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Warwick Rowers 2019 Calendar Is Here, And There’s Video!

The Warwick Rowers are celebrating 10 years of their world-famous calendars featuring the UK athletes in the all-together for charity.

The calendars are not only tasteful eye-candy, but help to raise awareness for different charities.

From the Rowers’ website:

The Warwick Rowers project is a social enterprise and gay/straight alliance that dates back to 2009, when our first calendar was launched.

Producer Angus Malcolm and generations of male rowers at the University of Warwick Boat Club have since achieved global recognition through a fundraising initiative and public awareness campaign that delivers a range of products to around 80 countries every year and reaches more than 140 countries through its viral messaging.

The team has won a large number of awards for excellence, innovation and social impact, including twice being voted the UK Charity Calendar of the Year.

One of the charities designated for funds from the calendar is Sports Allies, which promotes sport, and especially team sport, as an inclusive and supportive route to personal growth for everyone. We are particularly keen to promote team sport for people who are excluded on the grounds of gender or sexuality.

Check out the video below and then head over to the Warwick Rowers website to buy here.

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Calum Scott’s “No Matter What” Shares His Deeply Personal Journey Of Acceptance

Calum Scott’s new music video “No Matter What”

The new music video for UK recording artist Calum Scott’s latest single, “No Matter What,” is certain to resonate with viewers on a deeply authentic level.

The powerfully emotional video chronicles Scott’s own personal journey of acceptance both of himself and of his family.

When I was a young boy I was scared of growing up

I didn’t understand it but I was terrified of love
Felt like I had to choose but it was outta my control

I needed to be saved, I was going crazy on my own
It took me years to tell my mother, I expected the worst
I gathered all the courage in the world

She said, “I love you no matter what

I just want you to be happy and always be who you are”
She wrapped her arms around me
Said, “Don’t try to be what you’re not
Cause I love you no matter what”
She loves me no matter what

The song and video also address how Scott’s friends changed how they treated him as he began to wrestle with his personal demons.

Calum Scott

“‘No Matter What’ is without question, the most personal song I have ever written and the one I am most proud of,” says Scott. “It’s a song born from loneliness and the heartbreaking but liberating tale of my coming-out experience.”

“What I love about this song is that it isn’t just limited to a story of sexual identity, but about the relationship between parent and child and acceptance as a whole,” he added.

Scott explains the song wasn’t included on the initial release of his debut album, Only Human, because, “I simply wasn’t ready at that time to give it to the world.”

“It felt too personal to share,” he continued. “But as with all of my songwriting, I’ve written this from the heart to try and inspire confidence and compassion in people and put some love back in to the world, which we could always use more of.”

The track is part of a new Special Edition of Only Human, set for release on November 30.

It’s been a whirlwind since Scott became a worldwide sensation after making the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015.

His cover of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” went viral with over 1.5 billion streams worldwide and was nominated for a Brit Award for Best Single.

Only Human, released in March 2018, hit #1 on iTunes in over 20 countries, sold more than 1.5 million in adjusted album sales, and is fast approaching 2 billion combined streams.

The critics have gushed.

“Scott’s stunningly pure voice is affecting enough in itself, but his lyrics on every one of the [album’s] tracks are vulnerable and raw.” – Billboard

“Calum Scott makes an impressive splash with his compelling debut album.” – The Huffington Post

Check out Calum Scott’s “No Matter What” below.

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Latrice Royale Celebrates Regaining The Right To Vote

Latrice Royale

This has been a great week for RuPaul’s Drag Race star Latrice Royale.

This morning, Royale was announced as part of the cast for the upcoming 4th season RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars.

But it was the voters in Florida on Tuesday night that really put the cherry on top of Royale’s sundae.

Approved by 65% of voters, Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to convicted felons as, was passed by the Sunshine State voters.

Before folks go crazy, the Amendment only applies to those who have completed their sentences and does not cover those convicted of murder or sexual offenses.

According to reports, this will affect nearly 1.5 million Floridians, including Royale.

Back in 2001, Royale (real name Timothy Wilcots) was busted for carrying both marijuana and Klonopin. Possessing the tranquilizer without a valid prescription is a felony in Florida.

Royale served a year in prison for his mistake.

But upon release, he found he could no longer vote as Florida had a lifetime ban for convicted felons. In other states, folks who serve time have their voting rights restored after being released from prison.

Now, to be technical, felons who completed their time in Florida could wait five years, petition for consideration, wait up to a decade to be approved…blah, blah, blah.

Before voting began on Tuesday, Royale took to social media imploring those in Florida to vote because he could not.

