electrify the world!

Obama revels in Powell endorsement and cash mountain

FAYETTEVILLE, North Carolina (AFP) — Barack Obama profited Sunday from the coveted backing of former secretary of state Colin Powell and a jaw-dropping cash haul entering into the final fortnight of the epic White House race.

The Republican Powell, the first African-American to serve at the apex of the US military as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the 47-year-old Democrat would be a "transformational president."

Powell carries the burden of his role in promoting the Iraq invasion. But his endorsement was still a stinging rebuff to Republican candidate John McCain, 72, and could help sway swing voters and military veterans.

His backing came as the Obama campaign announced a fundraising take of more than 150 million dollars last month, demolishing its previous record of 66 million set in August.

The gigantic treasure trove is enabling Obama, who enjoyed a 10-point lead in Sunday's Gallup tracking poll, to hit McCain even harder with a nationwide advertising blitz before the November 4 election.

Addressing a carnival-like rally of more than 10,000 supporters here, Obama said he was "beyond honored and deeply humbled to have the support of General Colin Powell."

The Illinois senator said the Fayetteville area of North Carolina, home to the giant Fort Bragg army base, knew something about military heroism.

"And this morning, a great soldier, a great statesman, a great American has endorsed our campaign to change America," he said.

"And he knows, as we do, that this is a moment where we all need to come together as one nation -- young and old, rich and poor, black, white, Hispanic, native American, Republican and Democrat."

Powell, on NBC program "Meet the Press," said Obama had "met the standard" to be commander-in-chief "because of his ability to inspire" all ages, ethnic groups and political persuasions.

McCain remained a friend, Powell said while launching a hard-hitting critique of the Republican's rightward lurch, his haphazard response to the US economic crisis and his choice of Sarah Palin as vice presidential nominee.

Powell said that Obama, in contrast, had emerged looking presidential with a "steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge" in his approach to the financial tumult.

The nation's first black secretary of state added that victory by the mixed-race Obama in two weeks would make all Americans "proud," not just African-Americans, and would "electrify the world."

Speaking on Fox News Sunday, McCain said he had "always admired and respected General Powell."

"We're long-time friends. This doesn't come as a surprise," the Arizona senator said, touting his endorsement by other former secretaries of state including Henry Kissinger, James Baker and Lawrence Eagleburger.

McCain also defended automated "robo-calls" unleashed by his campaign in at least 10 swing states, insisting charges that Obama is a closet radical who would subvert democracy were "legitimate and truthful."

The tenor of McCain's campaign, whose robo-calls also accuse Obama of supporting the killing of babies born alive in abortions, was bitterly decried by Powell along with anti-Muslim discrimination in Republican circles.

Obama said the campaign would "probably get uglier" as it climaxes but stressed his own focus on issues such as the economy and Iraq and said: "We've got to have a line that we don't cross."

McCain renewed his condemnation of Obama's economic policies as "socialism." Obama said McCain backed tax cuts for wealthy corporate bosses "who've been making out like bandits."

Stopping by Fayetteville's "Cape Fear" barbecue restaurant, Obama was accosted by 54-year-old shop worker Diane Fanning, who yelled "socialist, socialist, socialist -- get out of here!"

Fanning refused to shake Obama's hand when he offered it, and she told reporters that Powell was a "RINO" -- Republican In Name Only.

Other customers were more welcoming of Obama as he foraged for votes in North Carolina, which last voted for a Democratic presidential hopeful in 1976 but which like other Republican "red" states is now very much in play.

Furniture salesman Mike Long, 33, said he had been less than 50 percent likely to vote for Obama. But after discussing health care with the candidate, he was now "98 percent" certain.

g.o.p.ocrisy

'nuff said

'that's so gay'

The Ad Council and GLSEN have teamed up for a campaign, ThinkB4YouSpeak, intended to educate young people about homophobic language and its consequences. To that end, they've enlisted Wanda Sykes and Hillary Duff to appear in two PSAs that draw attention to the phrase "that's so gay" and its interpretations.

The campaign will utilize print, internet, and radio, and television spots.

