Saturday, April 12, 2008

Sprunged

We are fully sprunged today in NYC and the Upper East Side is bustling with people in shorts. Not much of a winter, was it? Just a few days of meager snow and a couple of bitterly cold weekends. Meh. The little girls up the block have got their lemonade stand back in business, raising money for "Bring A Baby To Israel", which is actually a group that works to reduce abortions in Israel by giving money to destitute pregnant women. And here I thought they were shipping kids OUT of the UES. Both are noble causes, to my mind.

Labels: , ,


Extra Plush

Ten seconds after I change the pillowcase, she's back on it. This is why I wake up with a mouth full of hair every morning. Just like at Lazy Bear.

Labels:


Hopefully Faster

After nosing around on some techie forums, I've learned that the Red Lasso videos I've been embedding have been causing a lot of sites to lock up. Therefore, I've removed those videos and reduced the numbers of days' posts on the main page from ten to five. JMG should load for you now in 10 seconds or less*. Heh. "Load."

*But I still recommend the upgrade to the beta version of Firefox 3.5. I'm finding it quite zippy.

Labels: , , ,


Friday, April 11, 2008

Governator: I Will Fight Gay Marriage Foes

Well, this is a suh-weet way to end the week!

Speaking to the annual Log Cabin Republicans convention in San Diego, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said that if the current initiative to ban gay marriage in California makes it to the November ballot, he will fight against its passage.

Gay journalist Rex Wockner quotes Schwarzenegger as saying: "Well, first of all, I think that it would never happen in California because I think that California people are much further along with that issue. And, number two, I will always be there to fight against that. I think we need a constitutional amendment so that foreign-born citizens can run for president, but not about gay marriage. That's a total waste of time."

The Governator's pledge drew loud cheers from conventioneers, with LCR president Patrick Sammon saying afterwards, "The topic was planned, the answer was not. I'm excited and delighted." The was the first time Schwarzenegger has spoken out against the ballot drive, although his spokesperson said that he has held the view for some time.

Schwarzenegger is currently the defendant in a suit brought by same-sex couples fighting the state's current statutory ban on gay marriage. That case should be ruled upon by the California Supreme Court shortly. The governor has twice vetoed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage, saying the issue should be up to the voters or the courts.

Dare we grant even a partial credit to the Log Cabin Republicans with this development? They appear to be as surprised by this as the rest of us, but they did provide Ah-nold with the forum to "come out" against the ballot drive.

Labels: , , , , ,


Vodka Flap Gets Stupider And Stupider

On the Boycott Absolut site they are linking to the Americans For Legal Immigration who say:
History was made today when American made SKYY Vodka sent out a press release proudly supporting the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and criticizing Absolut for their offensive advertising in Mexico.

"This is the first time we have ever seen an American brand stand up, recognize, and support US Sovereignty against an import that is pandering to illegal immigration supporters," said William Gheen of ALIPAC. "We want to thank SKYY Vodka for showing themselves as a patriotic and top shelf alternative to Absolut."

The National Illegal Immigration Boycott Coalition (NIIBC) plans to incorporate the news from SKYY Vodka into their boycott website at www.boycottabsolut.com All coalition groups will be encouraged to share this historic news. All boycott supporters will now be encouraged to try SKYY Vodka, as a show of thanks to the American brand for standing up for Americans!

"I like SKYY Vodka!", said William Gheen. "It is great to be able to have an occasional martini without contributing to a Global corporation, like Absolut, that is encouraging the invasion of my nation."
Yeah. Absolut, totally encouraging the invasion of America. Here's what the folks at SKYY, who in sly and subtle piss-take on the whole situation, actually say:
In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the Mexican-America War (1846-1848). With the signing of this treaty, the United States gained control of what was to become the Golden West, including California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and parts of Colorado and New Mexico. Today, SKYY® Vodka, the number-one vodka produced in the United States, spoke out against suggestions by Absolut® Vodka to disregard that treaty, as well as the joining of Texas to the Union in 1845, as depicted in Absolut’s recent advertising.

“Like SKYY Vodka, the residents of states like California, Texas and Arizona are exceptionally proud of the fact that they are from the United States of America,” said Dave Karraker, SKYY Vodka. “To imply that they might be interested in changing their mailing addresses, as our competitor seems to be suggesting in their advertising, is a bit presumptuous.”

In the ad, an “Absolut World” is depicted where the map of North America is re-drawn with Mexico claiming much of the Western United States, negating the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, as well as the Gadsden Purchase (1853), and the independence of Texas (1836).

“Don’t get me started on the Gadsden Purchase,” continues Karraker. “I think the folks in Tucson and Yuma would be rubbed the wrong way if they hear this landmark deal was somehow nullified as suggested by Absolut, a Swedish-owned brand.”

The best satire is hard to detect, so we can forgive SKYY for going over the heads of the moronic bigots behind the Absolut boycott. But the "don't get me started" should have been a giveaway.

Labels: , , , ,


AFA: No Hotel Porn For You

The American Family Association, fresh off their Ford boycott, is now turning their guns on the gay and straight porn that Marriott Hotels offers on its pay-per-view system.
The AFA, based in Tupelo, said 47 "pro-family leaders'' have signed a letter asking chain's chief executive, J.W. Marriott Jr., for a meeting to discuss their concerns. Marriott was told that stopping "porn movies'' would be in keeping with the corporation's position of "promoting the well-being of children and families,'' AFA said in a news release.

Marriott's website says the hotel chain has about 3,000 properties in the U.S. and 67 other countries and territories. AFA said most of these hotels offer in-room movies with pornographic content. Roger Conner, vice president of communications for Marriott International, said Thursday the company would review the group's letter and the request for a meeting. Conner said Marriott and most hotel chains offer in-room entertainment that includes a wide range of films and "just one of those is adult offerings."

"Every guest can quickly and easily block out just the adult movie offering by either calling the front desk or using their (TV) remote pad in the room," Conner said. "It does not appear at all if the guest does not want the offering.''
UNRELATED: I've never ordered in-room porn, but the last time I was in a hotel, the "most viewed" title among the offerings was Camel-Toe Ho. We fell off the bed laughing.

Labels: , , , , , ,


At The Log Cabin Convention

[ABOVE: San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders (left) with Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon. Photo by Rex Wockner.]