He wrote, in part, “I made a mistake! I paid for my crime! I pay my taxes! I spread #Love not #Hate I am my #Best self to date! I DON’T HAVE MY RIGHT TO VOTE! I urge ALL THAT HAVE A VOICE, PLEASE VOTE! Speak for people like me who can’t!”

And then came the results on Tuesday night.

Royale shared his elation on Twitter:

Royale told NewNowNext today, “It’s been unfair.”

““People say after you pay your debt, you can go back and become a productive member of society, but none of that happens,” he continued. “No one helps you get back on your feet, and now you can vote.”

The former ‘Miss Congeniality’ from RPDR Season 4 also thinks that different crimes should carry different consequences.

“I’m a nonviolent offender, not a child molester, or a pedophile,” said Royale. “I wasn’t standing in front of schools targeting kids.”

“What people need to understand is that we’re not all hardened or career criminals,” shared the 46-year-old. “I completed my sentencing, paid my debt to society, completed by parole, I’m doing better than I ever imagined I would, I’m inspiring people, and up until this week, I still couldn’t vote. I hope the people who have their voting rights restored exercise them and I hope activists, politicians, and all citizens educate themselves on this issue.”

Be sure to catch Royale and all the queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars Season 4 beginning December 14 at 8/7c on VH1.

(h/t NewNowNext)

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Donald Trump Calls For ‘New Election’ In Arizona As Democrat Lead Holds

Donald Trump

Donald Trump, clearly having been told Democrat Kyrsten Sinema has pulled ahead of Republican Martha McSally in the still-undetermined U.S. Senate race in Arizona, took to Twitter to rant about non-existent ‘electoral corruption.’

Tuesday night it appeared McSally would be the victor, but as early votes are now being counted along with absentee votes, Sinema has taken a lead of over 8,000.

An average of final polls going into the election showed Sinema with a slight lead.

“But it is interesting — it always seems to go the way of the Democrats,” Trump said today. “Now, in Arizona, all of a sudden, out of the wilderness, they find a lot of votes. And she’s — the other candidate — is just winning by a hair.”

Try telling that to Al Gore.

Republicans in Arizona are trying to stop having the votes counted there saying, in part, that if signatures on someone’s voting history don’t match, the vote shouldn’t count.

Of course, there are lots of reasons why signatures may not match: illness, age, being in hurry. My signature certainly doesn’t match my voter registration card from when I signed up 14 years ago here in Nevada.

There were plenty of responses on Twitter, but here’s the only one you really need to see.

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Wall Street Journal Concludes Trump Was Behind ‘Hush Money’ Payments

The Wall Street Journal, a conservative newspaper I will point out, has issued its report on the hush money payments by Donald Trump to former Playmate Susan McDougal and porn star Stormy Daniels.
Donald Trump


The Wall Street Journal, a conservative newspaper I will point out, has issued its report on the hush money payments by Donald Trump to former Playmate Susan McDougal and porn star Stormy Daniels.

The report itself is behind the newspaper’s firewall, but CNBC has the receipts:

President Donald Trump was involved in “nearly every step” of hush-money agreements with multiple women who claimed they had sexual affairs before he became president, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

The newspaper, citing dozens of interviews and document, also reported that Trump may have violated federal campaign-finance laws through his participation in the deals. Trump has denied knowing about a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star and director who alleges she had sex with Trump in 2006.

The Journal reported that Trump, as a presidential candidate, “directed deals in phone calls and meetings” related to the women with Cohen. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, which prosecuted Cohen, has reportedly also collected evidence of Trump’s involvement in the agreements.

Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, took to Twitter to make sure folks knew about the reporting.

If you aren’t a subscribe to The Wall Street Journal, you can watch the video report below as the WSJ team breaks down the information and series of events they have uncovered.

Again – this is a conservative-leaning news paper. The WSJ is no ‘liberal’ anything. Watch below.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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News Round-Up: November 9, 2018

InstaHunk Joel Green leads off this installment of "News Round-Up"
Joel Green (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Whether it’s ‘fitness motivation’ or a bribe to get you to come read this news round-up, you have to admit InstaHunk Joel Green (above) is crushing it.

• Kansas’ New Democratic governor has announced she will restore protections for LGBTQ folks that her predecessor repealed.

• One more LGBTQ victory from Tuesday night’s elections – Hennepin County chose openly gay Dave ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson to be its next Sheriff over incumbent anti-immigration, pro-Trump incumbent Rich Stanek.

• Many were stunned when Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum came up short Tuesday night in his bid to become the next governor of Florida considering he was an average of 6 points ahead of his opponent in the polls. It now appears his and the high-profile race for U.S. Senator are headed for recounts.

