wjhen mixing and minglimg - and, if possible - alight next to the guest star instead.
For example, when I approached Mr. Wexler and asked if he had any thoughts on Elizabeth Taylor (who he worked with on "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" many moons ago) a woman - who stuck like glue to the Director's side all night - pooh-poohed my query.
"That's not an appropriate question here," she snipped at me with a mean edge in her voice.
But, Mr. Wexler turned to me, and was inclined to follow up.
"What did he say," Wexler quizzed his escort pointedly, as he turned up the volume on his hearing aid.
At this juncture, the rude woman relented, and repeated my question to the honored guest.
Surprise!
The talented filmmaker was only too happy to respond.
"The one thing I will say about Elizabeth is this. When I won my Oscar that night, I accepted it in the name of Art and Peace. Later, Elizabeth came over to me, and thanked me for saying that."
Meanwhile, Joan Churchill - who was apparently choking over a whiff of garlic (?) - didn't have much of a personality to warm up to. She practically faded into the wall, that's how much charisma she exhibited backstage.
When I asked what project was on the horizon next, she stared at me blankly.
To lighten up an awkward situation, I persisted.
"Any scoops for me?"
"No scoops for you," she replied, with all the charm of a worm.
Eugh!
On that note, I waved my good-byes, and headed out.
For the most part, the Doc U event was a dynamic entertaining one.
See 'ya there next month, eh?
http://www.thetattler.biz
Glee Spoiler: Born This Way
Stay out of the comments if you haven't seen tonight's episode. Otherwise dive in and dish.
MINNESOTA: GOP Legislators Introduce Marriage Ban In State Senate
Minnesota GOP state Sen. Warren Limmer: "The proposed constitutional amendment asks voters to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman in Minnesota. This issue constantly comes up during legislative sessions and it’s time for the people to decide. Allowing a small number of politicians, or activist judges in St. Paul to decide the definition of marriage would not be acceptable. We propose an early passage in the legislature this year, followed by a year discussion in our communities statewide in order to be prepared to vote in next year’s General Election."Minnesota Democratic state Sen. Scott Dibble, via press release:
"It’s disturbing that Republicans want to use one of the last weeks of the legislative session to marginalize one group of people and divide our state. We are facing a $5 billion budget shortfall, yet Republicans believe the biggest threat to our state’s welfare is who is allowed to be married. Minnesotans who are married legally have access to at least 515 laws that provide security, legal protections, and basic rights such as the ability to care for each other. As lawmakers, we should be focused on breaking these barriers that still exist for thousands of Minnesotans, rather than further isolating one group of people and wasting taxpayers’ time with unfounded fears."
TN State GOP Rep. Stacey Campfield Defends His "Don't Say Gay" Bill
UNRELATED: Once again we thank JMG reader Dave Evans, our devoted video clipper who scours the networks for LGBT-related news items. You folks would never see many of these segments were it not for Dave's hard work at funneling them to us here.
NOM Celebrates: We're Causing Same-Sex Marriage Activists To Lose Their Jobs
In a post about recent personnel changes at marriage equality groups around the nation, NOM is sarcastically "apologizing" for "driving up the unemployment rate."
It started with Geoff Kors, Executive Director of Equality California in California, who could never recover from his monumental defeat in the Proposition 8 campaign in California, of which NOM was one of the chief supporters and leading organizations to qualify the initiative. Kors stepped down in March of this year. Next up was the Executive Director of Equality Maryland, Morgan Meneses-Sheets, who was fired two weeks ago after failing to pass a gay marriage bill through the Maryland Legislature. It was supposed to be a “given†that gay marriage would pass in Maryland this year. A given, that is, until NOM got involved.Many of us have recently noticed an increasingly nasty tone from NOM, who (compared to some anti-gay groups) had previously kept their vitriol at a relatively low boil. They are still burning, terribly, over the Marinelli defection.
