Let’s hear it for Harper!
Dogs rule!
Thoughts on Whitney Houston and humanity
I was asked today, in light of the very public memorial of Whitney Houston, what my thoughts were regarding the “media circus” that became a part of the memorializing this week. And also, how Whitney’s struggles of late had factored into her last years.
The conversation was polite, but seemed to question ‘why celebrate someone so publicly who had stumbled so long ago?’
I was glad I was asked because I haven’t spoken much about Whitney’s passing. The day it happened caught be sideways and I was a bit surprised at how emotional I was.
I was a big fan of Whitney Houston’s talent all the way back to the beginning of her spectacular career. I would sit with my friend Matt Zarley and thrill when she’d sing in public or on TV.
And I was touched that immediately after the attack of 9/11, Whitney re-released her 1991 rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” with proceeds going to the New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Fraternal Order of Police, both benefiting the departments and families affected by the attack at the World Trade Center.
Yes, I admired her incredible talent. So when I am asked what I think of all this – this is my answer:
When someone has touched so many, many lives – especially with music which is so personal to us all – we feel connected. We feel they are a part of us. Now a part of us is gone. And we feel the need to grieve and say goodbye.
Fortunately, we have Whitney’s music and films to remind us of how brightly she shined.
A few comments have been made in the media and on the internet that, of late, “she wasn’t what she had been” and “she let drugs do her in.”
I honestly don’t know any true details about the struggles we’ve all read about.
But I do know this: I would hate to be judged at the end of my life purely by my darkest days and worst decisions. No one is perfect. I’ve made many mistakes – more than I can count. I’ve also tried to do some good things as often as possible.
I think that’s probably Whitney Houston’s story too.
And in being who she was, she was perfectly human. And her humanity was a big part of her incredible gifts.
The video above is how I will always love her. And I think the lyrics say it best:
“You’re a winner for a lifetime, if you seize that one moment in time.”
We were touched by Whitney for more than just a “moment” in time. And for that, she will feel eternity.
Adam Levine naked
So, for a long time, I didn’t really see the appeal in Adam Levine. People saying how he was so sexy, or hot.
But lately, I think I may be getting it a bit more. Plus, I like Maroon 5.
Although, I’m not a huge fan of all the multiple tattoos. But to each his own on that one.
The above shot is from a publicity shoot meant to raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancer for Everyman.
This time, it was his girlfriend Anne Vyalitsyna getting her hold on him, with her hands the only things covering Levine’s privates from the camera.
Levine is no stranger to nudity, telling the magazine: “I spend most of my life naked. In fact, I often have to be told by the people around me that it’s inappropriate to be as naked as I am. But I live in California, where it’s always warm, so why not?”
Since we tend to not wear a lot while at home, I can relate on that topic, too…
Sam Arora targeted by Democrats & LGBT community after betrayal
Marriage equality passed in the Maryland House of Delegates, but just barely. And not due to Del. Sam Arora.
And the LGBT community is definitely over Mr. Arora.
Why is this such an issue?
It’s not simply because he’s a Democrat. Arora campaigned as a progressive candidate and openly stated while campaigning that he was a supporter of same-sex civil marriage.
This resulted in support — including financial support — from the LGBT community and marriage equality advocates. Gays and those that support equal rights, including groups like Equality Maryland, endorsed Delegate Arora because he claimed to support the LGBT community.
He even went so far as to co-sponsor legislation that went to the Maryland House floor last year that could have brought marriage equality to the state. Then, strangely, he voted against it. He claimed that, in actuality, what he supported were civil unions.
Obviously that’s a different animal, and that’s not what he stated during his campaign.
His constituents need to make sure they are not represented by a weasel who takes money from “supporters” and then turns his back on them.
History and the voters of Maryland will remember.
Rick Santorum challenges President Obama’s Christian beliefs
Rick Santorum challenged President Barack Obama’s Christian beliefs on Saturday, saying White House policies were motivated by a “different theology.”
