Chippendales Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis at Lake Mead.
Water looks fine folks, jump in…
Summer starts in Las Vegas – Chippendales at Lake Mead
National Teacher Appreciation Day 2012
I am today an amalgamation of the amazing teachers who inspired me along my journey. My fifth grade teacher Mrs. McDaniels, my high school choir teacher Donna Norton and my college acting and dance teachers who pushed me to hone skills and explore the art of theater.
The hours those teachers spent made a difference. How many times can you say you made a difference?
On this Teacher Appreciation Day, I’d like thank all teachers for your countless hours, your sweat and tears, and your relentless commitment to our children. You do not make enough in financial compensation, in my estimation, for taking on the task of preparing the next generation of Americans. Thank you for answering such a higher call.
For me, nothing says what I feel about teachers better than Taylor Mali’s brilliant poem – “What Teachers Make” – in the video above. Mali is a vocal advocate of teachers and the nobility of teaching, having himself spent nine years in the classroom teaching everything from English and history to math and S.A.T. test preparation.
He has performed and lectured for teachers all over the world, and his New Teacher Project has a goal of creating 1,000 new teachers through “poetry, persuasion, and perseverance.”
Visit http://taylormali.com for more on Mali and his New Teacher Project.
POLL: Marriage Equality Support Strong Among Democrats And Independents
A new Gallup poll shows support for marriage equality steady at 50 percent nationwide. Both Democrats (65-34) and Independents (57-40) want same-sex marriage to be legal, but as David Badash notes, Republicans are becoming increasingly anti-gay (22-74). Again proving that the Bishops do not speak on behalf of their congregants, 51 percent of Catholics support marriage equality.
Sarah supports Amendment One
Please stop and listen to this. OMG – THIS is who is voting gay families’ rights away!
I love that she’s a “good christian” but she can’t answer why God’s son Jesus Christ never said a word about homosexuality… It’s fabulous.
People – this is what the “majority” is in North Carolina taking away the rights of gay and lesbian families. I don’t mean to laugh but it’s gotten to the point of being laughable.
The rights of the minority should never be put to the vote of the majority. Ask the black community if they think the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would have passed if put to a popular vote in the 60s.
Sad day for North Carolina and sadder for the LGBT community. Please note that folks like “Sarah” are taking away the rights of others. Her life will continue on unchanged tomorrow, but LGBT families across North Carolina will be changed for the worse.
Thanks to the Brad & Britt Show for the clip. You guys rock.
From the 05/07/12 Brad & Britt Show:
The Brad & Britt Show NOW airs afternoons 3-6 on The Triad’s News Radio AM 600 WSJS (streaming at WSJS.com) and 3-7 on Talk Radio 850 WPTF (streaming at http://wptf.com/listenlive850AM.html) Also available via the TuneIn app (http://tunein.com) Podcasts: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/brad-britt-show/id397558929
(via JMG)
Maurice Sendak – author of “Where the Wild Things Are” – passes away at 85
Where The Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak has died at the age of 85.
Roundly praised, intermittently censored and occasionally eaten, Mr. Sendak’s books were essential ingredients of childhood for the generation born after 1960 or thereabouts, and in turn for their children. He was known in particular for more than a dozen picture books he wrote and illustrated himself, most famously “Where the Wild Things Are,” which was simultaneously genre-breaking and career-making when it was published by Harper & Row in 1963.
In 1964, the American Library Association awarded Mr. Sendak the Caldecott Medal, considered the Pulitzer Prize of children’s book illustration, for “Where the Wild Things Are.”
I have fond memories of Sandak’s fabulous “Where the Wild Things Are.” I think it was one of the first books I encountered that showed a rebellious side to other kids. It was kind of empowering to think I could emulate “Max” from the book.
The book told the story of Max, a naughty boy who rages at his mother and is sent to his room without supper. A pocket Odysseus, Max promptly sets sail:
And he sailed off through night and day
and in and out of weeks
and almost over a year
to where the wild things are.
There, Max leads the creatures in a frenzied celebration before sailing home, anger spent, to find his supper waiting.
Maurice Sendak came out publicly three years ago.
Was there anything he had never been asked? He paused for a few moments and answered, “Well, that I’m gay.” “I just didn’t think it was anybody’s business,” Mr. Sendak added. He lived with Eugene Glynn, a psychoanalyst, for 50 years before Dr. Glynn’s death in May 2007. He never told his parents: “All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy. They never, never, never knew.”
It could happen to you
I worried about this exact same scenario for a long time.
Thankfully Michael and I are legally married AND we’ve done all the legal paperwork to cover ourselves.
