Hung Obama Top 4U, Can Host

From Craigslist Houston: "I am an attractive, in shape hung (9 inches) black male from Atlanta here on business. I am looking for a masculine white male to service me, then get pounded in my hotel room today or tomorrow (saturday). Send your pics, stats and background info. I want to wear my Obama mask while I pound you."I don't know what to say.

(Via JMG Tipper Chuck.)

Spoiler Alert

Ralph Nader will appear on Meet The Press tomorrow (Sunday) morning to announce whether he plans to run for president.

Broadway Friday

- The Actors Fund will give a benefit performance of Seth's Broadway 101 at the New World Stages on April 14th. The show was written by Seth Rudetsky, who recently hosted Broadway Backwards and features Laura Benanti, Jonathan Groff, Andrea McArdle, Norm Lewis, Pamela Myers and a full orchestra. "Rudetsky shows what is brilliant about Broadway, how the whole thing works and why it can sometimes be a splitting headache!"

- Tony winner Gary Beach (The Producers) is joining the national tour cast of Spamalot.

- Four songs from Passing Strange, now in previews, are available for free streaming and download.

- Advance tickets to John Water's Cry-Baby, set to begin previews April 24th, go on sale this Sunday. Preview tickets are half-price.

- A Bronx Tale closes this Sunday.

- Stephen Sondheim's 1981 flop, Merrily We Roll Along, may have a revival in the 2009 season. The original production only played 16 performances.

- Despite a raft of bad reviews, The Little Mermaid is grossing $1M a week, proving that anything Disney on Broadway is bulletproof.

Big Gay Sketch Show mashes up Extreme Home Makeover and Grey Gardens:

Dallas Cop Killed Escorting Hillary

Hillary just cannot catch a break.

A Dallas police officer died Friday when his motorcycle struck a pillar on the Houston Street viaduct as he was escorting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to a rally in Oak Cliff. The motorcade was heading south on the viaduct when the officer apparently lost control of his bike about 9:20 a.m. "He just lost control and hit the pillar," said Assistant Chief Ron Waldrop, commander of the criminal investigations bureau.

After the rally, a somber Mrs. Clinton expressed sorrow over the officer's death. "We are just heartsick over this loss of life in the line of duty," she said. Mrs. Clinton said the accident should serve as a reminder of the sacrifices law enforcement officers make. She said it is important that people respect and appreciate their service. At her next stop, a rally in Fort Worth, Mrs. Clinton named the officer and expressed condolences to his family. She apologized to the crowd of about 1,000 people and said she could not conduct a rally.

Classy of them to cancel the rally, however.

Snowy Mental Health Break

Dr. Jeff sends us some great shots of the snow in Central Park. I'd love to go sledding, but at my enfeebled age, I'd probably break a hip. These photos embiggen beautifully.

SpecPubs Sued For $4M After Kid Sees Gay Porn

Kent Blackwelder, a former Big Brother contestant, is suing Specialty Publications for $4M because his 12 year-old daughter opened a mailing from them which contained gay porn, including a sample DVD from Titan Media, Farm Fresh.

From the suit: "Mary Doe [Blackwelder's daughter], being a curious child and thinking the free DVD offer was for a Disney movie, opened the envelope at which time she was horribly shocked to see numerous sexually explicit photographs of completely nude males."

The suit is seeking damages for "extreme emotional distress" for both Blackwelder and his daughter. "As a result of the negligence of Specialty Publications, the [Blackwelders] have sustained great pain of body and mind and emotional stress, including shock, horror, humiliation and embarrassment as well as anxiety." Specialty Publications used to be owned by PlanetOut, which sold off the division last year.

Oh, the horror and humiliation of accidentally seeing a picture of people having sex! Ow, my freekin' eyes! And how did Blackwelder get on that list in the first place? I'd just like to get paid for having seen Two Girls, One Cup. Ow, my freekin' soul!

Security Gaffe At Obama Rally

Questions are being asked why thousands were allowed to enter an Obama rally on Wednesday without being screened for firearms.

DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.

The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.

"Sure," said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."

The Secret Service did not return a call from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.

Doors opened to the public at 10 a.m., and for the first hour security officers scanned each person who came in and checked their belongings in a process that kept movement of the long lines at a crawl. Then, about 11 a.m., an order came down to allow the people in without being checked.

Unbelievable. And in Dallas, of all grimly historic places.

(Via - Pam's House Blend.)

Cyndi Lauper's "Set Your Heart"

Here's a teaser snippet of Cyndi Lauder's new single, Set Your Heart, as used in a Japanese car commercial. The track was co-written and co-produced by Cyndi and Blowoff DJ Rich Morel, who promised me he'd play it tomorrow night at the Highline.

Funplex!

The B-52's are streaming Funplex, the first single from their album of the same name, over on their MySpace page. The single is now available on iTunes, the album drops on March 25th.

This is the first new album for the B's in sixteen years. Did I ever mention that I got evicted from my first apartment in 1979 thanks to the B-52's? "Tenant persists in playing loud annoying sound-effects records." Thank you, Planet Claire.

A lyric sample from Funplex:

Chandalabra's in a wonder bra
Dress Barn runway-a real draw
Faster Pussycat thrill thrill
I'm at the mall on a diet pill

I. Love. It.

Hillary: Barack Is Change You Can Xerox

Hillary Clinton drew boos at last night's Democratic debate when she again dissed Barack Obama for plagiarism, saying he represented "change you can Xerox." Obama turned the boos into applause when he countered, "What we shouldn't be spending time doing is tearing each other down. We should be spending time lifting the country up."