Watch Sykes and Duff hand it to some teens...






i like wanda's better than hillary's except for her little comment at the end haha

i'm also glad in a corny activist way that these commercials exist...things are changing more quickly than i expected.

madonna sans child!

Leave out the ageist sexist slander surrounding the Queen of Pop's divorce, please. Guy clearly just couldn't keep up

Bidisha
guardian.co.uk, Friday October 17 2008 12.00 BST


Keeping the beat going, forever.
Photograph: Dan Smith/AP

It's inevitable that the Queen of Pop should eventually have to confront issues of age, decay and sexual redundancy. There comes a time to abandon embarrassing obsessions and admit that no amount of effort can convey an impression of youthful readiness. Yes, it's finally happened: Guy Ritchie has become too old to be Madonna's consort.

The divorce is confirmed and Ritchie is to be banished from the royal realm with £2.50, a packed lunch and a spare pair of socks. I'm surprised; I thought it was a logical match and that standard interpretations of the Madonna-Ritchie dynamic are transparently sexist. Madonna is vilified as a voracious castrator-succubus, preying upon once-talented males like Sean Penn and, er, Warren Beatty and Carlos Leon, leaving them spent and careerless. She's slandered as a monstrously butch alpha female whose incomprehensible success publicly emasculates her gamma male companions. Or else she is a once-relevant, once-tough wretch who's gone soft, becoming a country wife in masochistic thrall to a chauvinist.

"What does she see in him?" asked Madonna fans as the vows were exchanged at Skibo Castle eight years ago. I think she saw a man who likes intelligent women, as evidenced by Ritchie's own formidable mother. I think she saw a kind father to her children. What did Ritchie see in Madonna? Probably her talent, charisma, guts and brains. Maybe he couldn't keep up with her. After all, she's made of brushed titanium and fuelled by some dark matter that makes her impervious to the laws of space-time, physics and biology. When astronomers spy burnt planets and frazzled satellites scorching the cosmos, they know that these are power sources that Madonna has consumed for fuel, to keep the beat going.

It's amazing that the paucity of Ritchie's talent should be put down to Madonna's ruining of him. The sexist ageism against Madonna has been overwhelming ever since she appeared looking frankly amazing in a leotard in the Hung Up video in 2005. "Madonna falls onstage, does not break hip!" crowed the LA Times recently, referring to a moment when she lost her balance during her Sticky and Sweet tour. A commenter on the website sneered "Sit down old woman".

Does she care? Probably, but that won't stop her. Romances come and go, but Madonna is forever. She's a genius, a true artist, a polymath who's written some of the best pop songs in history. She deserves all of the acclaim and none of the insults. Think of Vogue, Live to Tell, La Isla Bonita, Oh Father and Hung Up. Think of the triumvirate of perfect albums, Like a Prayer, Ray of Light and Confessions. The street coolness of Desperately Seeking Susan. The video for Die Another Day. I'm Breathless on the Dick Tracy soundtrack. And the great twinsets in that clothing collection for H&M.

I reckon Madonna's next album will be her best ever. In the meantime, I hope Ritchie's lottery funding application for Snatch 2 works out.

the fags of life

i'm so excited about this! things are really changing finally...i want to be a kid again!

Chicago may get 'gay-friendly' high school
By Mallory Simon

(CNN) -- Public school officials in Chicago, Illinois, are recommending approval of a "gay-friendly" high school because harassment and violence are causing gay students to skip class and drop out at alarming rates.

The School for Social Justice Pride Campus, which officials say will not be exclusive to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, is aimed at being safe and welcoming for any student looking for another school option, said Josh Edelman, executive officer in the Chicago Public Schools' Office of New Schools.

"It is not going to be a 'gay high school,' but yes, in a way, it is meant to target kids who feel they have been victims of bullying for their sexual orientation or perceived orientation," Edelman said.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan announced his recommendation Wednesday. Officials said Pride Campus would be separate physically but be attached administratively to the School for Social Justice.

School officials said the standards and curriculum for the school would be in line with other schools in the district. The school would also offer counseling for students, though because of federal laws, officials cannot ask students about their sexual orientation. The curriculum would not rely on, but would incorporate lessons about, sexual identity inhistory and literature classes, officials said.