But this actually happens folks. I don’t really understand how Tom Bridegroom’s family could act so callously, but it happens. And this is why marriage equality is necessary.
If you think you may not understand the issue, please read and talk about it so you can form your own independent view of the issue.
Every time we see gay rights put to a vote of the heterosexual majority, we are at risk of being made “less than.”
All Americans, all people, should have the same rights as issued by a civil government.
Enough lecturing. Watch the video, please.
NC: Dr. William J. Barber rebukes the media for asking the wrong questions about Amendment One
In a press conference held in Greensboro, North Carolina, clergy from around the state gathered together to pray for the wisdom of it’s citizens regarding the May 8th vote on Amendment One.
In that conference, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber took the time to rebuke the media for asking the wrong questions regarding the amendment.
Voting happens today in North Carolina. Polls show the anti-gay Amendment One passing. But polls also show that when the law is explained to people they oppose it.
If you live in North Carolina or know folks there, please vote AGAINST Amendment One or tell people you know there to make sure they know exactly what the law will do.
Thank you Dr. Barber for your words and clarity here.
Thank you Dr. Barber for being the kind of leader this country needs.
Olivia Newton-John visits Susan George and her Arabian horses
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| Olivia and Susan George |
From Olivia: Susan George and I are great friends. We first met in London back in the 60’s when I was filming the movie “Tomorrow.” At the time, Susie was dating one of my film co-stars, Ben Thomas, and we instantly bonded. We remained friends throughout our lives and always shared a passion and a love for horses. In fact when I lived in Malibu in the 70’s, Susie kept her first Arab horse, Shatzie, at my ranch and we would go riding together and have amazing memories of some incredible adventures.
“In the last few years Susie has gone through some great difficulty – sadly losing her wonderful husband, actor Simon MacCorkindale, 18 months ago. Susie continues to pursue their incredible dream together of creating the perfect Arabian horse (which I believe she has)!. Recently, I was lucky enough to spend a few days at her beautiful farm, Georgian Arabians, in the wilds of Exmoor National Park, and was able to watch the growth of some of her newest prodgeny. These foals are absolutely stunning and I think will be world champions at the next international horse show. Her horses have been Junior British National Champions and have already received accolades from around the world.
Here are a few photographs from my most recent visit, any horse lover would be proud to own one of Susie’s horses – they are as special as she is!
Love and light,
Olivia
http://www.georgianarabians.com
http://www.facebook.com/georgianarabians
Mike Ruiz shoots Martha Wash & hunks for re-release of “It’s Raining Men’
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| Photo by Jason Russo |
In order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of disco classic “It’s Raining Men,” Sony Music decided to re-release the single with an album cover photographed by Mike Ruiz. And what better way to celebrate the hit than by placing its original singer in the center of a bunch of half-naked, oiled-up muscle-men?
Let it rain, kids, let it rain.
More at Out.com
Olympic hopeful Josh Dixon comes out
The United States has never had a publicly out male gymnast participate in the Olympics. Josh Dixon hopes to be the first.
The Stanford grad took a big step toward that goal at the U.S. Men’s Qualifier on Saturday in Colorado Springs, finishing second overall out of the 72 competitors. He also tied for wins in two events: floor exercise and high bar. It was a game-changing come-back performance for Dixon, who tore his Achilles tendon last spring.
Now Dixon is talking about his personal life and sexual orientation publicly for the first time. Like charging at the vault, he’s coming at it at full speed.
Even as he gets closer to his Olympic dreams, and his focus narrows more than ever on his training and competition, Dixon is ready to talk about his sexual orientation.
In his sophomore year at Stanford, one of his best friends on the gymnastics team at the University of Illinois came out to him. Dixon reciprocated the revelation; Instantly, they had a mutual support structure with another gay collegiate athlete.
When he started exploring his sexuality in his junior year, he quickly learned he wasn’t the only gay male athlete at Stanford, as he was soon dating another varsity athlete. When some members of the gymnastics team noticed Dixon was spending a lot of time with one particular friend, Dixon said they were quite comfortable bringing it up.
“Who’s this guy you’ve been hanging out with?” One of them asked.
Josh told them he was dating the other male student.
“Oh that’s cool,” was the response.
In fact, Dixon said he has not had a single negative response “in any way, shape or form.” If anything, the only homophobia he has encountered has been from within himself. He acknowledges he once felt internal pressure about being a gay man in what some label the “gay sport” of gymnastics. He didn’t want to fall into a stereotype. But he’s come to embrace it, and he says his sexual orientation now makes him stand out more at the elite level. While he stands out, he isn’t the only one. Dixon knows of at least three more still competing in college, and he says he is not the only elite-level American gymnast who is gay.
(via outsports.com)