After making a thinly veiled reference to Monica Lewinsky ("Everyone here knows I've lived through some crises and some challenging moments in my life.), Clinton turned conciliatory and said, "No matter what happens in this contest, I am honored to be here with Barack Obama."

Like others, it seemed to me that Clinton's closing comments were almost a concession speech.

Morning View - Snow Day

Gotham is being socked with its first decent snow storm of the winter. Other than a couple of dustings, today's 5-7 inches has been all we've gotten. In fact, January set a record for being the first time in something like 75 years that no snow had fallen during the month. If you're flying today, it sucks to be you. The airports are reporting delays of 3 to 7 hours.

Day Of Silence For Lawrence King

Via MTV News:

A series of candlelight vigils have been held throughout the U.S. in the wake of the student's death (an estimated 1,000 people marched in Oxnard the weekend following the murder), in an effort to raise awareness of what many feel was a largely underreported case. MTV News attended one such vigil on Friday night, just outside of Los Angeles, where dozens gathered — not with candles but glowsticks — to remember King.

Now the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a leading gay-rights student organization, has decided to make King's murder one of the central themes of this year's annual Day of Silence on April 25.

"This year, we're going to incorporate, within the Day of Silence, a way for students to remember Lawrence King and sort of use it as a day to honor him and to bring attention to what happened," said GLSEN spokesperson Daryl Presgraves. "The overall themes will include King and the immediate need to address anti-LGBT harassment. If ever there were a sign that schools need to realize how far such harassment can go, and why it's important to address it now, it's Lawrence King."

Since King's murder, there have been 30 candlelight vigils throughout the country, with one planned for Washington, D.C., early next week (a complete list of these events can be found at GLSEN.org). Presgraves wasn't sure exactly how the national Day of Silence would commemorate King's passing, but said the theme of the day will be remembering the slain student.

Visit the King family's memorial page, Remembering Larry, for information on other memorials.

Gay Porn Star Ryan Idol Named In Charity Scandal

Scandal has erupted around yet another gay porn star.

John Katopodis, 61, former member of the city council of Birmingham, Alabama and "close friend" of Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford (D), is being investigated by federal prosecutors for allegedly misusing over $1M in funds from a charity Langford created to provide computers to needy children. Katopodis is suspected of using the charity's money to pay personal credit cards, gamble at casinos, take expensive vacations, and to pay retired gay porn star and Broadway actor Ryan Idol $30,000 for "repairing computers."

Katapodis also gave $10,000 of charity money to Mayor Langford, which the mayor claims he donated to a private charity under his control.

The questions about Computer Help for Kids, created in 2000 to carry out Langford's first computer-for-every-child promise as Fairfield mayor, come as the Birmingham City Council considers an agreement allowing a new charity backed by Langford to distribute computers to students. John Katopodis, a close friend of Langford who is organizing the mayor's initiative, faces questions in a civil lawsuit and in federal subpoenas about how he managed Langford's first computer charity.

The civil lawsuit filed by HealthSouth Corp., which donated money and computers, questions why the first computer charity gave Langford money, paid for casino trips and handed out donated computers to friends and politicians.

Ryal Idol is named in HealthSouth's lawsuit. Idol, whose real name is Marc Anthony Donais, retired from porn in the late '90s and recently appeared in the hit Broadway show The Ritz. Idol does not appear to have computer training.

Katopodis testified in his deposition that Donais [Idol], the adult-film actor, was paid to help the Council of Cooperating Governments and the Computer Help for Kids programs, both of which were handling money and expenses for Langford's computer initiative. Donais, a former Playgirl Magazine centerfold, has starred in seven gay adult films. Katopodis pointed out in his testimony that Donais also has appeared in plays in New York City.

"He's a businessman and had been working as, had done several off-Broadway productions and had been writing a play," Katopodis testified. "I don't know what else he was doing, you know."

Donais received $5,000 from the computer charity and $25,000 from the council, according to court filings. "He's very good at working on computers," Katopodis testified. "He's very adept at computers. But at the time he was working at the Council, he didn't work on computers."

Under further questioning, Katopodis said Donais worked for the computer charity without any formal training in that area. "He repaired computers. He, as I say, helped us, he traveled helping to try to set up computer programs in other areas among disadvantaged communities," Katopodis said.

Today Katapodis stepped down the Computer Help For Children board of directors. Mayor Langford is also the subject of an unrelated investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission for "bond swap" transactions he made while president of the Jefferson County Commission.

JMG Commenters Explained

(Via - Slog.)

The History Of Gay Bars In NYC

Via Good As You, gay culture/history buffs will enjoy a blog called History of Gay Bars In New York City, where the author exhaustively unearths book excerpts and news reports of Gotham's gay scene going from back to the turn of the 20th century until today. Unsurprisingly, most of the stories hinge on mafia ownership and crimes involving the clubs.

Speaking of historic Manhattan hot spots, rumors are bouncing around that the legendary leather bar, The Spike, which had a long run in West Chelsea until the late '90s, might be reopening next month. The location being cited, however, is in Tribeca, which tends one towards disbelief. Homo Xtra (now HX) used to describe the Spike as "a good place to discuss opera with people dressed as generals." Yup. The Spike was one of two NYC bars that I've been thrown out of. True story!

UPDATE: OK, the Spike IS reopening. And it WILL be in Tribeca. Shows what I know.

