Author: Randy Slovacek

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Season 3 of GLEE on it’s way – check out some of the songs!

With the premiere of “Glee’s” third season days away, the time is more than nigh for a little pre-show song leakage. And, right on cue, here are clips of all 5 songs set for the season opener.

As we get back into the action at McKinley High, the Gleeks try their hand at the Go-Gos, Tom Jones and a little number from “The Wizard of Oz,” among others.

Listen below and let us know what you think. Getting excited for season 3?

“We Got the Beat” (The GoGos):

“You Can’t Stop the Beat” (from “Hairspray”):

“It’s Not Unusual” (Tom Jones):

“Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead” (from “The Wizard of Oz”):

“Anything Goes”/”Anything You Can Do” (from “Anything Goes”/”Annie Get Your Gun”):

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One night only – “8” – The Prop. 8 Trial Play

The American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact present the one-night Broadway premiere of 8 — September 19 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre — Dustin Lance Black’s play about California’s Prop. 8 trial.

The star-studded benefit reading is based on trial transcripts, courtroom observations, and interviews with the plaintiffs and their families. For more info visit AFER.org and BroadwayImpact.com.

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The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Premiering September 19, this original HBO documentary by out filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato chronicles the controversial legislation that let gays serve in the U.S. military as long as they didn’t disclose their sexual orientation.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton encountered vehement opposition when he tried to deliver on his election promise of lifting a 50-year ban on gays in the military. The result was the compromise legislation “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” which allowed gays to serve in the military provided they didn’t disclose their sexual orientation. The Strange History of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell examines the consequences of the policy and the fight to overturn it, a battle that would last 17 year, span three presidencies and result in the discharge of 13,368 active service members.

Shot during the law’s final 15 months, the film includes personal accounts by active gay soldiers and interviews with key players like Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. Patrick Murphy and Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer.

Debuts September 19th – HBO – check times in your area

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Stock market finished it’s second-best week in a year

(Via the AP) The stock market finished its second-best week in a year Friday as Europe’s debt problems appeared to get closer to a resolution.

Stocks ended higher for a fifth straight day, the longest winning streak in 2 1/2 months. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 75 points after Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner called on European finance ministers at a meeting in Poland to reach a solution on Greece’s debt problems.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 finished the week with a 5.4 percent gain. It was the biggest increase for the broad market index since the first week of July.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 75.91 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 11,509.09. The Dow jumped 186 points Thursday, its biggest gain of the week, after five central banks said they would act together to support European lenders with unlimited dollar loans.

The S&P index gained 6.90, or 0.6 percent, to 1,216.01. The Nasdaq added 15.24, or 0.6 percent to 2,622.31.

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Texas hits 24 year high in unemployment rate

As Gov. Rick Perry touts job creation and limited government on the campaign trail, the Texas’ unemployment rate hit a 1987 record in July and the Austin-area took the brunt of the state’s job losses in the public sector.

The Texas Workforce Commission said the jobless rate increased from 8.4 percent in July to 8.5 in August.

Having the state hit a 24-year high for unemployment rate could be coming at just the wrong time for Perry. Perry has long called Texas a national jobs-creation leader in a country besieged by unemployment. He traveled the country this week on a bus with “get America working again” painted on the side.

The latest unemployment numbers could weaken that message. The rate hasn’t been this high since the mid-1980s oil bust. And even though Texas has received numerous accolades for creating more jobs in recent years than any other state, 26 states had a lower unemployment rate in July.

The Texas rate is still lower than the country’s, which was 9.1 percent in August. But that gap is closing.

“If Gov. Perry takes the credit, he should take the blame,” said state Rep. Jessica Farrar of Houston, who leads the House Democratic Caucus.

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Rep. Steve King: Unemployment Benefits Have Created “A Nation Of Slackers”

Rep. Steve King says that we’ve created “a nation of slackers” because of food stamps and unemployment.

First of all, this is a cold and black/white view of the issue. Things aren’t that simplistic.

You can’t get unemployment benefits without having first worked. You can’t get food stamps without working, be looking for a job, or be retired/disabled.

His opinion seems to be: unemployment benefits and food stamps only encourage laziness. So starve, you good for nothing slackers!

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San Antonio City Council approves domestic partner benefits

The San Antonio City Council voted 7-4 today to begin offering domestic partner benefits to both gay and straight employees as part of the city’s 2012 budget, according to reports from Equality Texas on Twitter.

The DP benefits, which are expected to cost $300,000 per year, has drawn vocal opposition from anti-gay religious leaders in the Alamo City.

San Antonio, the seventh-largest city in the U.S., will be the fifth city in Texas to offer DP benefits, joining Austin, Dallas, El Paso and Fort Worth.
(via dallasvoice)