Just because…
Friday photo: Channing Tatum
Just because…
American Idol making folks mad
So, to be honest, I haven’t watched American Idol in years. Most times, I forget it’s even on TV still.
But I was cruising around iTunes tonight and saw the songs from the American Idol top 10. Back in the day, I would buy a track by a contestant I liked. I listened to a few 1:30 samples then started to read some reviews.
Apparently folks are mad – and justly so I would add – that this season, if you want to buy a song by your favorite, you can’t do that. On iTunes right now, if you want the song performed by your favorite from last night, you have to buy all ten songs from last night.
A show that furthers itself by having people vote for their favorite now doesn’t allow fans to buy the track by their favorite that week…?
Sounds like taking the concept of the show and flipping it sideways: “we want you to vote and have a favorite, but to own a performance you have to buy everyone’s track.”
Hmmm…..
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Hardball: Mitt Romney and his Etch-A-Sketch problem
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It seems like just when Mitt Romney gets a chance to take a breath and think he’s got it all down, he or his campaign makes some unforced error.
The Romney campaign’s Etch-A-Sketch gaffe may eclipse all of Mitt Romney’s other campaign missteps combined.
The real problem with this particular gaffe is the visual – of a toy everyone knows – makes it too easy to play into the scenario of Romney being a flip-flopper: the idea that he can just “shake it up” and start with a clean slate – which we all know is not the reality in politics today.
The Huffington Post’s Howard Fineman and The Boston Globe’s Matt Viser weigh in on why the Etch-A-Sketch comment may outlive any other story about Romney in this election.
Joey Lawrence & Mayim Bialik in new Old Navy commercial
Mayim Bialik and Joey Lawrence are both, again, on successful TV series — “The Big Bang Theory” and “Melissa & Joey,” respectively — but they’re not too cool for their roots.
The former stars of ’90s TV series, “Blossom,” have reunited for Old Navy in a new TV spot as their former characters.
They both look great – then and now. Like no time has passed at all. Whoa….
Rhode Island: Marriage equality could generate $1.2 million new revenue
The Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law says Rhode Island stands to generate nearly $1.2 million in new government revenue over three years if the state allows gay and lesbian couples to marry.
The new revenue would come primarily in the form of additional tax revenue. The study estimates that same-sex weddings would generate $400,000 in new sales tax dollars over three years.
Also, married couples filing their state taxes jointly would pay an estimated $786,000 in new income taxes over the same period.
Rhode Island lawmakers voted last year to permit same-sex couples to form civil unions after gay marriage legislation failed.
(source)
Coroner: Whitney Houston had cocaine in her system at time of death
From TMZ: Whitney Houston had cocaine in her system when she died — this according to the L.A. County Coroner.
The L.A. County Coroner has just released the singer’s official cause of death — accidental drowning … but the report also notes heart disease and cocaine use were contributing factors to Whitney’s demise.
As previously reported, Whitney was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel last month and several pills were found on the scene — including Xanax, Ibuprofen, and Midol.
Investigators found NO EVIDENCE of cocaine in the hotel room.
Mississippi: Teenager pleads guilty to murder of gay black man
From USAToday: Deryl Dedmon, a 19 year-old Mississippi man, has pleaded guilty and received two life sentences for targeting a random black man for abuse and killing him with his pickup truck. It was later learned that the victim was gay and in a 17 year relationship.
Dedmon, 19, of Brandon, Miss., apologized to the family of 49-year-old James Craig Anderson. While partying with six friends last June 26, Dedmon suggested finding a black man to harass. Anderson was beaten before Dedmon ran over him with his Ford pickup. “I do not ask y’all to forget, but I do ask y’all to forgive,” he said before being sentenced for the murder and hate crime that was captured by a hotel security camera. AP writes, “As members of his family and the victim’s relatives wiped away tears, Dedmon said God has taught him not to see race and he is a changed man.”
The New York Times reported on the victim last August.