And For Much Needed Comic Relief....

Via Fleshbot, the Gene Simmons sex tape. (NSFW!) The best part is that the blood-spewing evil rock god gets his groove on to Foreigner's I Wanna Know What Love Is. That kills me. That and how Silicone Barbie shows about as much enthusiasm as a blow-up doll.

McCain Denies It All

About McCain's alleged cozy relationship with lobbyist hottie Vicki Iseman:

Sen. John McCain on Thursday denied assertions published in The New York Times that he once had a close relationship with a female lobbyist whose clients had business before his Senate committee.

"I'm disappointed in The New York Times piece. It's not true," he told reporters in Toledo, Ohio, his wife, Cindy, standing by his side.

He added that he has never "done anything that would betray the public trust or make a decision" that would favor a particular group. His wife added that her husband always puts family and country first, and is "a man of great character." The New York Times issued a statement Thursday saying it stands by its reporting and that "the story speaks for itself."

I'm surprised to see the Times going with such a non-story. It all boils down to somebody being worried that it looked like McCain was getting too cozy with a female lobbyist. Meh. Nothing to see here. I'd be happy to see McCain dragged down in some shit, but this ain't it. Not even close.

McCain was the only survivor of the Keating Five scandal and I suspect he'll weather this bit as well. Clearly this revelation wasn't the work of the Democrats or they'd have sprung it in October. More evidence of how unhappy the conservatives are with their presumptive nominee.

Freepers Really Hate McCain

It's a telling sign of how much the right-wing dislikes McCain when over 40% of the Freepers say they won't vote for him as the Republican nominee. The dark green portions of the results indicate Free Republic members, the light blue represents non-members.

Teamsters To Endorse Obama

A bolster from Obama's weakest link, blue collar workers:

In a surprising boost for Senator Barack Obama, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters will announce this afternoon that it is endorsing him, a top union leader said.

With the Teamsters’ move, labor leaders said, Change to Win, a five-million-member coalition of unions that broke away from the A.F.L.-C.I.O., will likely vote on Thursday to endorse Mr. Obama.

The seven unions in that coalition — the service employees, the food and commercial workers, the Teamsters, the carpenters, the laborers the United Farm Workers and Unite Here (which represents hotel, restaurant and apparel workers) — are scheduled to hold a conference call on Thursday morning to decide on an endorsement.

With the service employees, the food and commercial workers and Unite Here having already endorsed Mr. Obama, the Teamsters endorsement will give him the two-thirds needed for the Change to Win Coalition to officially back him.

HomoQuotable - Leland Traiman

"Many lesbian/gay organizations claim that state-enacted same-sex marriage is 'marriage equality' even though it has no federal marriage rights. They claim that a federal civil union policy, which would include these rights, would not be 'marriage equality' because it would not contain the word 'marriage.' This places rhetoric over reality. The opposite is true: federal civil unions would be marriage equality. Unfortunately, no state has the ability to grant federal rights. Therefore, no state has the ability to grant marriage equality.

"A clear majority of voters, about 56 percent, support civil unions with all the rights of marriage, while opposing same-sex marriage. Illogical? Yes! But it is a fact we must live with. I am delighted a majority supports equality before the law. They just want to keep the word for themselves. Okay, I'll take the rights, they can have the word. Federal civil unions would grant us 1,138 more rights than "marriage" in California. Isn't that where we should be putting our energy? That seems a better choice than a lawsuit, which, if we 'win,' will guarantee three things:

1. A name change from domestic partnership to marriage without any additional rights or benefits.

2. A constitutional amendment on the ballot outlawing both same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships, which, judging from history, we will most probably lose, and

3. A diversion of our time, energy, and money from the real battle of achieving tangible rights through federal civil unions.

"Lasting progress is always made step by step. Lawsuits have been a poor strategy in righting the injustices against same-sex couples. Even when 'successful,' these few advances were crushed when 45 states and the federal government created an entirely new body of anti-gay laws. In contrast, since 1981 the step-by-step progress of domestic partnerships and civil unions has given our people tangible benefits, changing lives and increasing security for our families.

"We are at a historic crossroads. Forty-five states have foreclosed the possibility of same-sex marriage. However, federal civil unions are within our grasp. It is time for us to work for federal civil unions to get the federal rights that 'are granted to spouses in a marriage.' Six states already have marriage equality through domestic partnerships or civil unions. A majority of the public supports marriage equality through civil unions. If we use our energies wisely we can make federal civil unions a reality thereby achieving national marriage equality." - Equality Without Marriage co-founder Leland Traiman, in a guest editorial in the Bay Area Reporter. Traiman was one of the architects of Berkeley, California's 1984 domestic partners law, described by some as the blueprint for such laws around the world.

Even Bill

"If she wins in Texas and Ohio, I think she'll be the nominee. If you don't deliver for her, I don't think she can be." - Bill Clinton, speaking to Hillary supporters in Beaumont, Texas.

Open Thread Thursday

How old were you when you came out or were outed to your parents?

Michelle Obama Steps In It

Michelle Obama raised the ire of conservatives on Monday when she said, "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

Hmm, not the best choice of words for a potential First Lady.

Right-wing blog Newsbusters responds:

Doesn't this beg the question, "when did she become an adult"? Yesterday? The question is, will the media pay attention to this gaffe? Probably not much, and that is why the bloggers have to. Will Michelle be this year's Teresa Heinz Kerry? So her husband's run for President is the only thing she has ever been proud of America for? That sounds quite self-centered and arrogant! Nothing? Nothing like winning the Cold War, or feeding poor countries? Wow! How selfish is this? Did she mean this the way it came out? Shouldn't the media be asking?