Gay journalist Rex Wockner attended the Log Cabin Republicans' annual convention in San Diego yesterday, where Mayor Jerry Sanders gave the welcoming remarks. (You may recall Sanders' very moving change of heart on gay marriage last year.) Wockner spoke with LCR President Patrick Sammon about Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Sammon:
"We understand that it's an education process on [marriage] but Gov. Schwarzenegger has signed more pro-gay bills than any governor in American history," Sammon said. "I understand the rationale he's used for vetoing the [marriage] bills. It doesn't mean I agree with it but I understand the rationale. ... I'm more focused on what happens if there's an affirmative [California Supreme] Court ruling [on same-sex marriage] by June 5 -- what's the governor's position going to be on an [voter-initiated constitutional] amendment to possibly roll back whatever decision is made? ... I'm optimistic that marriage equality can be achieved in California and I'm optimistic that we can have a successful effort to defeat this amendment or, hopefully, keep it off the ballot."
And unsurprisingly, the LCR plans to endorse John McCain.
"We're pleased he was nominated. Our posture during this campaign was stopping Mitt Romney. We're proud of the role we played with our ad campaign and, you know, Sen. McCain, we endorsed him in his Senate re-election in 2004; in 2000 a lot of our members were very supportive of his campaign, and certainly this time as well. We know he's someone who's an inclusive Republican who understands the party needs to get back to its core principles and we are excited about the campaign ahead."
Schwarzenegger and former U.S. Ambassador John Bolton will speak to the Cabinettes today.

Labels: , , ,


Not Bears, Manatees

Bears and chubby chasers have a new reason to watch baseball. The Manatees are the Florida Marlins' new 16-man "plus size" cheerleading troupe.
FIFTEEN men auditioned. Fifteen made the cut. Few could tell an eight-count from a pivot turn, but no matter: Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for the Manatees, Major League Baseball’s first all-male, plus-size dance troupe.

When the Florida Marlins play the New York Mets at Dolphin Stadium in Miami on Monday, they will embark on a new season laden with all of the comfortingly familiar characters and rituals. But on this opening day, and at every Friday night home game that follows, the Manatees will strut their stuff in front of a larger audience than most dancers dream about.

“Every now and then you’ve got to score one for the big guys,” said Angel Villarreal, who initially dismissed the Manatees as “a goof” when he received an e-mail message soliciting supersize Marlins fans. “I felt like that ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit when Chris Farley is trying out for the Chippendales.”
Hollywood is already interested in doing a movie about the Manatees. By the way, I love that the New York Times posted this in their "Dance" section.

Labels: , ,


Hanes' "Lipstick" Campaign

JMG reader Chris found this Hanes creative on Ads of The World. The tagline: "Because the world gives you enough labels." The name of the campaign: "Lipstick". The ad was created by the Bombay division of McCann Erickson. Strangely compelling image. Is that a dildo? Anybody seen this in American press? I can't imagine even the gay press allowing the word "faggot" to appear in an ad, but in this context, who knows?

UPDATE: Two more ads in the campaign were just dug up by Andy Towle.



Trendhunter:
Wow, what a stupid stupid stupid campaign! Hanes thinks you should buy their Original Tagless Comfort underwear “Because the world gives you enough tags.”

A smart idea I must admit, playing on the social tags to promote tagless undies is very creative. But what a stupid delivery! I believe the mere use of such hateful tags to promote underwear is a foolish, immature and cheap way to garner publicity for this controversial campaign, but they go even further with illustrations and slogans that make matters worse.

In Fagg*t, you see same-sex kissing, debauchery, toys, bottles of wine and references to beauty: lipstick, nail polish and makeup. In Nigg*r, you see drugs, guns, jail cells, low-life jobs like cleaning toilets, and text about being HIV positive. In Pak! (a demeaning name for people from Pakistan), you see tanks, bullets, bombs and pigs (an anti-Islamic reference).

Such a campaign would never be approved in Europe or America, where the use of such hateful references is a big ‘No No’, even when you are trying to use it in a positive light. The campaign was created by an Indian advertising agency (Mccann Erickson, Bombay, India).

Labels: ,


Dick Sees Chicks

A White House-issued photo of Vice President Dick Cheney fly-fishing in Idaho has the blogosphere buzzing over the reflection in Cheney's sunglasses. Is it a naked woman? The White House says it's the VP's hand. The top four votes in an AOL poll: naked woman, alien overlord, not Dick Cheney, photoshopping trick.

Labels: ,


Poll: McCain And Dems Tied

According to this week's poll, John McCain is now tied with both Obama and Clinton.
Republican Sen. John McCain has erased Sen. Barack Obama's 10-point advantage in a head-to-head matchup, leaving him essentially tied with both Democratic candidates in an Associated Press-Ipsos national poll released Thursday.

The survey showed the extended Democratic primary campaign creating divisions among supporters of Obama and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and suggests a tight race for the presidency in November no matter which Democrat becomes the nominee.

McCain is benefiting from a bounce since he clinched the GOP nomination a month ago. The four-term Arizona senator has moved up in matchups with each of the Democratic candidates, particularly Obama.

An AP-Ipsos poll taken in late February had Obama leading McCain 51-41 percent. The current survey, conducted April 7-9, had them at 45 percent each. McCain leads Obama among men, whites, Southerners, married women and independents.

Clinton led McCain, 48-43 percent, in February. The latest survey showed the New York senator with 48 percent support to McCain's 45 percent. Factoring in the poll's margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, Clinton and McCain are statistically tied.
McCain has been ubiquitous on national chat shows for the last two weeks. His personal charm is clearly helping voters overlook his pro-war position. And the Dems can do nothing right.

Labels: , , ,


Maine In Fight Against Rights Rollback

Maine's wingnuts not only want to pass a ban on gay marriage, they want to roll back all gay rights laws. The Christian Civic League has until January to raise 55,000 signatures to get their referendum placed on the 2009 ballot. Here's the proposed intiative from Mike Heath (left), Executive Director of the Christian Civic League:
Proposed: "Do you want to protect traditional marriage and eliminate special rights in Maine?"

