Occupy Hawaii
Ben Cohen: “Straight people don’t get it”
Rugby superstar turned equality activist Ben Cohen says that a lot of straight people don’t get why he’s fighting antigay bullying and discrimination, in a new interview with NBC Miami.
Cohen, who is straight and the 10th highest point scorer in England rugby history, retired from the sport to create the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, which raises awareness for the long-term effects of bullying. Cohen says he was inspired to create the foundation after his father was killed trying to break up a fight in a nightclub.
Cohen reveals, “A lot of straight people have asked, ‘Why are you doing this?’ I just explain that it really is just to break down stereotypes. I knew I would be able to speak to both the gay and straight community and maybe reach a few different groups of people. I just want people to know that how you treat others is how you should want to be treated yourself. Random acts of kindness are simple.”
(via Advocate)
The Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street
“The greatest threat to our economy is neither corporations nor the government. The greatest threat to our economy is both of them working together. There are currently two sizable coalitions of angry citizens that are almost on the same page about that, and they’re too busy insulting each other to notice.”
Read his great article here. He makes a lot of sense.
Stevie Nicks in Concert “Leather and Lace” featuring Steve Real
I had an amazing time seeing Stevie Nicks last night at the Hard Rock here in Las Vegas. Stevie was the legend we wanted her to be and the crowd was beside itself.
BUT the high point of the concert was Stevie calling her long-time vocal coach Steve Real out on stage to sing her huge hit “Leather & Lace.” Apparently she never does the song in concert because it’s a duet and it’s been hard to find a great vocal partner to do the song justice. Steve Real more than lived up to the Don Henley role and the audience lost their minds. Thrilling to be there. I wanted to share so I found a youtube video from earlier in the tour. Sorry to be selfish but I couldn’t bring myself to pull my phone out and video it – I wanted to just enjoy. BUT I did find a good video from a couple of weeks ago.
Speaking to Steve after the concert, he said it “just came up in sound check one day” that she thought they should do it. He sang it on the spot and now it’s a permanent part of her tour.
Long time fans know that Steve Real is also Olivia Newton-John’s vocal coach and back-up singer, which is how I know Steve.
Fantastic night last night.
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| Me with Steve and Michael after seeing Stevie Nicks in concert Steve was fantastic singing “Leather and Lace” with Stevie |
Zachary Quinto (Star Trek, Heroes) comes out on his blog
Zachary Quinto blog: “when i found out that jamey rodemeyer killed himself – i felt deeply troubled. but when i found out that jamey rodemeyer had made an it gets better video only months before taking his own life – i felt indescribable despair. i also made an it gets better video last year – in the wake of the senseless and tragic gay teen suicides that were sweeping the nation at the time.
but in light of jamey’s death – it became clear to me in an instant that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it – is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality. our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay lesbian bisexual and transgendered citizen of this country. gay kids need to stop killing themselves because they are made to feel worthless by cruel and relentless bullying. parents need to teach their children principles of respect and acceptance. we are witnessing an enormous shift of collective consciousness throughout the world.
we are at the precipice of great transformation within our culture and government. i believe in the power of intention to change the landscape of our society – and it is my intention to live an authentic life of compassion and integrity and action. jamey rodemeyer’s life changed mine. and while his death only makes me wish that i had done this sooner – i am eternally grateful to him for being the catalyst for change within me. now i can only hope to serve as the same catalyst for even one other person in this world. that – i believe – is all that we can ask of ourselves and of each other.”
Eric Cantor: “We need to encourage those on the top income scale to create more jobs”
Well that’s just brilliant, Congressman Cantor. How about you just go do that? Would you PLEASE encourage those on the top of the income scale to create some jobs???
The Bush tax cuts for over 9 years now promised to create jobs. Where are they?
Also, numerous corporations are sitting on enormous profit, paying more to their CEOs than in taxes. Last year, CEO salaries increased by 27 percent while private worker wages increased by only 2 percent.
If there was true equality in America, as corporations make record profits they would share those profits with not only the CEOs and other top execs but at least some of it with line level employees.
I have no problem with people working hard and becoming rich. No problem whatsoever.
But WHY do CEOs get a 27% increase when low level employees ONLY get 2% increase? Couldn’t it at least be something like 20% increase to CEOs and 9% increase to workers?
Why do the workers have to work longer and harder hours so that only the very, very top executives get to reap the rewards?
Fun commercial from Europe
I love European commercials…
Creative idea.
Dog saves another dog after being hit on freeway
I can’t believe I haven’t posted this before.
After a dog gets hit trying to cross a freeway in Chile, his buddy literally pulls him to safety.
Very moving. And the good news is the injured dog recovered.
Dogs rule.
Emmanuel Kelly “Imagine” – X Factor Australia
And there you have it.
Period.
Coldplay: “Mylo Xyloto” pre-order now!
I’m a big fan of Coldplay’s new CD “Mylo Xyloto” to be released on October 24th. Coldplay consistently comes up with the kind of pop/rock music I like today. Not too young for an adult, not mellow to feel “old.”
From their past hits “Viva la Vida” to “Speed of Sound” to “Clocks,” I always love what they come up with. The first single from the new CD – “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall” has already run up the charts. The second single – “Paradise” – was just released and already at the top of the iTunes charts.
2008’s “Viva la Vida” CD hit #1 in 36 countries. I expect the same from this new release.