Cindy McCain wasted no time is spinning it her way: "I always have been and will always be extremely proud of my country. I have led an extremely fortunate life. It was nothing more than that. I am just extremely proud to be an American."

According to Political Punch, Fox News edited out the word "really" from Ms. Obama's statement, presumably to make it look even worse.

Saturday: Blowoff NYC

In case you haven't noticed it in my ad column, the next NYC edition of Blowoff is this Saturday at the swanky Highline Ballroom. Man, I'm jonesing for some hot tuneage from Mssrs Mould & Morel.

At the last Blowoff, the club kind of got overwhelmed by the attendance and the line on West 16th Street stretched down to 9th Avenue at one point. I'm told they've since squared away the coat check issue, which was the cause of the bottleneck at the front door. (No matter where you go, it's always the damn coat check.)

Get your tickets here. Who's going?

HomoQuotable - Rupert Everett

"I think all these pride marches have lost their centre slightly. If you encountered them in the beginning of the 1980s when the gay community was really in crisis with its back against the wall, they were very highly charged events about survival and trying to define ourselves and keep our heads up.

“Now, because of all the fighting that those people did, there is a generation of mindless drug addicts – party-grazing cows who move from one side of the planet to the other, getting high and fucking each other. I’m not saying whether that’s good or bad, but it’s not political anymore.

“Maybe the thing we have to protest most is our behaviour within ourselves – maybe it’s interior not exterior. It’s up to us to see where our image to the outside world now is – because that is what’s potentially dangerous.” - Rupert Everett, speaking to Australia's SX Magazine, which notes that notorious party animal Everett was grand marshall of last year's Sydney Mardi Gras.

Last year I attended two Pride marches and they were the most political I've attended in at least a decade, thanks to the gay marriage issue and the coming election.

Gay Rights Cause Earthquakes!

"A cost-effective way of averting earthquake damage would be to stop passing legislation on how to encourage homosexual activity in the State of Israel, which anyways causes earthquakes." - Shlomo Benizri, of Israel's ultra-Orthodox Shas party, speaking in a Knesset debate on earthquake preparedness.

Israel's LGBT Association responded: "It is sad that a religious MK [Member of Knesset] in Israel doesn't think earthquakes are God-made. On the other hand, I suppose we should be flattered he attributes us with such magical powers."

Hmm, maybe this does explain that wacky Loma Prieta business.

Stealing Your Thunder

It's not just politicians who are plagiarizing these days.

These identity thieves don't want your money. They want your quirky sense of humor and your cool taste in music. Among the 125 million people in the U.S. who visit online dating and social-networking sites are a growing number of dullards who steal personal profiles, life philosophies, even signature poems. "Dude u like copied my whole myspace," posts one aggrieved victim.

Copycats use the real-life wit of others to create cut-and-paste personas, hoping to land dates or just look clever. Hugh Gallagher, a 36-year-old writer in New York, is one of the copied. Match.com has more than 50 profiles with parts of Mr. Gallagher's college entrance essay, which he penned nearly two decades ago and later appeared in Harper's Magazine. "I translate ethnic slurs for Cuban refugees" and "I write award-winning operas" are among Mr. Gallagher's most popular lines.

They worked well enough for Jim Carey, a 38-year-old pharmaceutical salesman in Bothell, Wash. He says he wanted women to know he was funny but was too lazy to think up anything. So he copied Mr. Gallagher's essay for his online profile. A year ago, he arranged to meet a woman for drinks. She asked about his operas. He confessed. "I felt like a balloon deflating," he says.

Original souls who discover they have been replicated say it's unethical and creepy. "I came across a guy who completely STOLE my profile message," posts one woman in Michigan. "I mean he had to have copied and pasted the whole thing and then just changed gender specific things to fit his own!!"

Guilty parties, come forward.

Angry Parents Jam School Meeting To Demand Answers On King Shooting

The murder of Lawrence King brought hordes of angry parents to his middle school yesterday.

Hundreds of parents filled an Oxnard gymnasium Tuesday night to ask hard questions about why school officials didn't intervene more aggressively in an escalating feud between two students, which ended last week with the shooting death of 15-year-old student Lawrence King.

In orderly fashion, one parent after another asked for metal detectors on campus, more programs dealing with bullying and for stricter enforcement of the district's uniform policy.

"There were probably weeks of this student being subjected to harassment," said Joe Gonzales, parent of a student at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard, where King was killed Feb. 12. "We need to know what was done, or not done, so we can prevent something like this from happening again instead of reacting to it."

Details about events the days before the shooting also trickled out as a panel that included school officials, mental health counselors and Oxnard Police Chief John Crombach responded to questions. One parent said her daughter told her that several students exchanged text messages the day before the shooting that talked about what the suspect planned to do.

Crombach acknowledged that several students told police they heard about "comments, statements and threats" that were made but that they didn't take the chatter seriously and that there was no evidence that it was reported to school officials. The police chief said the alleged shooter, Brian McInerney, 14, has refused to talk to investigators so it is unclear why King was shot.

His actions that morning, however, made it clear he planned an attack, Crombach said. The classroom teacher had little time to react, he said. "It's pretty clear our suspect was focused on his victim and what he planned to do," the chief said. He later said that the suspect apparently got the small-caliber handgun from his home.