Summary: The initiative would limit marriage to one man and one woman. It would forbid the establishment of civil unions and change adoption law so that only one person, or a married couple, may adopt. The measure would remove the designation "sexual orientation" from the Maine Human Rights Act and eliminate state funding for the Attorney General's civil rights teams.
Maine did not achieve protections for gay people until March 2005, after which the wingnuts immediately forced a veto referendum in which the new law was upheld by a slim 55% majority.

Labels: , , , ,


Morning View - Annie

I found this Star Wars ad on a phone booth in Chelsea. I suppose some could view it as anti-gay in the "getting called a girl's name will make you a killer" sort of way, but I have to wonder if the ad wasn't deliberately placed in the gayborhood as an in-joke amongst queers. I suspect the latter.

Labels: , ,


Thursday, April 10, 2008

Fun With Shoppers

Food Emporium, 1st & 72nd, 7pm

I'm standing in the bread aisle when a package of hot dogs comes flying past me and slams into the display, making me jump.

Seething Man: Why the FUCK do they sell hot dogs when they don't sell BUNS?!?

Joe (piquantly): Why the fuck do they sell light bulbs when they don't sell lamps?

He was probably right to call me an asshole.

Labels: , ,


Doin' It Right, Night After Night

For some disco history, head over to PopDose where JMG blog-pal John Hughes has just posted a great piece on Donna Summer's unmatched reign of 1979's pop charts, when she scored three #1's out of five Billboard Top Five smashes. John makes special note of Bad Girls album track Sunset People, which is easily the most popular Donna Summer track never to be a single.

Go to PopDose for a free download of Sunset People and edumacate yourself to the song that had all the gay boys bumping that year. John's also dug up a campy video of Sunset People/Bad Girls from Summer's Bad Girls TV special. Can it have been almost 30 years? I can still remember sitting in traffic and ripping the shrink-wrap off my cover of Bad Girls because I couldn't wait until I got home.

For the record, Bad Girls is my 4th favorite Donna Summer album, behind 1977's Once Upon A Time (my #1 all-time album, period), 1976's Love Trilogy, and I Remember Yesterday, also from 1977. Can you imagine one of today's artists being so prolific and yet so consistently good? Donna Summer's new album Crayons, her first new studio album in 17 years, will be released on May 20th and the advance word is great.

Labels: , , , ,


McCain: I'd Boycott The Olympics

On today's episode of The View, John McCain said that if he were president today, he'd boycott the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. McCain: "I would say right now it depends on Chinese behavior. Unless there is some progress with the Dalai Lama, including conversations with him, including stopping this brutal crackdown that we're seeing in Tibet, then I would make the decision not to go." However, McCain did not call on President Bush to not attend, as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have done.

Labels: , , ,


Fox's Red Eye Show Goes On Grotesque Attack Against Thomas Beatie

This is completely disgusting and over the top, even for Fox News. "When he pushes that baby out, I hope it's the worst experience in his life. I hope the blood vessels pop in his eyes. I hope it is SO painful." Watch Fox New's Red Eye cast as they wish that Thomas Beatie commits suicide. There are too many disturbing epithets and horrible comments to quote.

Labels: , , ,


"One Small Loss Of A Music Space, One Large Step For Pants"

Over the weekend a small group of activists protested on the sidewalk outside the opening of the new John Varvatos boutique in the old CBGB's space in the East Village.

One protester said the issue isn't just about CBGB's, it's "about Tonic closing, and Fez, Theater Club Nada and Charas...about Copacabana being forced from their space by the city using eminent domain. These are not abandoned dusty relics. These are places that still cater to strong and vibrant, burgeoning communities. They are being ousted by people creating a Disneyworld, expensive version of the real culture that was here."

In a nod to former CBGB performers, Varatos is using Iggy Pop as a model. That's something, I guess.

(Via - Gothamist)

Labels: , , , , ,


Anti-Gay Photog Loses Case In New Mexico

Elaine Huguenin, the New Mexico photographer who refused to work a lesbian wedding, has been found guilty of discrimination by the state's Human Rights Commission and ordered to pay $6600 in attorney fees and court costs. The case has outraged both libertarians and conservatives.

From The Volokh Conspiracy :
I haven't seen any written statement of reasons, but the order must implicitly rest on two interpretations of state law: (1) This sort of photography company constitutes a "public accommodation," defined by state law "any establishment that provides or offers its services, facilities, accommodations or goods to the public, but does not include a bona fide private club or other place or establishment that is by its nature and use distinctly private." (2) A refusal to photograph a same-sex commitment ceremony constitutes sexual orientation discrimination, which New Mexico law forbids. These may or may not be sensible interpretations of the statutory text. But the result seems to me to likely violate the First Amendment (though there's no precedent precisely on point).
From The Liberty Papers:
[T]his case points out the extent to which so-called “economic” rights, such as the right to decide who you do business with, have been eroded over the past 50 years. There is no reason that Ms. Huguenin should be forced to take on a job she doesn’t want to take. What if, instead of citing the same-sex nature of the ceremony, she has simply said she was too busy to take on the project ? Presumably, that would have been a legitimate reason to turn it down, and if that’s the case, then I see no reason why she should be forced to work for these people just because she doesn’t approve of their lifestyle.
From Stop The ACLU:
Consider a few analogies: Imagine a black photographer being forced by the “human rights” commission to photograph a KKK rally. Imagine pro-abortion sign-maker being forced to print pro-life signs. Imagine Stop the ACLU being forced to run Code Pink ads.…and on and on…This is an outrageous affront to the First Amendment, which protects not just the right to privately hold certain beliefs, but to live them out publicly. This sort of coercion and punishment is fit, not for the United States, but for the worst totalitarian regimes.

Labels: , , , ,


Motown Protects Transgenders

Detroit has become the latest large city to pass transgender protections. The city council voted 7-1 yesterday to amend the existing non-discrimination laws that already protect gays and lesbian, adding gender identity.

Labels: , , ,


Obama Says Nothing New To Advocate

UPDATE: One paragraph in the interview is bringing wide media attention. In it, Obama says that he won't make the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a "litmus test" for his potential Joint Chiefs of Staff appointees.