"It's about creating another option for kids," Edelman said. "When it comes down to it, though, it is all about having a choice and providing high-quality options for students, whether they are gay or not."

The school could be a lifeline for students who are struggling for academic success.
iReport.com: Are you in a similar situation? Share your story

Gay and lesbian students are three times more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe, according to a 2003 Chicago Public School District survey. And a study released Wednesday by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network showed similar trends across the country. Is this the best solution? »

The national study, which the group says is the most comprehensive report ever on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students nationwide, found that 86.2 percent of those students reported being verbally harassed, 44.1 percent physically harassed and 22.1 percent physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

This harassment, the study concludes, has affected students' ability to achieve success in school, causing their grade-point level to be, on average, half a point lower than that of heterosexual students nationwide.

Dropout levels are higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students because of more frequent truancy, the study found. Almost 32 percent of those students missed a class because of feeling unsafe, compared with only 5.5 percent of heterosexual students nationwide, the study said.

Truancy and lower grades aren't the only repercussions of anti-gay sentiments in schools, said Kevin Jennings, the founder and executive director of GLSEN. He cited the killing of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old student shot by a classmate in Oxnard, California, in February after King asked to be his valentine.

Jennings said the repercussions of harassment alone underscore the need for Pride Campus.

"If we keep doing nothing, we are going to keep getting these horrifying levels of harassment, greater rates of skipping, not going to college and more tragic violence like the murder of Lawrence King," he said. "Those are our choices. We can continue to do nothing, and we know the results, or we can save young people's lives and offer them an education and a future."

A similar school in New York, the Harvey Milk High School in the East Village, was created because of similar fears.

The school, which had been around since 1985, serving gay and lesbian students, expanded to a "gay-themed" school for 100 students in 2003. The Pride Campus is expected to serve 600 students, school officials said.

Harvey Milk High School, like the Pride Campus, is open to all students regardless of sexual orientation. But unlike the proposed school in Chicago, Harvey Milk requires its attendees to be at risk of dropping out because of harassment.

Harvey Milk boasts a graduation rate of 95 percent of its students -- all of whom were at risk of or had dropped out -- well above the city average of 52 percent.

When the school opened its doors, protesters, led by anti-gay Kansas minister Fred Phelps, screamed at supporters gathered outside to repent for their "sodomite behavior."

Edelman said that while some concerns have been raised about Pride Campus at community meetings, officials have not heard any large-scale opposition.

One Chicago resident said at a meeting that he could not support the school because of his religious beliefs, Edelman said. Others told local media they didn't support the use of public money to create the school. Some thought that if gay students went to the Pride Campus, students in other schools would not learn to accept the gay community. Instead, they suggested, the focus should be working toward acceptance in all schools.

"Absolutely, we should work for [acceptance] across the board," said Jennings, the GLSEN executive director. "But it's not going to change overnight, and in the meantime, these kids aren't going to graduate."

Jennings said that GLSEN research shows acceptance among peers is helped by having a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender support group at school.

The most important factor, according to the GLSEN study, is the existence of a state law that protects students from harassment based on their sexual orientation.

Thirty-nine states, including Illinois and New York, do not have laws offering that specific protection, Jennings said citing the GLSEN study. Some have laws, but they don't specify on what basis the protections apply, which Jennings said was essentially as effective as having no law at all. California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin are the only states with specific sexual orientation protections for students.

The Chicago School Board will vote October 22 to approve the School for Social Justice Pride Campus in addition to 17 other proposed schools.

As far as Jennings is concerned, the school board's choice is an easy one.