Crombach and school officials told parents that they are reviewing safety procedures and considering installing metal detectors. A school assembly is planned next month to talk to students about bullying and what they should do if they see it on campus.

The killing last week has sparked anguish not only in Oxnard but across the nation as worried parents and gay rights advocates ask whether school officials should respond more aggressively to schoolyard bullying.

At least a dozen candlelight vigils and memorials are scheduled this week for King, including events in San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento and Ukiah, Calif., and in Massachusetts, New York and South Carolina.

A memorial service for King is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Hueneme, 755 Bard Road in Port Hueneme. King's family said they scheduled an after-school time so that students may attend. A private burial will also be held Friday, according to Camino del Sol Memorial Center and Funeral Home in Oxnard, which is handling the arrangements.

So the kids and school heard "chatter" but did nothing. And I'm still curious why little has been reported on the circumstances that brought Lawrence to be living in a home for abused children. His parents now seem to be positioning themselves are having been supportive of him. As for parents demanding stricter enforcement of the school's uniform policy, that's clearly some fucked up "blame the victim" mentality.

Victory Fund Wants LGBT Presidential Appointees

The Victory Fund has launched an ambitious project:

Washington, D.C.—The Gay & Lesbian Leadership Institute (GLLI) today announced the launch of the Presidential Appointments Project, a non-partisan effort designed to help grow the pool of openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) professionals who would be qualified and ready to accept politically appointed positions in the next U.S. presidential administration. In concert with other leading national LGBT groups, GLLI will identify, recruit and vet openly LGBT applicants for thousands of executive branch positions that will be filled with political appointees after the next president is sworn in.

“Our goal is to make sure all Americans have an equal voice in their government. Through public service, our community demonstrates a commitment to making our country a better place for all its citizens and for every kind of family. In 1996, we worked closely with the second Clinton administration to identify gays and lesbians who were qualified to serve the president. We stand ready to help whoever is elected this November,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of GLLI.

Sounds like they're gearing up for a Democratic president. Happy face.

First Openly Gay Black State Legislator

Rep. Jason Bartlett, a Connecticut state legislator, became America's first openly gay black statewide-elected politician yesterday when he came out to the press and public for the first time.

The Danbury Democrat ended widespread speculation about his sexuality during an interview with the Danbury News Times. "For me the decision came down to why not now," Bartlett told the paper. "To me this is about having a conversation with my larger family - the people of Greater Danbury who voted for me."

The 41-year old Bartlett was first elected to office two years ago. "I've always considered my life private," he said. "But at the same time we are also living in a digital age and I'm in the public eye. People are always interested in you and your family."

Bartlett has two grown sons and was already out to friends and family. Welcome, Rep. Bartlett!

Daily Grumble

I find it a little bit rude when your doctor finishes his annual examination of your keister, pulls off the rubber glove, and announces that he found your can to be "unremarkable." I understand that's an actual medical term meaning "everything is as it should be." But still.

Idol Season 7: No Sanjaya In Sight

Hoping to find this year's Sanjaya, I tuned into last night's American Idol for their all-guys show. (The all-girls show is tonight.) None of the 12 contestants seemed to have that wacky Sanjayacity that made last season the first one that I actually took an interest in, but I totally fell in love with 17 year-old puppy dog David Archuleta and his whole "aw, shucks...ME?...really?" schtick.

It's apparent that Archuleta is already this season's favorite to win. But over on Vote For The Worst, there's a bit of grumbling that Archuleta is a ringer, having won Star Search five years ago at the age of 12.

Everyone knows David Archuleta won Star Search when he was 12. But did you know that he competed against Alexandrea Lushington (yep, the same girl from this year's top 24) on the show and beat her? She was much better than him, but he had been pimped so much by the judges, they let him win. It looks like exactly what's going to happen this year! Not only that, American Idol has always been recycling Star Search contestants for their show. Among the reused contestants from the past are Lisa Tucker from season 5, hot mess Jessica Sierra and fro queen Nadia Turner from season 4's top 12, Joe Murena and Amanda Avila from season 4's top 24, and Tatiana McConnico who had her audition shown from season 6. With all of this lame recycling going on, American Idol should open a plant!

Knowing his extensive show-biz background makes Archuleta's perpetually bewildered act seem just that. And of course, his non-macho ways have spawned a cottage-industry of blog and forum postings speculating on his sexuality. Check out the comment wars on some of his YouTube clips for a good example of the "homophoboblogosphere." (I'll admit that my gaydar is pinging slightly too.) But his non-sexualized appeal seems calculated to draw in the 12 year-old girls, probably a winning Idol strategy. Thirty years ago, I'd totally have had his Tiger Beat cover shot hidden somewhere in my bedroom.

Obama Extends Streak To 9

The guy seems unstoppable at this point.

Senator Barack Obama decisively beat Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Wisconsin primary on Tuesday night, accelerating his momentum ahead of crucial primaries in Ohio and Texas and cutting into Mrs. Clinton’s support among women and union members.

With the two rivals now battling state by state over margins of victory and allotment of delegates, surveys of voters leaving the Wisconsin polls showed Mr. Obama, of Illinois, making new inroads with those two groups as well as middle-age voters and continuing to win support from white men and younger voters — a performance that yielded grim tidings for Mrs. Clinton, of New York.

But we're still riding it out to the convention.

The Snozzberries Taste Like Snozzberries!

You can stop licking your copy of Unzipped and proceed directly to People.