• Last year, Donald Trump Jr. testified that he never informed his father about the now-infamous meeting at Trump Tower with a Russian government attorney. New York Magazine reports the Special Counsel investigation has obtained proof that Junior might have lied. Don Jr. has apparently been telling close confidants he expects to be indicted any day now.

• ‘Gays for Trump’ founder Peter Boykin lost his North Carolina House race Tuesday bigly.

• International superstar Andrea Bocelli proves he’s still at the top of his game as his new album ‘Sì’ debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart.

His duet “Fall On Me” with his (gorgeous) son, Matteo, is exquisite.

And here’s his collaboration with pop star Dua Lipa  – “If Only” – from the new collection.

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‘Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ Actor Transforms His Body For Stunning Coming Out Dance Sequence

Rob McElhenney & Kylie Shea (screen capture)

Regular viewers of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia have noticed this season that the character of ‘Mac,’ played by series creator Rob McElhenney, has been looking a bit different this season.

Wednesday’s night’s season finale revealed Mac’s super-jacked body but also the reason why.

In the episode titled, “Mac Finds His Pride,” McElhenney performs a jaw-dropping modern dance in order to express his coming out to his father.

The character came out to friends in 2016, but hasn’t been able to find the words to open up to his father.

Vulture sets the scene:

In the finale, Frank (Danny DeVito) is trying to convince Mac to prance on the gang’s gay pride parade float, but Mac isn’t feeling it. In his own way, Frank tries to help: “I never really got you and, to be honest, now that you’re gay I get you even less. Nothing against it, I just don’t get it.” Nevertheless, he vows to help Mac find his pride, which involves coming out of the closet to his imprisoned father, Luther (Gregory Scott Cummins).

But Mac can’t open up to his father, at least, not with words. Which is a good thing because if he did, it would sound something like what he threw at Frank when he tried to explain his internal struggle: “There’s like this storm inside of me and it’s been raging my whole life, and I’m down on my knees, and I’m looking for answers, and then God comes down to me and it’s a very hot chick and she pulls me up and we start dancing.”

The episode ends with a dance that literally brings that raging storm to life as he performs a modern dance in the rain for his father and fellow prison inmates.

DeVito’s ‘Frank’ watches in awe. And as the dance comes to a close, he says, “Oh my god, I get it. I get it.”

Rob McElhenney & Kylie Shea

The stunning dance sequence, which also features gorgeous work by professional ballerina Kylie Shea, took seven months of development, training and rehearsals before the cameras even began rolling.

For one thing, McElhenney has never danced before in his life.

And, in order to become ‘Fat Mac’ for season 7 of Sunny, he had to gain 50 pounds of fat. Now, he needed to drop all that and get into shape just to be able to approach the movement and partnering that would be required.

Working with trainer Arin Babaian, who helped Channing Tatum get into Magic Mike shape, McElhenney began a regimen that consisted of no alcohol, no eating after 7PM, no carbs or sugar, lifting weights six days a week, stretching an hour a day and running three miles every day.

And that was before he started working with choreographers Alison Faulk and Leo Moctezuma.

It would take two and a half months of rehearsals to develop and finesse the dance.

“Rob came out of the writers room saying he wanted it to represent the struggle, the push and pull, and that helped Leo and me to put the choreography together in a way that showed vulnerability and strength,” Faulk tells Vulture. “The woman represents the light and the good and everything pure and amazing — and he’s the dark. So it’s basically a giant metaphor for being able to love and accept yourself.”

Finally, the day of reckoning came.

After shooting for 12 hours, director Todd Biermann says that most of what the TV audience sees was from the last three takes.

Watch the emotionally charged dance as it closes season 13 finale of Sunny below.

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Cast Announced For Season 4 Of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars”

VH1 has announced the queens returning to the mainstage to compete in the fourth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”

The reality competition is set to return with supersized, 90-minute episodes and more stunning fashions, killer lip-syncs, and jaw-dropping twists than ever before.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” premieres on Friday, December 14th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on VH1.

The ten super queens competing to prove that they’re ready to become “Drag Race” royalty in the fourth season of “All Stars” include:

Farrah Moan (Season Nine)
Farrah moaned her way through season nine, and your favorite Vegas showgirl is back for “All Stars” four! The cotton candy queen may have gotten lost in her emotions in her season, but on “All Stars,” she’s ready to highlight (wink) her talents…. She wants to prove to the world that she’s more than just a cry baby and take her place on a pink pedestal in the “Drag Race” Hall of Fame!

Gia Gunn (Season Six)
Gia Gunn is back, but does she have the firepower to blast her way into the “Drag Race” Hall of Fame? Absolutely. Gia wants to show she’s more than sassy catchphrases from season six. She’s fully seasoned and ready to snatch that “All Stars” crown!