"The choice they are making is not should we have this kind of school," he said. "The question is 'Are we going to do anything we can to get these kids an education?' And there's only one right answer -- yes."

porn star turned pop star

here's a hot video for a hot song by a hot former porn star turned pop star. colton ford performed live at one of the gruff parties at the eagle that i djed at and i got to meet him. not only is he a beautiful man but he's a really wonderful guy, very humble and handsome. the clip features a rap cameo by cazwell (looking and sounding very timberlake in my opinion but a hot and sexy gay version of course) and he gives a little shout out to my dear friend gusty winds!

the song is dirty and the video is fucking sexy as hell!

the show is over say goodbye

i couldn't post about madonna and guy ritchie's divorce without making a silly song quote as the headline right?

i'm sad for the kids and i'm sad for madonna but i'm happy that she will soon be free if she wasn't happy with guy. i'm also selfishly happy that we will have an even more frisky and experimental madonna. and honestly i think the a-rod fling is just that...a fling. he's just a hot latino with a big 'bat' that she's enjoying right now. i guess she still has sex right? haha

here's a new disco mix of 'miles away' i just found...the song caused speculation and is proof now. it has a fresh, sunny vibe to it that would make larry levan proud despite the somber lyrics

madonna - miles away (disco mix)

this is a funny video someone posted on youtube...i wanna meet this guy..he seems crazy

miss piggy fucks the pain away!

this is the best thing ever!!!



http://perezhilton.com/2008-04-24-you-must-20#respond

campy vogue excellence!

i know i haven't gotten a chance to tell you about my madonna concert experience but that whole essay is coming soon i promise!!

chainsaw maid

nothing like a little demented claymation to get you in the halloween spirit!
(courtesy of the original glamour bear, ian heath)

wee wee

the muzzler 2008

wow i have such newfound respect for jessican alba and hayden panettiere with this 'infomercial'.

check it out!


Jessica Alba's Declare Yourself Challenge

"haunted" by chuck palahniuk

so during my little 'maternity' leave from working, aside from the thankfully decently steady dj gigs, i have become a voracious reader! in the past ten years i've probably read about five books if that but just in the past two months i've read at least three! i must say there is nothing better than becoming addicted to an amazing book...only you are reading it at the moment...and the joy of discussing each particular book with someone who gave it to you to read or someone who has read it before is sublime (thank you rowan for reinstalling my reader chip)

i just finished one of the most remarkable books i've ever read and i must say i'm thrilled yet exhausted! chuck palahniuk, author behind the film "fight club" and the soon to be released if not released already "choke", is absolutely from another level of consciousness! i read "diary" by him before this one and i am in complete wonderment at his writing skills, fantastic originality, unearthly imagination and violently powerful storytelling. "haunted" is comprised of about 21 or so short stories interspliced within a story and seperated by short poems about each of the interestingly named characters. comrade snarky, agent tattletale, miss sneezy, mrs. clark, mr. whittier, miss america, saint gut-free, lady baglady, mother nature, earl of slander, the missing link, duke of vandals, director denial, reverend godless, the matchmaker, sister vigilante, chef assassin and countess foresight make up the bizarre world that is haunted. i could go on and on about the plot and how frighteningly woven it was but you just have to read it for yourself. i've never really reviewed a book before but if anything i must leave you with an excerpt of the afterword that completely helps you digest the delicacy that is mr. p's masterpiece. go out and get it and read it!

"a motion picture, or music, or television, they have to maintain a certain decorum in order to be broadcast to a vast audience. other forms of mass media cost too much to produce to risk reaching only a limited audience. only one person. but a book...a book is cheap to print and bind. a book is as private and consensual as sex. a book takes time and effort to consume--something that gives a reader every chance to walk away. actually, so few people make the effort to read that it's difficult to call books a 'mass medium'. no one really gives a damn about books. no one has bothered to ban a book in decades. (this was published in 2005 before senorita palin got a number one single on the charts)

but with that disregard comes the freedom that only books have. and if a storyteller is going to write novels instead of screenplays, that's a freedom you need to exploit. otherwise, write a movie. that's where the big money's at. write for television.

but, if you want the freedom to go anywhere, talk about anything, then write books...."

an alternate cover for the novel

i've wanted to be a novelist since as long as i can remember. i have come up with ideas...starting forming a literary skeleton, but then my laziness or my short attention span causes me to put those aspirations aside, but i must say if anything that these reading voracious reading adventures of mine have caused a resurgence, if you will, in that longing to publish finally. i think i'm going to start with some short stories and work my way up to a novel. you'll be the first to hear about it...

thank you chuck palahniuk! i owe you one!