Madison Avenue thinks a tasty approach will give new life to Welch's grape juice. Welch's is taking out full-page print ads in People magazine this month that give readers a chance to sample its grape juice by licking the ad. The front of the advertisement shows a huge bottle of the juice, while the back has a strip that peels up and off, with text that reads: "For a TASTY fact, remove & LICK."

Marketers are excited about the prospects for lickable ads, but also have to deal with the "ick" factor. Since magazines are often passed from reader to reader (think doctors' offices) there is a good chance that saliva could be left on the ad. Readers are supposed to peel off the entire sticker on the Welch's ad before licking, says First Flavor, the company that developed the technology used in the ad. If someone doesn't rip off the whole sticker, First Flavor says, the flap can't reseal, giving people an easy way to know whether the ad has already been licked.

Next up: lickable blogs. You can taste the blather!

She Works Hard For The Money

Here's Hillary's latest campaign ad.

Caption This

Daily Grumble

So last night I was watching the History Channel's excellent documentary series The States. Oh, my embarrassment to learn that I've been mispronouncing "Nevada" my entire life. As the state license plate primly points out, it's Nevăda, with the middle "a" said like the "a" in "cat". Ne-VAD-ah. I've been saying "Ne-VAH-da." Dammit.

Swag Tuesday

As he is in the news today, it's fitting that today's Swag Tuesday giftie is a hand-printed Tim Gunn t-shirt from artist/blogger Chris Glass's company Wire & Twine. Chris drew the picture himself and says, "The winner would be able to choose any ladies or men's sized American Apparel heather gray shirt."

I've got a different Chris Glass original that always draws admiring attention at the bars. Enter to win by commenting on this post. Please remember to leave your email address. Publicists, if you'd like to take part in Swag Tuesday on JMG, please email me.

The Avis Of Valentines

6 Train, 8:30 am....

Girl 1: What did you get for Valentine's Day?
Girl 2: I didn't get shit.
Girl 1: David gave me a dozen roses and took me to Per Se.
Girl 2: Yeah, but he's fat, so he has to try harder.
Girl 1: This is true.

New Jersey's Civil Unions "Don't Work"

On the one-year anniversary of civil unions becoming legal in New Jersey, a state commission has released a report saying that civil unions don't work and that gay couples in Massachusetts don't have the same legal difficulties faced by those in New Jersey.

The commission found that many companies in the state that are self-insured, and thus regulated by federal rather than state law, refuse to provide health insurance to the partners of their employees.

"Civil union status is not clear to the general public, which creates a second-class status," the report found.

Social conservatives alleged the commission was slanted in favor of allowing gay marriage.

"They insist on using the state to jam their lifestyle down the throat of those who disagree with them," Merkt said. "Theirs is a divisive and ill-advised campaign that may well trigger a backlash from folks who are tired of the lobby's constant demands that law of marriage be changed for its sole benefit."

Garden State Equality is demanding that New Jersey grant full marriage rights by the end of this year. Governor Corsine has said he would sign such a bill, but doesn't want the issue brought up until after the presidential election.

Tim Gunn: Hillary Dresses Like A Man

Project Runway host Tim Gunn thinks that Hillary Clinton dresses like she's confused about her gender. The bit about Hillary starts about five minutes into the clip. Gunn closes by saying that Nancy Pelosi is the best-dressed person on Capitol Hill. That's......surprising.

Hillary Camp Says Obama Plagiarized

Hillary Clinton's communication director is accusing Barack Obama of plagiarizing a speech he gave on Saturday in Wisconsin from one given by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick in 2006

Barack Obama: "Don't tell me words don't matter. 'I have a dream' - just words? 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' - just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' - just words? Just speeches?"

Gov. Deval Patrick in 2006: "'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' - just words? Just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' - just words? 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.' Just words? 'I have a dream' - just words?"

Obama says that he and Patrick occasionally borrowed language from each other, but that he should have credited him. Patrick has endorsed Obama for president.

Nothing to see here, people.

Fidel Castro Resigns

Fidel Castro, 81, announced his retirement in Cuba's Granma newspaper today. The world's longest-serving president, Castro has been ruling Cuba for almost 49 years. Reaction in Miami was surprisingly muted:

A few people waved flags or honked their cars' horns, but little jubilation seemed evident as regular customers trickled into the Versailles and other restaurants and open-air coffee stands along Calle Ocho, Little Havana's main artery.

''I think people have accepted that he's sick, he's going to die,'' said Jose Lazcano, who left Cuba in 1965 when he was 4 years old. ``We've gotten used to the idea.'' Said Ray Orozco, an attorney who lives in the Brickell area: ``It's not just Fidel. There's an entire infrastructure in place there.''

But Garcia and others noted that Castro's brother and heir, Raúl, already has signaled a modest tendency to consider reform -- and cannot remain in power for very many years. ''I think this decision symbolizes possible change in the short term because even Raúl is already 75 years old,'' Garcia said. ``You can see it coming. In a year, more or less, we will see a transformation of things in Cuba.''

At least one Spanish-language radio station accompanied the news by playing songs of ''libertad'' -- liberty. ''El Aguila'' is out, announcers at 92.3 FM announced, referring to Castro by one of his many nicknames, the Eagle. Calls immediately flowed into the station. "Miami is eager for the end to Raúl and Fidel Castro and for there to be change,'' the announcer said in Spanish. Most other Spanish-language stations reported the news without embellishment.

This time last year when Castro appeared near death, the city of Miami planned to stage a giant party in the Orange Bowl when he died, so as to draw potentially violent celebrants off the streets.