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund agrees with Obama's position. Victory Fund spokesperson Denis Dison says, “In terms of any kind of litmus test for his appointees, I think Obama is correct that the most important qualifications for those jobs are that they agree with his view of how best to protect the country … and other policy issues necessarily take a backseat to that main goal." Dison emailed me to emphasize that the Victory Fund has not endorsed any candidate.

I had thought that Obama had already stated that his appointees wouldn't necessarily be bound to his own personal positions. So maybe this bit IS new.

-----------------------------------------------

The Advocate's interview with Barack Obama is up. An excerpt:
The Advocate: Let’s start with what’s hot, why the silence on gay issues? You’ve only done one other interview with the LGBT press. I know people wish they were hearing more from you.

Sen. Obama: I don’t think it’s fair to say silence on gay issues. The gay press may feel like I’m not giving them enough love. But basically, all press feels that way at all times. Obviously, when you’ve got limited amount of time, you’ve got so many outlets. We tend not to do a whole bunch of specialized press. We try to do general press for a general readership.

But I haven’t been silent on gay issues. What’s happened is, I speak oftentimes to gay issues to a public general audience. When I spoke at Ebenezer Church for King Day, I talked about the need to get over the homophobia in the African-American community, when I deliver my stump speeches routinely I talk about the way that antigay sentiment is used to divide the country and distract us from issues that we need to be working on, and I include gay constituencies as people that should be treated with full honor and respect as part of the American family.

So I actually have been much more vocal on gay issues to general audiences than any other presidential candidate probably in history. What I probably haven’t done as much as the press would like is to put out as many specialized interviews. But that has more to do with our focus on general press than it does on … I promise you the African-American press says the same thing.

[snip]

The Advocate: Do you have any regrets about the South Carolina tour? People there are still sort of mystified that you gave Donnie McClurkin the chance to get up on stage and do this, and he did go on sort of an antigay rant there.

Sen. Obama: I tell you what, my campaign is premised on trying to reach as many constituencies as possible, and to go into as many places as possible and sometimes that creates discomfort or turbulence. This goes back to your first question. If you’re segmenting your base into neat categories and constituency groups and you never try to bring them together and you just speak to them individually -- so I keep the African-Americans neatly over here and the church folks neatly over there and the LGBT community neatly over there -- then these kinds of issues don’t arise.
From what I can tell, no new ground is broken in the interview. Obama talks about repealing DADT, repealing DOMA, and how tough it will be to get a transgender-inclusive ENDA passed in Congress - all familiar positions from him. Maybe that's why he hasn't had anything to say to the gay press for six months.

Labels: , , , , , , ,


Morning View - Port Authority Bus Terminal

The Port Authority Bus Terminal, located on 42nd Street just west of Times Square, is the biggest bus terminal in the United States and serves more people than any bus station in the world, with over 7200 buses and 200,000 people passing through every weekday. For millions of people, the first steps they take in Manhattan are inside the Port Authority.

The Port Authority sold the air rights over the north wing (pictured) in 2007 and soon a massive tower will rise above the terminal, to be completed in 2012. The area around the Port Authority used to be considered the most dangerous in Manhattan, but the gentrification of Times Square has turned the corner into a busy confluence of tourism and chain restaurants.

Labels: ,


Open Thread Thursday

What's your most prized (non-living) possession?

Labels:


Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Elton Delivers $2.5M For Hillary

Playing to over 5000 fans, Elton John's fundraising concert for Hillary Clinton raised over $2.5M at Radio City Music Hall tonight. Average ticket price: $500.
"I've always been a Hillary supporter," John, 61, said before launching into his 1970 breakthrough hits, "Your Song" and "Border Song." "There is no one more qualified to lead America." The English singer, composer and pianist added: "I'm amazed by the misogynistic attitudes of some of the people in this country. And I say to hell with them .... I love you Hillary, I'll be there for you."

The cheapest tickets, $125 and $250, sold out quickly, campaign aides said. The other seats were filled by fans paying as much as $2,300, the limit for an individual's contribution to a federal candidate. Preceding John on stage were Clinton, her husband, former President Clinton, and their daughter, Chelsea. Hillary Clinton struck a defiant, underdog note in describing her battle against Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

"What I want you to know is I'm still standing [JMG: groan], and I believe this country is worth fighting for," the New York senator said, playing off the title of one of John's hits. "So we're taking our campaign to Pennsylvania and all the states that haven't voted." Pennsylvania votes April 22.

You have to wonder if Elton played his 1974 smash, The Bitch Is Back. Bet he didn't.

Labels: , , ,


Back In The New York Groove

Debbie Harry and former Toilet Böys lead singer Miss Guy performed Kiss member Ace Frehley's solo 1978 hit New York Groove at Monday's NGLTF New York Leadership Awards. New York Groove will appear on Miss Guy's upcoming album and you can stream the single on his MySpace page.

And here's Debbie Harry's lovely latest single, If I Had You, from Necessary Evil.

Labels: , , , , ,


Out & Advocate Sold To Here Networks

PlanetOut has announced the sale of Out and Advocate magazines to New York-based gay cable channel Here Networks for $6M cash, payable in monthly installments beginning this month. PlanetOut will retain Gay.com and PlanetOut.com, a mere fraction of its formerly sprawling holdings which included adult magazine publisher Spec Pubs and gay cruise company RSVP. Last month PlanetOut put Expedia in charge of booking travel on its websites.

PlanetOut reported a loss of $51.7M in 2007, with an accumulated deficit of over $89M. The company reported having 237 employees at the end of last year. Let's hope Here Networks has better luck running the magazine side.

Labels: , , , , ,


Gay HIV+ Veteran To Carry Olympic Torch Through San Francisco

John Caldera, an openly gay HIV+ Navy veteran will carry the Olympic torch today for a portion of its route through San Francisco, the torch's only U.S. stop.
Caldera told the Bay Area Reporter Thursday, April 3 that he was unaware if any other torchbearers will be members of the LGBT community. So far the list of people selected has not been released, and calls to David Perry, a San Francisco-based gay man hired to handle local media requests about the torch relay, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The torch's visit is its only stop in North America and has elicited controversy for weeks, as protesters ranging from Falun Gong to pro-Tibet groups and those upset with China's dealings with Darfur have tangled with city officials over permits to demonstrate along the relay route. The recent crisis in Tibet, where protesters clashed with Chinese security officers, has also heightened tensions around the torch's visit.
After last weekend's massive protests forced the torch onto a bus for much of its tour of England and France, San Francisco officials are ready for similar demonstrations today. Caldera: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No one in my family has been a torchbearer. Those who want to protest should be able to protest. I just hope I don't get hit with tomatoes."