Mr. Anderson was a good country cook, a gifted gardener and always genial, his family said. He liked his job on the assembly line at the Nissan plant north of Jackson, where he had worked for about seven years. “If you met him, the first thing you were going to see was that grand piano smile,” said his eldest sister, Barbara Anderson Young. He made a point of taking care of old people and children and was helping his partner of 17 years, James Bradfield, raise the 4-year-old relative for whom Mr. Bradfield has legal guardianship. He sang tenor in the choir at the First Hyde Park Missionary Baptist Church and was so good “he’d have you falling out,” Mr. Bradfield, 44, said.
TESTIMONY – Stephen Schwartz, Dan Savage and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
TESTIMONY – Music by Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics taken from and inspired by the It Gets Better Project
http://bit.ly/Testimonysong
In writing TESTIMONY, Stephen Schwartz collaborated with Dan Savage, creator of the groundbreaking “It Gets Better Project.” Schwartz has set the heartfelt words from the “It Gets Better” videos to music, weaving them into a breathtaking, emotional new masterpiece that speaks to anyone who has ever felt out of place.
The beginning of the piece gives voice to the doubts many LGBT youth feel growing up. But as the piece progresses, the lyrics express the confidence and truth of lives lived openly as we get older and realize “it does get better.”
Artistic Director and Conductor of San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, Dr. Tim Seelig says, “In four decades of conducting and commissioning new choral works, ‘Testimony’ is one of the most profound works of choral art I have ever experienced. We can never adequately express our gratitude to Stephen Schwartz for what he has given to us and to the world. If one person is moved and ultimately changed by these words, all of our work will have been worth it.”
Versions will also be available on iTunes audio and video. A limited edition DVD is available for sale at http://www.sfgmc.org and a portion of proceeds will be donated to the It Gets Better Project.
Dharun Ravi speaks about being found guilty and Tyler Clementi’s death
Having been found guilty of a hate crime for spying on Tyler Clementi, Dharun Ravi gave an interview to the NJ Star-Ledger about his thoughts on the trial and Tyler’s death.
Regarding the tweet he sent to friends suggesting they tune into his webcam to see Clementi with a male guest:
“I knew my friends would think it was a joke because they know my sense of humor,” he said. “But eventually I thought it was stupid, so I went back into the room and pointed the camera back at my bed.”
When asked the question, “What were you thinking?” Ravi candidly stated, “I wasn’t.”
“At that point, I got caught up in what I thought was funny, and my own ego. I never really thought about what it would mean to Tyler,” he said. “I know that’s wrong, but that’s the truth.”
Upon learning about the webcam, Tyler Clementi committed suicide.
Ravi stands by his statement that he set up his webcam out of concern for his iPad and that he was also put off by the appearance of Clementi’s guest, a 30-year-old man known only as M.B. that Tyler met on a gay dating Internet site.
“But I wasn’t biased,” Ravi said. “I didn’t act out of hate and I wasn’t uncomfortable with Tyler being gay.”
“I’m very sorry about Tyler,” he said. “I have parents and a little brother, and I can only try to imagine how they feel. But I want the Clementis to know I had no problem with their son. I didn’t hate Tyler and I knew he was okay with me. I wanted to talk to his parents, but I was afraid. I didn’t know what to say.
UPDATE: Preview of “20/20” interview with Dharun Ravi. He doesn’t come off very sympathetic here. Almost as if he’s the victim. May not play well for him in an appeal.
Jersey Shore – Mike “The Situation” walks out of Reunion show
Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino walks off the stage of the Jersey Shore Season 5 Reunion show set to air tonight.
According to NY Daily News, the reality star issued a statement to set the record straight about his recent trip to rehab:
“I have voluntarily taken steps to get control of a prescription medication problem I had due to exhaustion,” he said in the statement. “I have spent the past several weeks getting treatment for this problem and recuperating from my work and appearance schedule. I appreciate my fans support and love you guys.”
Sorrentino went through alcohol detox prior to checking into the Cirque Lodge in Utah, and cited club appearances for the reality show as a primary factor leading to his alcohol abuse.