Jasmine Masters (Season Seven)
Her name is Jasmine Masters, and she has something to say… she’s here, b*tches! Back for more, on “All Stars” four! Since season seven, Jasmine has gone viral on social media making her the ultimate “meme queen.” But Jasmine wants to prove she packs more than a punchline and has the skills to take home the crown.

Latrice Royale (Season Four and “All Stars” One)
She’s large and in charge, chunky yet funky… she is Latrice Royale! Latrice competed on season four and as half of “Team Latrila” on “All Stars” one, but she failed to make her way to the top both times. She’s back in the werkroom to prove that an OG queen can serve it to the younger queens and finally secure her spot in the “Drag Race” Hall of Fame!

Manila Luzon (Season Three and “All Stars” One)
Runner-up on season three and gone-too-soon on “All Stars” one, Manila is back again hoping the third time is the charm. She’s got a closet full of campy couture and the comedic chops to make Manila an “All Stars” thrilla, but will it be enough to finally take home the “Drag Race” crown?

Monét X Change (Season Ten)
On her season, Monet X Change won the hearts of all and the Miss Congeniality title. Fresh off of season 10, she’s back with a fire lit under her padded ass to serve some polished looks and prove she has everything it takes to soak up the “All Stars” crown!

Monique Heart (Season Ten)
Monique Heart came to Season 10 with talent, glitter, and Jesus… What she lacked was the funds for a closet full of costumes. Since her season, she’s performed all over the world, making that coin and amassing a stunning collection of lerks. Monique is back for “All Stars,” reclaiming her time, and vying for a spot in the “Drag Race” Hall of Fame!

Naomi Smalls (Season Eight)
On Season eight, Naomi Smalls put the LEG in “legendary” and stomped her way into the top three. She’s back on “All Stars” to prove she can outperform the best of ‘em and to show the world you should never underestimate the tall, pretty fashion model.

Trinity Taylor (Season Nine)
Trinity Taylor is back as Trinity the Tuck… and this tuck has teeth! On Season nine the pageant queen, with body for days, made us laugh all the way to the top four. But now, full “All Star” confidence, she’s here to claim her seat in the “Drag Race” Hall of Fame.

Valentina (Season Nine)
It’s fan favorite, Valentina! She was chopped from season nine for not knowing the words, but since her season, there’s no masking her talent. The glamorous, high fashion, Latin American diva is back on “All Stars” for her Telenovela redemption story…. and the “All Stars” crown.

Viewers will also get a holiday treat this year with “RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-slay Spectacular” premiering Friday, December 7th at 8:00 PM ET/PT on VH1.

The one-hour holiday-themed episode will bring back franchise favorites including Eureka O’Hara, Jasmine Masters, Kim Chi, Latrice Royale, Mayhem Miller, Shangela, Sonique, and Trixie Mattel as they compete for the title of America’s first “Drag Race Xmas Queen.”

(via press release)

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Trump Attacks “Nasty Loser” White House Journalist, Suggests More Reporters Could Lose Credentials

Donald Trump continued his personal attacks on journalists this morning as he went on a rant regarding American Urban Radio Networks reporter April Ryan saying she’s a “loser” who “doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

Ryan has been covering the White House for many, many years.

The Donald also mentioned other reporters may lose their White House credentials as CNN’s Jim Acosta did two nights ago.

Ironically, Trump says you should treat the presidency with “respect.”

He should try that sometime.

Later, he just called a reporter’s question “stupid:”

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Colton Haynes Drops Cover Of “A Million Dreams”

Colton Haynes

Arrow star Colton Haynes surprised fans today with a soaring cover of “A Million Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman with singer Matt Bloyd.

Calling the film “the greatest movie I’ve seen in a while,” Colton shares that he was “super excited” to sing with his buddy, Bloyd, a alum of FOX’s singing reality show, The Four.

Bloyd writes, “My good buddy Colton Haynes and I knew we had to put our spin one of our favorite songs from one of our favorite movies! I am so so proud of this project. Love the song. Love the words. Love Colton! We hope you enjoy our take on ‘A Million Dreams’ from Pasek and Paul’s ‘The Greatest Showman!’”

Bloyd’s effortless tenor pairs well with Haynes’ easy baritone. The duo finds an easy groove on the tune originally sung in the film by Hugh Jackman and Michelle Williams.

Matt Bloyd

This isn’t Hayne’s first trip to the recording studio.

An accomplished singer, he’s dabbled in music before with covers of Dan + Shay’s “19 You + Me” with New Heights, and Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up,” as well as an original holiday track, “Baby It’s Christmas.”

And, of course, there’s his now-famous “Man, It Sucks” he mysteriously posted on his Instagram soon after the split with his husband of six months, Jeff Leatham.