HomoQuotable - John Cloud

"On Friday, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released a statement saying, in part, 'Our hearts go out to Lawrence's family — and to all young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender kids who are — right now, right this minute — being bullied and beaten in school while adults look the other way.' Another group, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) called for passage of the Matthew Shepard Act, which would dramatically increase the power of the federal government to prosecute hate crimes.

"But while King's short life and violent death are surpassingly sad, it's not clear that officials at E.O. Green Junior High, his school, 'looked the other way.' What's more, the task force is exaggerating the frequency of assaults on gay kids, the vast majority of whom make it through school safe and happy.

"GLSEN itself has published a great deal of survey data showing that most gay kids aren't suffering the way King did. Fully 78% of gay and transgender kids say they feel safe at school, according to a 2005 GLSEN report. According to another GLSEN survey released the same year, only 18% of gay and transgender students said they had ever been assaulted because of their sexual orientation (only 12% — probably many of the same kids — said they had been assaulted because of the way they express their gender). And of those who had been harassed or assaulted, more than one-fifth — 22% — said the incident wasn't serious enough to report. When they did report the incidents, the response from school staffs was positive about 70% of the time. That's not enough — it should be 100% — but it belies the dire picture painted by gay groups in the wake of King's killing.

[snip]

"We may never know the real motivations for King's murder. McInerney, the alleged killer, is being charged as an adult and, if convicted, will likely spend the rest of his childhood, and most of his adulthood, behind bars. He deserves harsh judgment. But his victim's heartbreaking life and death should be occasions for mourning, not legislation." - John Cloud, arguing in TIME that most LGBT youth are actually "thriving and happy most of the time." Cloud, who describes himself as a gay libertarian, opposes hate crimes legislation as "criminalizing people's thoughts."

Rice Queens, Potato Queens

CurrentTV has posted Rainbow Nation?, a narration-free clip of gay San Franciscans speaking quite frankly about the stereotypes surrounding gay Asian men, certainly one of the touchiest yet most-discussed topics in the Castro. I found the clip over on Little.Yellow.Different, where the always hilarious and thought-provoking Ernie Hsiung opens his commentary with: "That’s a way to get a response from me; create a video that starts out with the line, “Asian men have a lot of diseases [and] small penises."

It's interesting that so many of the interviewees bring up online profiles, where some people feel free to say things that they would die before saying to someone in person. Shameful and depressing. Ernie Hsiung runs a second blog, 8Asians, where some slight comic relief comes from one of the commenters who lobbed this barb at one of the guys in the clip: "To Mr. Eyebrow Piercing: Hello Tinkerbell, who are you calling effeminate?!" Touche', missy.

Bottom Heavy

Of course I had to click on a story titled "Ivory Coast's Big Bottom Craze." Turns out, it's a dance craze inspired by a hit song called Bobaraba, which means "big bottom" in English. Despite my disappointment, I mention it here anyway because of the of ancillary business spawned by the dance:

In the sprawling Adjame market just north of the city centre in Abidjan, women sell "bottom enhancers". "You need to inject this liquid into your bottom once a day," says a market trader, showing a vial of coloured liquid labelled "Vitamin B12".

Each vial costs $2. The label claims it is made in China. If you do not like the sound of injections, the same amount of money will also get you a small tub of cream. There is no description of what the product contains or how to apply it; just the words "Big bottoms and big breasts", and two illustrating pictures.

We ran into a guy at Hillside Campground last summer that had clearly been visiting that market in the Ivory Coast. And here we were guessing he'd had it done in Mexico.

Touch Therapy 4UNow, Must Travel

A Canadian minister has been found guilty of sexual assault for his "touch therapy" method of handling a young man struggling with his sexuality. And by "touch therapy" we mean "having sex with."

The alleged victim, now 29, told court he started meeting Lewis for counselling sessions in early 2000 after his parents caught him viewing gay pornography on the family computer.

Lewis — a family friend and minister — confided he had his own sexual identity issues and the two embarked on weekly counseling sessions designed to “assist me to be straight and to live a straight life,” the man said.

The man said Lewis started a program of “touch therapy,” which included the two kissing and fondling each other and engaging in sexual roleplaying.

“He said I was to tell no one about it because no one would understand,” the man testified. During “touch therapy” sessions in Lewis’ car, Lewis asked him to masturbate, the man said. Lewis also admitted to fantasizing about him, the man said.

Simenik said yesterday the men didn’t become sexually intimate until a year after they started seeing each other.

“It started as a friendship, evolved, they became closer ... two consenting adults involved in mutual intimacy,” Simenik said.

Over on Ex -Gay Watch, some commenters don't feel this young man is a victim. Opinions?

Daily Grumble

I'd like to know what kind of sadistic fucker thinks it's funny to stock all the back pain remedies on the bottom shelf an inch off the floor? That's all I got. That, and Thermacare is made of the awesome.

Morning View - Katz's Delicatessen

Non-Gothamites will know Katz's Delicatessen as the restaurant where Meg Ryan staged her famous faked orgasm in When Harry Met Sally. "I'll have what she's having." Get to Katz's for their famous one-pound pastrami-on-rye, where "requests for mayo are made at your peril." NY Times critic Frank Bruni gave the ancient joint a rave last year and managed to get in a hilarious dig at the same time: "It’s been around, after all, since 1888. That’s longer than Cindy Adams." Mee-ow.