If I recall correctly from my days in SF, John is also a former Mr. California Bear or some similar title. So the headline should probably read "Gay HIV+ Navy Veteran Bear To Carry Torch." Congrats to John and let's hope he's treated well.

(Via - Bay Area Reporter)

Labels: , , ,


Final Filth: April 16th

Next Wednesday, April 16th, I'll be performing again at Rapture Book's Dean Johnson's Reading For Filth: Queer Writers Read About Queer Sex series. Joining me will be your favorite hairy hottie Eric Leven (left) in our fourth show together.

Sadly, this will be the last installment in the series for now, as Rapture Books will be closing on April 24th. Owner Joe Birdsong has promised to seek other venues for the unique shows that made Rapture a vibrant community space in its mere two years of existence. I'll announce the rest of the show's bill when I know it. Please consider attending.

Labels: , , , , , ,


Advocate To Publish Obama Interview

Just days after the Philadelphia Gay News published a large blank section on their front page to protest Barack Obama's unwillingness to speak to the gay press, the Dallas Voice has confirmed that The Advocate has conducted an interview to be posted on their site tomorrow. It is Obama's first interview with the gay press since he discussed the Donnie McClurkin debacle with The Advocate over six months ago. I'll excerpt the interview here once it goes up.

Labels: , , ,


Lesbian Candidate To Be "Most Powerful Prosecutor In Texas"

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is announcing that their endorsee Rosemary Lehmberg has won the Democratic runoff for District Attorney of Travis County, Texas. With no Republican opponent in the fall election, Lehmberg is now the presumptive winner of the post. Lehmberg has worked in the Travis County district attorney's office for 31 years and has said that she will rarely seek the death penalty in her new position. Travis County includes the capital of Texas, Austin.

Labels: , ,


PFLAG: Sally Kern Is A Liar

And they have the tape to prove it. Remember when we got all misty-eyed when PFLAG met with Sally Kern and reported that she told them that gay folks shouldn't be fired for being gay? And then she denied having said it?
On Wednesday, Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays will be releasing an audio recording of a March 27th meeting that took place between Oklahoma House Rep. Sally Kern and a group of Oklahoman PFLAG parents. PFLAG has confirmed with PageOneQ that the recording, which was made with Kern's consent, will contradict her account of the discussion.

The meeting was arranged in the wake of Rep. Kern's controversial remarks about gays and lesbians at what she thought would be an off-the-record meeting exclusively for her supporters. Afterwards, the organization's national office released statements that indicated the lawmaker believed no one should be fired for being gay or lesbian. Additionally, said PFLAG, Kern agreed to consider another meeting with PFLAG parents in her district. Following the accounts of the meetings, Kern denied two things: stating that she would mull another meeting, and saying that gay and lesbian workers should not be fired.

"Representative Kern launched a personal attack on the credibility of Oklahoma's PFLAG families," said PFLAG Director of Communications Steve Ralls. "Yet the audio recording of her meeting with our Oklahoma City supporters tells, quite clearly, the real story of what she said.

"The evidence – in Kern's own words – leaves nothing in doubt," Ralls added. "It's another classic Kern moment caught on tape, and an undeniable validation of PFLAG's report from our families' sit-down with Sally."
PFLAG will release the entire 40-minute audio of the tape so that Kern cannot claim her remarks were edited. Another good Christian bearing false witness. Anybody shocked?

UPDATE: Here's part one of the audio. Get the rest here.


(Via - PageOneQ)

Labels: , , , , ,


Elton John Intervenes

Elton John is playing a fundraiser concert for Hillary Clinton at Radio City Music Hall tonight in a show that has raised questions about the Federal Election Campaign Act which seeks to limit "foreign intervention" in American elections.
The FECA "prohibits any foreign national from contributing, donating or spending funds in connection with any federal, state, or local election in the United States, either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment."
The Clinton campaign contends that it has fully complied with the act and is paying all of the "back of house" costs for the show, with all tickets sales going to Hillary. The $125 and $300 tickets are sold out, with tickets for $500 - $2300 still available. The top ticket price matches the maximum amount that American individuals can contribute to a campaign.

The Clinton campaign says that Elton's "volunteering his uncompensated time" is within the law and an FEC spokesperson agrees. However, many bloggers from both the right and left are disputing the legality of the show, arguing that Elton's uncompensated performance constitutes a real donation to the Clinton campaign.

Labels: , , ,


The Two Hillarys

You may recall me posting a photo of my primary election vote for Hillary Clinton, in which I demonstrated by uncertainty with crossed fingers. I still think she would make a wonderful president. And I think Obama would too. But this cartoon expresses my feelings today. As some of you said in yesterday's Ellen Degeneres post, I'd like to see more of THAT Hillary than the one that prompts this kind of political cartoon. However, I'm not holding my breath.

Labels: , ,


A Familiar Fight In Florida

Florida is going through its own version of the ENDA-T battle.
Legislation that would prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in employment, housing and public accommodations throughout Florida passed a key Senate committee on Tuesday. With the support of both Democrats and Republicans the Senate Commerce Committee approved the bill by a vote of 7 to 1.

"Today's vote is truly historic," said Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. "This demonstrates that Florida lawmakers are finally beginning to understand the need for a statewide law prohibiting discrimination faced by the LGBT community."

The Council is a non-profit organization which has been in the forefront of Florida's gay rights movement for more than twenty years. The bill, however, does not include gender identity, prompting a number of LGBT groups to oppose it. "After conferring with his colleagues last year, Senator [Ted] Deutch (D) determined that if the Senate bill included gender identity, it would be dead on arrival," said Hoch.

"Over the past twenty years, the Council has learned that we work with supportive lawmakers, we should defer to them on legislative strategy." A House version of the bill introduced by Rep. Kelly Skidmore (D) is transgender-inclusive. "That is the legislation that ultimately must be signed into law," said Hoch. Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has not yet indicated whether he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.
You have wonder how much the Thomas "Pregnant Man" Beatie story will impact upcoming battles for transgender inclusion in these bills.