A devout Roman Catholic who has risen to the top of Republican polls in recent days, Santorum said the Obama administration had failed to prevent gas prices rising and was using “political science” in the debate about climate change.
Obama’s agenda is “not about you. It’s not about your quality of life. It’s not about your jobs. It’s about some phony ideal. Some phony theology. Oh, not a theology based on the Bible. A different theology,” Santorum told supporters of the conservative Tea Party movement at a Columbus hotel.
“He is imposing his values on the Christian church. He can categorize those values anyway he wants. I’m not going to,” Santorum told reporters.
A social conservative, Santorum is increasingly seen as a champion for evangelical Christians by opposing Democrats over issues like contraception and gay marriage.
“This is just the latest low in a Republican primary campaign that has been fueled by distortions, ugliness, and searing pessimism and negativity – a stark contrast with the President who is focused everyday on creating jobs and restoring economic security for the middle class,” said Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt.
Ira Glass on why “it takes a while”
Broadway’s “Memphis” on PBS this coming week
PBS’ “Great Performances” will air a live (taped) version of the 2009 Tony-winning musical Memphis. The performance features the original cast led by Tony nominees Montego Glover and Chad Kimball.
The PBS series continues next month with the 25th anniversary performance of The Phantom of the Opera taped at London’s Royal Albert Hall. (PBS. Info/local listings.)
Check out the original cast’s 2010 Tony Awards performance:
Actress Judi Dench battling blindness
Academy Award winner Judi Dench said in an interview published Saturday that she had been diagnosed with macular degeneration, an eye condition which can cause blindness, and that her eyesight was already so bad that she couldn’t even read her own scripts.
The 77-year-old told the Daily Mirror that she was relying on friends and family to keep her up to speed with her lines.
“It’s usually my daughter or my agent or a friend and actually I like that, because I sit there and imagine the story in my mind,” she told the newspaper during an interview at a London hotel. “The most distressing thing is in a restaurant in the evening I can’t see the person I’m having dinner with.”
She won an Academy Award for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare in Love” and is best known to international audiences as intelligence boss M in the James Bond series.
However, my favorite performance is this one: a reprisal of her “Desiree” from A Little Night Music:
Maryland House of Delegates passes marriage equality!
Lawmakers in the Maryland House voted today in favor of marriage equality in their state for the first time.
Gov. Martin O’Malley has pushed for the law and pledged to sign it.
The Maryland House of Delegates needed 71 votes to pass the bill. Whether the chamber had the requisite votes was a matter of high speculation just hours before the vote. Pro-marriage equality lawmakers on Thursday had to delay consideration of the legislation until today, when it passed 71 to 67 as cheers erupted from the gallery and on the floor.
Delegate Anne Kaiser, a lesbian, said during debate of the bill that her parents had hoped she “finds someone to love.” Then, “I have, and I wish to be married.” Delegate Maggie McIntosh, who come out as a lesbian while serving in the House, said “We seem to be on a roll.”
Footballer Lee Steele fined for Gareth Thomas tweet
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Footballer Lee Steele has been fined by the Football Association for posting a homophobic remark on Twitter about the Rugby player Gareth Thomas.
Steele wrote on Twitter in January ”I wouldn’t fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas #padlockeda**ehole’. The footballer was referring to openly gay Gareth Thomas and his participation in Channel Five’s Celebrity Big Brother.
I’m not quite sure what Mr. Steele’s issue was since he wasn’t in the Big Brother house, and therefore not likely to come across Gareth Thomas naked.
Following Steele’s comments on Twitter the footballer was released from his contract with Oxford City with the club releasing a statement saying ‘The Oxford City board have decided to release Lee Steele in view of his recent comment via social media which is considered seriously contrary to the ethos of the club.’
Steele later apologised for his comment on Twitter but was charged by the FA who have now found him to be in breach of Rule E3 (1) which reads ‘A Participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.’
The FA have fined Steele £200 and ‘severely warned’ him about his future conduct.