Shortly after Meneses-Sheets was fired, Equality Maryland's Development Director Matthew Thorn resigned in protest over the firing. Most recently, Kathy Kushnir, the Executive Director of Marriage Equality of Rhode Island (MERI) --the leading group advocating for gay marriage in that state-- resigned after failing to even get the gay marriage bill out of Committee in another state that was, we were told, a slam dunk for them this year. All the while, as our opponents keep talking about the march of history, tout biased polls, and tell themselves that their victory is inevitable…secretly, the Executive Directors of other states' “marriage equality†organizations are updating their resumes.
Friendster Announces End
Friendster goes dark on May 31st. In other news, people still have Friendster accounts.
Isabella junior masterchef winner!!
I wrote about a similar post here : junior masterchef
I wrote that I wanted Isabella to win and she actually won!! Mind you, on top of all the other workloads I have to do, I stayed up till 2.30am just to see who won Junior Masterchef on Sunday *laughs* Yes, I'm that crazy!
Both Jack and Isabella did great. Jack even scored some 11/10 marks for his pear perfection!! But he lost out on his first dish. He's a really good cook, nevertheless!
Isabella actually came into the competition with her twin sister, Sofia. Both entered the 12 finalists but Sofia did not manage to go into the final two- or else it'll be a sibling competition! Both sisters dream of opening their own restaurants and both can cook equally well..
Such inspiration these kids give to other people!!
I didn't know kids could cook this well until I saw this show. And every week they surprise me even more with their techniques and skills!
All of them who entered the 12 finalists but got eliminated came back to cheer for Isabella and Jack. All of them were very supportive and I reckon these kids will have a very bright future ahead!
I wrote that I wanted Isabella to win and she actually won!! Mind you, on top of all the other workloads I have to do, I stayed up till 2.30am just to see who won Junior Masterchef on Sunday *laughs* Yes, I'm that crazy!
The proud winner
The two incredible finalists, Jack and Isabella were not even cooking like kids!! But they are only 12! -.-
The final two challenges were hard but both of them came out successful! Especially the pressure challenge where they had to make a dessert only adults can do...
This is called pear perfection created by awesome chef Adriano Zumbo. It looks soo complicated, no? All I know is that the the green thing is called choux pastry and they need to have a pear jelly in it with biscuit crumbs underneath and all sorts of complicated stuffs *laughs*
Both Jack and Isabella did great. Jack even scored some 11/10 marks for his pear perfection!! But he lost out on his first dish. He's a really good cook, nevertheless!
Isabella actually came into the competition with her twin sister, Sofia. Both entered the 12 finalists but Sofia did not manage to go into the final two- or else it'll be a sibling competition! Both sisters dream of opening their own restaurants and both can cook equally well..
Such inspiration these kids give to other people!!
I didn't know kids could cook this well until I saw this show. And every week they surprise me even more with their techniques and skills!
All of them who entered the 12 finalists but got eliminated came back to cheer for Isabella and Jack. All of them were very supportive and I reckon these kids will have a very bright future ahead!
Church Sign Of The Day
The above message is being displayed on an electronic billboard in Toledo, Ohio. The church has issued the below statement in support of their campaign.This simple statement is intended to be a gift to those who have experienced hurt and discrimination because of their real or perceived sexual orientation. The Church seeks nothing less than the healing of the world, and Central UMC wants to offer words and acts of healing to those hurt and marginalized. Also, declaring that being gay is a gift from God is a prophetic call to the Church to get out of the business of marginalizing gay and lesbian persons from the Church, and to welcome them as full members.Refreshing and positive religious news! On JMG!
TN House Votes To Overturn Nashville's Gay-Friendly Business Ordinance
Earlier this month Nashville's city council approved a law banning the city from doing business with companies that discriminate against their LGBT employees. Yesterday the GOP-dominated state House voted to overturn that law.
The measure sponsored by Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada of Franklin was approved 73-24 on Monday. The companion bill is awaiting a vote in the Senate State and Local Government Committee. The proposal would void a Nashville ordinance barring companies that discriminate against gays and lesbians from doing business with the city. Under state law it is illegal to discriminate against a person because of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age or national origin. The Nashville ordinance prohibits companies that discriminate because of sexual orientation or gender identity from receiving city contracts. It does not apply to local governments' hiring policies for their own workers.(Tipped by JMG reader Tim)
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