Labels: , , ,


Morning View - Subway Ad

I don't know how my brain is trained these days, but after I got about 20 feet past this ad in the 68th Street station, I had to turn around and go back because I thought it was for gay porn. Maybe because I'd been on Eighth Avenue in Chelsea last night.

Labels: ,


Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Another Absolut Campaign Wounds Wingnuts

Absolut is already back in hot water with the wingnuts, thanks to this new campaign which winks at cock size.

Here's what the Absolut rep says about this new "Ruler" campaign: "As a long-time supporter of the gay and lesbian community, we acknowledge that you can’t simply speak to gay men and lesbians as consumers, but instead need to make real connections to their lives which
we believe we are achieving with our new creative executions. As a company, we respect gay men and lesbians not simply in advertising messages, but behind the scenes as well. We’re not gay-washing here."

And here's what the Freepers are already saying:

- "These fools are determined to make sure that I won’t buy any of their products. First the Mexican map now supporting queers. You’d think they were in competition with McDonalds."

- "Perhaps they are exploring a new niche market for their product - promoting it as a disinfectant after having gay sex...."

- "To me, these ads are more or less as offensive to me as if Absolut ran ads advocating child sexual abuse or extoling the vitrues of the Third Reich. WHAT ON EARTH HAS HAPPENED TO MY CULTURE?"

Say it with me, children: Oh, fucking brother.

Labels: , , ,


New York Governor David Paterson's Video Message To The Task Force

Here's the video that Gov. Paterson sent to last night's New York Leadership Awards.

I think he's fantastic.

Labels: , , , ,


Sen.Vitter On DC Madam's Witness List

David Vitter (the married, family values, hooker hiring, gay marriage ban voting, diaper fetishist Republican Senator from Louisiana) may be called to testify on behalf of the madam accused on running a DC-based prostitution ring. Deborah Palfrey is accused of racketeering and money-laundering.

Also on Palfrey's witness list is Harlan Ullman, the military strategist who came up with the "shock & awe" tactic used in the invasion of Iraq. Lawyers are expected to walk witnesses through some "embarrassing and graphic personal details" of their encounters with the ladies in Palfrey's employ.

Vitter has admitted his patronage of Palfrey's hookers, but has ducked all questions regarding the specifics of his appointments, although his hired ladies have not been so discreet, revealing the Senator's fondness for diaper play. Let's hope we get to hear the story in Vitter's own humiliated words. "Senatoh needs a new die-pee, Mommy."

Labels: , , , , , ,


Daily Ungrumble

I'm being told by readers that the Beta version of Firefox 3 has fixed the bugs that were causing JMG to crash or freeze some of your browsers. I don't know if the fix is related to the Blogger template or to the Javascript embedded in some video players, but whatever, yay. Y'all should upgrade if you haven't already and please let me know if a problem persists.

Labels: , , , ,


Death By Blogging

From the NY Times:
They work long hours, often to exhaustion. Many are paid by the piece — not garments, but blog posts. This is the digital-era sweatshop. You may know it by a different name: home. A growing work force of home-office laborers and entrepreneurs, armed with computers and smartphones and wired to the hilt, are toiling under great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment.

Of course, the bloggers can work elsewhere, and they profess a love of the nonstop action and perhaps the chance to create a global media outlet without a major up-front investment. At the same time, some are starting to wonder if something has gone very wrong. In the last few months, two among their ranks have died suddenly.

Two weeks ago in North Lauderdale, Fla., funeral services were held for Russell Shaw, a prolific blogger on technology subjects who died at 60 of a heart attack. In December, another tech blogger, Marc Orchant, died at 50 of a massive coronary. A third, Om Malik, 41, survived a heart attack in December. Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and other maladies born of the nonstop strain of producing for a news and information cycle that is as always-on as the Internet.

To be sure, there is no official diagnosis of death by blogging, and the premature demise of two people obviously does not qualify as an epidemic. There is also no certainty that the stress of the work contributed to their deaths. But friends and family of the deceased, and fellow information workers, say those deaths have them thinking about the dangers of their work style.

The pressure even gets to those who work for themselves — and are being well-compensated for it. “I haven’t died yet,” said Michael Arrington, the founder and co-editor of TechCrunch, a popular technology blog. The site has brought in millions in advertising revenue, but there has been a hefty cost. Mr. Arrington says he has gained 30 pounds in the last three years, developed a severe sleeping disorder and turned his home into an office for him and four employees. “At some point, I’ll have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital, or something else will happen. This is not sustainable,” he said. It is unclear how many people blog for pay, but there are surely several thousand and maybe even tens of thousands.
I don't know how stressed it's making me, but I'm probably blogging too much as well, usually for 2-3 hours a day. I blog over meals, I blog while watching TV, and I blog during long boring conference calls. (Probably shouldn't do that.) Cranking out 8-10 posts a day (even short ones) is probably too much for somebody with a day job, although I tend to do a lot of my day's blogging over breakfast and sometimes leave the posts in draft form until later in the day when I've had more time to mull the issue at hand.

Still, before I started JMG, the time I now spend blogging was probably spent on the couch vegging out to Law & Order reruns. At least now I'm sitting up! I wonder if I wasn't blogging if I'd be like a couple of my friends who spend five hours a night mired in those multi-player virtual reality sites, slaying elves and buying castles. I could have totally been a millionaire, uh, in Lindens. (Not that playing those games is a bad thing. Ray. Andrew.)

If you haven't caught onto my blogging schedule yet, I usually put up four or five posts before work, then a few more at lunchtime, sometimes saving my longer blathering for the end of the day when the topic calls for a bit more personal contemplation. And of course there's the issue of my growing insomnia, sometimes aided by a middle-of-the-night blog post. Go figure. Sleep by blogging.

Labels: ,


NGLTF's New York Leadership Awards

Last night Aaron and I attended the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's New York Leadership Awards at the new New York Times building, where although the honorees of the evening were filmmaker John Waters, Gov. David Paterson, and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber Of Commerce, the night was really one long tearful goodbye to outgoing Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman.