According to restaurant lore, Katz's brought about the end of WWII via their "Send A Salami To Your Boy In The Army" promotion. When GI's ran out of live shells, they fired old Katz's salamis at the enemy, causing them to surrender en masse when they were overcome with the deliciousness.

Charles Barkley's Got Your Back

Retired NBA star Charles Barkley announced on CNN that he was sick of "fake Christians" and that he fully supports gay marriage. Barkley plans on running for governor of Alabama after he satisfies their seven-year residency requirement in 2014.

The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission is demanding an apology from Barkely, saying, "Ironically, Barkley engaged in the very activity of judging others that he condemned in conservatives. Barkley's words reveal an unfortunate, irrational anti-Christian bigotry." CNN host Wolf Blizter warns Barkely on this clip to expect that very response. Barkely: "They can't do anything to me. I don't work for them."

(Via- Pam's House Blend.)

Yesterday No More

Carpenters fans are plucking at their multi-tracked heartstrings over the impending demolition of the duo's family home, which was famously depicted on the cover of 1973's Now And Then album. The house is also where Karen collapsed shortly before dying of anorexia.

The family that bought the house from the Richard Carpenter in 1997 is fed up with gawking fans who leave flowers at the front door and attempt to peer in the windows. They plan to raze the home in order to build something larger. Calling the house a "Carpenter's Graceland", a coalition of devout fans is trying to get the house declared a landmark or at least get the dwelling moved to another location.

Manhattan Monday

- NYC is hurting for new cops. Could it be the $25K starting salary?

- Brooklyn's McCarren Pool, a nifty concert venue of late, is being turned back into a swimming pool. Yuppies in the hood rejoice.

- A scandal may be brewing over NYC's primary vote count. Unofficial tallies show zero votes cast for Barack Obama in about 80 election districts, including heavily black neighborhoods. A "formal review" is underway.

- Bloomberg says he'll refuse to enforce the city's new electronics recycling law, saying it violates a "whole bunch of federal laws on interstate commerce." The city council recently passed a law which fines electronics manufacturers $100 for people who throw their electronics in city trash. The law takes effect in two years. Apple is one of the few companies that actually endorse the plan.

- West Village residents are pissed about the volume of the loudspeakers on tour buses. Tour guides shrug and return to blasting misinformation.

- Manhattan's laundromats are disappearing, a victim of high rents and luxury buildings that offer in-unit appliances. Like most that still use laundromats, I lazily depend on the wash-and-fold service. Even lazier, I make them deliver even though the one I use is in the basement of my own building. The clothes come back shrink-wrapped!

Lawrence King Remembered At Two Large Gatherings

A total of over 1000 people gathered at two locations on Friday and Saturday in Oxnard, California to honor the memory of Lawrence King, 15, an openly gay middle-school student who was shot in the head last Tuesday by Brandon McInerney, a 14 year-old fellow 8th grader. New reports suggest that days before the shooting King may have told McInerney that he had a crush on him.

Blue was Larry King's favorite color eye shadow.

Along with his signature black, high-heeled boots and varying shades of lipstick, friends say he wore dramatic makeup and dressed more flamboyantly in the last two weeks before he was shot to death by a classmate at an Oxnard middle school.

The cosmetics added a quirkiness to his personality, friends said. But they didn't define the 15-year-old boy Melissa Castillo knew. "He didn't know he had a lot of friends," Castillo said. "We all thought he was funny but not in a mocking way. We all really liked him. I wish he knew that." Castillo was standing with four of her friends at a candlelight vigil to honor Larry King, held in Ventura Friday night.

The 15-year-old E.O. Green Junior High School eighth-grader was perceived by classmates as a gay or cross-dressing student who had been bullied. "He didn't have to tell me; I saw it. We all saw it," Castillo said.

Video taken at the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance candlelight vigil for Lawrence King:
A separate memorial was organized by students. Via the Los Angeles Times:

The Goths in their black T-shirts were there. So were the punks with fluorescent hair and multiple piercings. There were even a few adolescent boys carrying skateboards among the nearly 1,000 Oxnard youth and other supporters who turned out Saturday for a hastily organized peace march to pay tribute to Lawrence King, 15, the Oxnard student shot to death in a classroom last week.

"Larry, Larry, Larry!" the crowd chanted before marchers clasped hands in a moment of silence for the fallen student.

There were no bullhorns, no speeches and no politicians. Just a mass of mostly adolescents wearing bright clothing, carrying signs and singing John Lennon's "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance."

The size of the turnout surprised police, school officials and even the two Hueneme High School sophomores who put the event together just three days ago, spreading the word with fliers, cellphone calls and MySpace bulletins.

"We were expecting maybe 100 or 200 people," said Courtney LaForest, 16, as she gazed at a broad "peace circle" formed by march participants at Plaza Park in downtown Oxnard. "This is incredible."

Courtney said the turnout reflected a community's anguish over a senseless shooting that has destroyed the lives of two young men. It was also a public plea for tolerance on school campuses for those who are different, she said.

"I didn't know Larry. A lot of people here didn't know him," she said. "We are saying you don't need to accept people who are gay, but you should tolerate them."

King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School in south Oxnard, had revealed he was gay this school year. In recent weeks, he had begun accessorizing his school uniform with feminine items and was often teased by other students, several of his classmates said.

"What he did was really brave -- to wear makeup and high-heeled boots," said Erin Mings, 12, who hung out with King at the school. "Every corner he turned around, people were saying, 'Oh, my god, he's wearing makeup today.'"