Live Free Or Fly

JetBlue is running an election contest: "On November 6th, America will elect the next U.S. President. If things don't go your way, don't worry. Here's your chance to get a free flight out of the country with JetBlue. Participate in our poll and login to Facebook to enter. If you change your mind you can always come back. Or not. It's a free country."

Email Of The Day - Beyonce

Just in from Beyonce Knowles:

Joe -- I usually don't email you -- but I have an amazing invitation I have to share. Jay and I will be meeting up with President Obama for an evening in NYC sometime soon. And we want you to be there! Until midnight tonight, if you pitch in $15 or whatever you can, you'll be automatically entered to be flown out to join us. I've had the honor of meeting President Obama and the First Lady a few times -- and believe me -- it's an opportunity you don't want to miss. Don't worry about the airfare and hotel, it's taken care of. And you can bring a guest. But the countdown is on -- this opportunity ends at midnight. Can't wait to meet you! Love, B

Here's the contest link.

EUROVISION: Iran Accuses Azerbaijan Of Hosting A Gay Parade During Contest

The Eurovision finals are taking place this weekend and as many of Europe's media outlets poured into Baku, neighboring Iran took to its state-controlled press to accuse host nation Azerbaijan of allowing a "gay parade."

On Wednesday, Iran claimed that the Azerbaijani government was insulting Islam because it was going to allow a "gay parade," according to the semi-official Fars news agency. In fact, there has never been such a demonstration in the country, and none was planned for Eurovision. In reality, Tehran is upset because the oil-rich Azerbaijan concluded a multi-billion dollar arms deal with Iran's arch-enemy, Israel, in February and apparently promised to allow the Israeli Air Force access to several military airfields in Azerbaijan -- which the Israelis could potentially use for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities. As it happens, there was never any chance of a gay pride event being held to coincide with Eurovision, as gay rights activist Ruslan Balukhin explains. "We would need the city's permission for that -- and we would not get it."

The activist quoted in the above article contends that gay Eurovision attendees will be safe "not because the Azerbaijanis are tolerant, but because the authoritarian government doesn't want any disturbances." Last month Islamic terrorists vowed to use "chemical weapons and knives" against gay visitors. The 57 year-old competition is heavily followed by gay fans, many of whom travel to the host cities every year for associated parties and nightclub events.

Eurovision 2012 Recap

Eurovision 2012 contestants performed for a press preview in Amsterdam this weekend. Below is a snippet of each act. I still like France's Anggun, the Moldovan Ed Norton lookalike, and the Netherlands' folkie. It doesn't look like the Russian grannies, my pick to win, made it to the press event. By the way, I heard the Jedward single in a store this weekend, so maybe they're crossing over. Yikes.

Eurovision: San Marino's Valentina

Valentina Monetta's entry for tiny San Marino is an almost novelty song. Originally titled Facebook Uh-Oh, Monetta was informed of the Eurovision rule: "No commercial messages of any kind shall be allowed. A breach of this rule may result in disqualification." On the final day of eligibility, the track was was reworked and retitled The Social Network Song.

Eurovision: Azerbaijan's Sabina Babayeva

I don't usually like the Eurovision ballads, but this appeals to me, probably because I can tell the remixes are going to be killer. Having won last year, Azerbaijan is this year's host, and since the host country rarely wins, Sabina doesn't likely have much of a chance. However, the host country is also automatically in the finals, so we'll see.

Eurovision 2012: Albania's Rona Nishliu

When she was 17, Rona Nishliu, now 25, finished fourth in the 2004 season of Albanian Idol. As for this video, I have no idea what's going on. She's singing in a box? The lower half of her body IS a box? And of course, there are creepy kids, the hallmark of any serious music video. I'll admit to giggling for thirty seconds starting at 1:30, but I'm not sure why I found it funny. Later, we get into Mariah Carey/dog whistle territory. Overall, it's quite memorable by Eurovision standards.

Eurovision 2012: Israel's Izabo

"It's camp! The ludicrously tragic? The tragically ludicrous?" Like when a clown dies. Whatever, this will certainly make you miss Dana International.

Eurovision 2012: France's Anggun

Anggun is already a major pop star, having sold many millions of records worldwide, particularly in her native Indonesia. Americans might remember her 1998 smash Snow On The Sahara, which was fairly inescapable in gay clubs that summer. As for this, I'm not feeling it.

Eurovision 2012: Latvia's Anmary

Real name: Linda Amantova. Feels kind of ABBA-y.

Eurovision 2012: Slovenia's Eva Boto

The backup singers are the best bit. She's only 16.

Eurovision 2012: Turkey's Can Bonomo

Meh.

Eurovision 2012: Malta's Kurt Calleja

Cute boy, forgettable song.

Eurovision 2012: Bulgaria's Sofi Marinova

Sofi is a Gypsy chalga singer, much like fellow Bulgarian and drag disco bear Azis. I think I like this entry.

Eurovision 2012: Norway's Tooji

A bit of an Arabic feel with just a hint of the infamous Eurovision cheese that's mostly lacking so far this year.

Eurovision 2012: Austria's Trackshittaz

This is so spectacularly brain-meltingly bad, I'll have to give it two Eurovision stars just for the cheesetasticness. Because damn. The translated lyrics are a riot. "Rednecks have not witnessed such exuberance in a long time!"

This Is An Actual Thing

Grammy watchers buzzed on Twitter after CBS ran a short teaser for an apparent contest to win a free colonoscopy. It's a real thing and as the teaser implied, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne are involved. Wait, does that make a colonoscopy less scary?

If you are the grand prize winner, we will fly you and a companion to New York for three nights in a suite at a luxury hotel with a view of Central Park. And then the main event - you will be driven to the Center for Advanced Digestive Care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for a free colonoscopy! NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital - with which we have proudly teamed up for the sweepstakes - is a leader for the diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases. Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne's participation in this project is especially meaningful - not only because they are major stars, but because Sharon fought a courageous and successful battle against colon cancer.

Jokes aside, props to CBS for a novel idea. Enter here.

NOTE: One must ponder the insanity of a society that has to hold a contest to give away a health test that should be free to every person in the nation.

About.com Opens Nominations

About.com has opened nominations for their Gay Life Readers' Choice Awards. I'll confess that I don't read About.com, but their request for a little publicity was nicer than most of those things that I get. Plus I'm kinda curious about the "Best Gay App" category. At the moment all I can think of is Grindr. What am I missing? And here's my pick for "Best Gay YouTube Sensation," since you didn't ask. YES, Gawd!

The South Korean Adele

The other contestants are SO unhappy with her talent.

(Source)

Win A Trip To Montreal Pride

Tourisme Montreal and Montreal Pride are teaming up for a "Queer Of The Year" contest in which five semi-finalists will win trips to this year's gay pride week.

Whether you’re a do-gooder, a diva, the average guy next door, a girl just out of the closet or anywhere in between, from now through May 30, Montreal wants you to visit our Facebook contest and show the world that you have what it takes! Participants are required to submit applications explaining why they should be the rightful owner of the crown. People will be judged on the following five criteria: personality, community involvement, sex appeal, healthy lifestyle and yes, even talent! Finalists will be chosen by Tourism Montreal representatives to be interviewed and answer open-ended-questions.

More details: "At the end of Pride Week (August 15), the finalist with the most public votes, combined with most points from the judges, will win the ultimate title of “Queer of the Year,” a chance to take part in the Pride parade, $5,000 and a Montréal getaway! The four other finalists will also receive $1,000."

FULL DISCLOSURE: As some of you may recall, last year Tourisme Montreal hosted me for a whirlwind week of homo tourism. And it was amazing.