BELOW: The evening kicked off with a two-song performance by Debbie Harry and Miss Guy. The second number was a great cover of Ace Frehley's New York Groove. I'll have a video clip of the performance up later today. BELOW: After accepting his award from Debbie Harry, who spoke about her role in Hairspray, John Waters launched into what has easily got to be one of the most raunchy speeches ever given at the podium of a gay rights event, touching on glory holes, back rooms, muff diving, and shrimping. It was classic John Waters. Waters also amusingly spoke about (paraphrasing here) reverse assimilation, saying instead of blending in with straights, we should work to make them gayer.BELOW: I ran into activist Brendan Fay and filmmaker Gréta Olafsdóttir, director of The Brandon Teena Story, who were there to film Gov. Paterson. I was so happy to be able to personally congratulate Brendan on he and his partner's recent public relations triumph over the president of Poland.BELOW: When the Task Force invited David Paterson to the awards, he was still Lt. Governor, so with the budget deadline looming in Albany, the governor was unable to attend. Accepting for Paterson was his openly gay First Deputy Secretary Sean Patrick Maloney, who you may recall ran for Attorney General of New York in 2006. Maloney introduced a hilarious video message from Paterson, which opened with: "Help! If you are seeing this video, please call the FBI or Interpol as I'm strapped to this chair with a gun to my head until we finish the budget!" If David Paterson wasn't a politician, he'd have a career in stand-up. BELOW: Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle and Task Force Board of Directors Co-Chair Mark Sexy Sexton, both of whom lauded Matt Foreman's legacy.
BELOW: Downtown scenesters Kenny Kenny and Patrick McDonald added flash to the room of power suits.BELOW: Matt Foreman and myself. While Matt leaves an enormous legacy of LGBT activism in New York, he will undoubtedly continue his trailblazing work at the Haas Fund, where he will oversee the largest grant program for LGBT rights outside of gay organizations. From the podium, Matt recognized his partner of 18 years, Frank De Leon, and spoke tearfully and eloquently about the battles both won and lost during his time at the helm at the Task Force. Speaking to critics who complain of "mission creep" in LGBT orgs, Foreman avowed that abortion rights are a gay issue and that racism is a gay issue and he pledged that after his departure the Task Force will continue to work with a broad coalition of progressive groups towards fairness and equality.In all, it was an inspiring evening, just being in the presence of so many people who have devoted their lives to LGBT equality. Aaron and I left feeling newly energized for the fight. On a personal note, while Matt Foreman's departure surely leaves a (temporary) void in an organization that has fought loudly and fiercely for all our LGBT brothers and sisters, I'm confident that his star will only continue to rise. I'm proud to call Matt Foreman my friend.

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


"Lost Glory" Returning To SoMa?

With a new leather bar just opened and more on the way, the SF Chronicle is heralding a "return to SoMa's lost glory."
"SoMa in those days was more than just a leather nexus - it was the epicenter of the gay sex scene at a time when it was still illegal for two men to hold hands. For the next two decades, SoMa reigned as one of the most important leather neighborhoods in the world. Then came the 1980s and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which ravaged the community and forced the closure of most of the bars and all of the bathhouses. Dance clubs moved into many of the old leather bars, which never reclaimed the area they made famous.

Until now, that is. On Friday, David Morgan threw open the doors to Chaps II, the most recent indication that leather is making a comeback in SoMa. "There's a resurgence happening," said Morgan, 39. "A lot of people have been saying the leather scene was dead, but there just wasn't a place for people to meet up. ... Gearing up in leather and going to a bar where you're the only one dressed is kind of like a woman going to a bar in a ball gown while everyone else is in T-shirts."
The story doesn't mention what other bars are opening around Folsom Street. Anybody know? I just hope business stays strong at my beloved Powerhouse, where I had my going away party on my last day in San Francisco.

Labels: , , ,


Hillary To Ellen: I'm Not Gonna Quit

Hillary Clinton appeared on the Ellen Degeneres show yesterday where Ellen strongly urged Clinton not to drop out of the race, saying it was the choice of the voters, not Barack Obama's campaign. Hillary then told the touching story about her parents' gay neighbors and pledged to work for gay rights. And finally, in a dig at Obama, they bowled.

UPDATE: I'm removing Red Lasso embedded videos for the time being, as I suspect they are slowing JMG's load time. You can find the video for this post on YouTube.

Labels: , ,


Wingnuts: No Fun For Kids, Ever!

This story has been brewing in Freeperland for a few days, but just hit the MSM.
An elementary-school event in which kids were encouraged to dress as members of the opposite gender drew the ire of a Christian radio group, whose angry broadcast prompted outraged calls to the district office. Students at Pineview Elementary in Reedsburg had been dressing in costume all last week as part of an annual school tradition called Wacky Week.

On Friday, students were encouraged to dress either as senior citizens or as members of the opposite sex. A local resident informed the Voice of Christian Youth America on Friday. The Milwaukee-based radio network responded by interrupting its morning programming for a special broadcast that aired on nine radio stations throughout Wisconsin. The broadcast criticized the dress-up day and accused the district of promoting alternative lifestyles.

"We believe it's the wrong message to send to elementary students,'' said Jim Schneider, the network's program director. "Our station is one that promotes traditional family values. It concerns us when a school district strikes at the heart and core of the Biblical values. To promote this to elementary-school students is a great error.''
I remember a version of Wacky Week at my middle school and it didn't make ME..., uh, wait.

Labels: , , ,


Morning View - Park Avenue Armory

The Park Avenue Armory (also known as the Seventh Regiment Armory) straddles an entire block on the Upper East Side from Park Avenue to Lexington between 66th and 67th streets. The Gothic Revival building was designed by Charles Clinton and was completed in 1881 with entirely private funding, the only such armory in America. The massive 55,000-square foot Drill Hall is one of the largest unobstructed interior spaces in New York City. Unfortunately, the core structure is in serious disrepair and in 2000 the Armory was named one of the 100 most endangered sites in the world by the World Monument Fund, the only venue in NYC to make the list. Even though the building is a National Landmark and is under restoration, repairs will be slow and very expensive due to lead and asbestos contamination.

The Armory currently houses a regiment of the National Guard, but is primarily rented out for specialty retail shows and social functions, such as the massive circuit party I attended there in 1994 as part of the Stonewall 25 celebration. I can't remember the name of the party, the DJ, who I went with, or if I had a good time, but I do remember being blown away by the ornate woodwork of the entrance rooms and the stained glass windows. In fact, the NYC Landmarks Commission calls the interiors of the Armory "the single most important collection of 19th-century interiors to survive intact in one building." You can't really wander around inside the Armory these days, but if you're passing by, definitely stop and gawk at the lobby.

Labels: , ,


Monday, April 07, 2008

Daily Grumble

Are plain white button-down cotton shirts simply not made anymore? Yesterday I hit up every store on the Upper East Side - Bloomingdales, Gap, Banana Republic, and on and on - and found bupkis. Either the shirts were over-fancy with ridiculous buttons or they were of some open weave that would be suitable for tending bar in a poolside tiki hutch. I even hit up all 87 designer boutiques within Bloomies and couldn't find just a plain white cotton button-down. Banana Republic came closest, except for the giant blue flowers over the pocket. See, this is why I hate shopping. I wait until I need one specific item, then I try and go get that item and can't find it. With my weird size requirements, I've never trusted buying clothing online. But I guess I'll have to find a site that sells cotton button-downs for short, wide-shouldered, thick-necked guys with short arms. I should have asked around at the Dugout.

Labels:


Threats Against Pro-Gay Massachusetts School Superintendent Paul Ash

As contrast to the North Carolina school board post earlier today, Lexington, Massachusetts school superintendent Paul Ash (left) is being threatened with physical violence by New Jersey radio host and white supremacist Hal Turner for advocating for LGBT youth. Turner posted Ash's home address and phone number on his site. Police in Massachusetts are investigating.
Lexington superintendent Paul Ash of Newton has been threatened by a New Jersey radio host urging listeners to “use threats and violence” against Ash for the school district's new diversity curriculum. The radio host says “I advocate parents using FORCE AND VIOLENCE against Superintendent Paul B. Ash as a method of defending the health and safety of school children presently being endangered through his politically-correct indoctrination into deadly, disease-ridden sodomite lifestyles.” The site lists Ash’s last known addresses, a phone number, and a birth date.

Ash is in meetings this afternoon and could not be immediately reached for comment. Lexington police refused comment on an ongoing investigation. Ash lives in Newton, and the police department there is handling the case. That department also refused comment on the investigation.

Ash gave a presentation on the curriculum last month, and it will be implemented next school year. The curriculum comes from a committee of parents, teachers and administrators in Lexington who were charged to develop a set of teaching that fostered “a safe and welcoming place for all children.”

The goal of the curriculum was to “serve students from different racial, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds,” and to “serve students from [gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered] families.”
The full quote from Turner's site: "I would laugh if some concerned father(s) donned ski masks and gloves, took a ride over to this arrogant prick's house and knocked the living shit out of him. I advocate parents using FORCE AND VIOLENCE against Superintendent Paul B. Ash as a method of defending the health and safety of school children presently being endangered through his politically-correct indoctrination into deadly, disease-ridden sodomite lifestyles."

Read his comments. There's no direct link to the post, so hold your nose and scroll down past some nightmarish racist shit to get to the Ash commentary. Turner has made death threats against public figures in the past and unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2000 as a Republican.

Virulently anti-gay group Mass Resistance makes note of Turner's threats, but rather than disavow them, they complain that a gay blogger once joked that somebody should drop a piano on a Massachusetts man who is suing the schools over "homosexual curriculum."

Labels: , , , , ,


Blowoff Photo Recap

Let's just say that this weekend's Blowoff was out of control, off the hook, off the chain, or whatever the kids are saying these days. The venue was behind schedule in turning the room over to Mould & Morel, so by midnight the line stretched from Western Beef all the way back to Ninth Avenue. But once everybody was inside, the place just erupted into the kind of wildness I haven't seen in a gay club in ages. And that was just MY friends. Most of my photos reveal too much sloshy sloppiness to be used here. For you Levenophiles, that's Eric in the middle. The next NYC Blowoff is Pride Saturday. Watch out. EDIT: By request, I've replaced the wildest shot of the evening with a couple of more reserved photos of handsome hairy men. You'll live. The top two pics are by Dr. Jeff.

Labels: , , , , ,


NC School Board To Excuse Haters

Oh, brother. Remember how the Jeesbus-folk are up in arms and plan to keep their kids home on the coming Day Of Silence in public schools? The Day Of Silence is organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GSLEN) and is meant to bring attention to bullying and violence against LGBT students.

Well, now a member of the Charlotte, North Carolina school board wants to give an "excused absence" to students that refuse at attend that day.
School board member Kaye McGarry says she'll ask her colleagues to approve excused absences for Charlotte-Mecklenburg students who stay home on the April 25 "National Day of Silence," held to protest harassment of homosexuals. McGarry said she's been getting calls all year from parents who don't want their children exposed to the event. That accelerated during last month's high-profile debate over a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools anti-bullying policy.

Students told the school board that participants in previous silence days have been shoved and called names. The board approved the anti-bullying policy over the protest of some board and community members who said it could lead to schools promoting homosexuality and squelching the views of some Christians who believe it's a sin. Afterward, an e-mail from the American Family Association circulated, urging parents to keep their kids home if their school participates.

"By remaining silent, the intent of the pro-homosexual students is to disrupt the classes while promoting the homosexual lifestyle," says the e-mail, which provides a link listing five Charlotte-Mecklenburg high schools and one in Cabarrus County as participants.

An authorized Day Of Hate, courtesy of the state of my birth. I renounce my Tarheel-ness. (Unless, the school board doesn't listen to McGarry.) The Day Of Silence is April 28th.

Labels: , , , , ,


Diana's Death Ruled Unlawful Killing

The London jury mulling the inquest into the death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed has ruled that the accident was an "unlawful killing", saying that her death was the result of negligent driving by her chauffeur and the pursuing paparazzi vehicles. (And the world says, "Duh.")

The inquest found no evidence of a government plot to kill Diana, despite such claims from Fayed's father and others. The jury's only task was to rule on the cause of death, not to place blame. It remains unclear whether charges might be brought against the involved paparazzi.

Labels: ,