Soften the Blow

This Blondie "Parallel Lines" record cushion is just the thing, whether you've got a heart of glass or your love just turns out to be a pain in the ass ...

More Leading Men

So, we came awfully close to having eight hot men in the Wimbledon quarterfinals this year. Sadly, Ivo Karlovic took out Fernando Verdasco and neither Lleyton Hewitt nor the man he beat, Radek Stepanek, are much to look at. But we did get:

Andy Roddick, who beat Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3

Former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, who took out Gilles Simon, 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2

The biggest disappointment for me came when all-too-British Andy Murray outlasted hunky Swiss Stanislas Warwinka, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, in a match that went after hours and was finished under the roof

Of course, not everyone agrees with me on Murray. Look who he has in cheering section

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

So here we have Ramona Singer, Alex McCord and Jill Zarin of "The Real Housewives of New York City" and "New Jersey" compatriots Jacqueline Laurita, Dina Manzo, Caroline Manzo, Teresa Giudice ... and Danielle Staub at the finale of Bravo's "The Fashion Show" (which airs July 23) Friday at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.

Michael and I FINALLY watched both parts of the "New Jersey" reunion and -- like nearly all views, I'm guessing -- we are in complete shock over what transpired. (What the f**k?) First of all, was Danielle completely backing down on her attack on Dina, just because she now realizes it wasn't JUST Dina spreading the rumors? (I really wasn't sure what was going on). And more importantly, what on earth could Danielle have possibly tried to do to Dina to make Caroline the Control Freak carry on like such a drama queen like that, fake tears and all? I immediately went to do an Internet search and just by typing "What did D" Google finished my thought for me with "...anielle do to Dina on Real Housewives" -- which totally freaked me out even more!

The girls at work think the whole thing is manufactured drama, but I've since read it probably had to do with Danielle's giving Dina's ex-husband some information that could potentially have been used in a custody case regarding Lexi. This would sort of make since as Caroline could twist it into a "thick as thieves" (said with lisp) FAMILY issue, like only she can. If anyone knows anything, please tell me. US Weekly is reporting that Jacqueline is saying that she no longer has anything to do with Danielle and that her "family was right all along." (Hence the seating chart above?)

Boys of Soccer

Turns out Carlos Bocanegra isn't the only hunk on the U.S. soccer team. Also meet Benny Feilhaber, Oguchi Onyewe and Jonathan Spector. Details HERE.

He shoots, he scores: Carlos Bocanegra

Page 1 Consider (06/30)

Kinky Business: The staff at the Stranger thinks the reason religious right is constantly trying to make the gay rights movement about gay sex is because they're jealous that "we're having a blast, and it's killing them." They're kidding, but I'll bet they're kind of right, too. (The Stranger)

Happy Ending: A teenage lesbian couple in the South Bronx was voted "best couple" in their high school yearbook. (Feministing)

Family: Here's a look at Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick with their new twins, Marion and Tabitha, plus son, James. (AP)

Sex, Lies and Videotape: A man who was one of former Sen. John Edwards’ closest aides has a deal to write a book claiming that Edwards said he “would be taken care of for life” in return for falsely claiming he was the father of the baby carried by Edwards’ mistress, Rielle Hunter. The juicy book proposal also claims there is a sex tape involved the former Dem Golden Boy, something I would certainly be willing to pay download for free off the Internet. Oh, but don't feel bad for the long-suffering Elizabeth Edwards. She got back at the former aide by telling everyone he'd stolen her late son's baseball card collection ... oh, and ratting him out for stealing that sign from a biker bar when he was a teen. (NYDN)

Creation Nation: In this northern Kentucky museum, paleontology and Creationism meet but don’t mesh. (Science Times)

Only in the Panhandle State: An incendiary one-hour special that claims gay people are attempting to subvert and convert America aired Saturday afternoon on an NBC affiliate in Tampa, Fla. (Queerty)

Just a Brief Thought: If Tom Parker were a regular on "Mental," they'd have a new viewer right now. (SuperheroFan)

Ain't No Big Deal: Does it really count as a "big deal" if Madonna got her new house (in the slums of the Upper East Side) at a 28 percent discount? (NYT)

Best. Hed. Ever: Infomercials lack starpower after Billy Mays death (Reuters)

Crime of Hate: The Family Research Council's smear campaign against Department of Education appointee Kevin Jennings is their most blatant display of fear mongering since Gary Bauer's face. (Advocate)

Gays of Our Lives: What is up with all of these homophobic soap opera stars? (Advocate)

Mother and Child Reunion: A judge in California has granted Redmond O'Neal a compassion pass so he can attend the funeral of his mom, Farrah Fawcett, this afternoon in Los Angeles. This doesn't affect me in the slightest, yet it makes me feel less sad knowing that Farrah would have been happy he was there. (People)

Spread Eagle: It's nice to see that Ashton Kutcher is finally doing what he was born to do: porn. (OMG Blog)

Model Wood: Bryce Draper

With a face like that I'm even willing to overlook the name. (Via Major Model Management)

Food for Thought

Call me a worrywart, but I don't know about this new trend on television. USA Today reports that networks are adding "heft to their lineups," with shows like "Dance Your Ass Off" (fat people dancing), "More to Love" (a fat version of "The Bachelor") and "Ruby" (a reality show that chronicles the life of a morbidly obese woman). But if my mom is right that TV "causes all these poor girls to get anorexia" (I've never actually seen one of these people walking around the Phoenix metropolitan area, but OK), then might these shows that glorify and glamorize being overweight have the same effect in the opposite direction? I mean, seriously. They're already saying TV-ready bear Billy Mays probably died of heart disease ...

"Dance Your Ass Off"
"More to Love"
"Ruby"

Leap of Faith

At yesterday's "controversial" Stonewall commemoration ceremony at the White House, President Obama told an audience of gay men and lesbians that he remained committed to overturning the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule and that by the time he leaves office, "I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration." While admitting this is a shortcut to John Aravosis' Shit List (love you, John!), I must confess something: I still believe our president. Yes, his brief presidential track record is shaky (See Warren, Rick; McClurkin, Donnie). But Barack Obama is one of the smartest people I've ever seen in my lifetime. And as such, my faith -- something I don't inherently possess for some supposed deity that "guides" everything around us -- somehow comes to the forefront and tells me that someone so smart would not allow things that are so unjust to go unfixed under his control.

Does this make me "starstruck" or "naive"? Perhaps. But it has only been six months and while I completely agree that full plate or not there's NEVER a "good" time for these kinds of wrongs to be righted, ultimately I do think he deserves to be judged as he suggested, “not by promises I’ve made but by the promises that my administration keeps.”

“I know that many in this room don’t believe progress has come fast enough, and I understand that,” Obama said. “It’s not for me to tell you to be patient any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago.

“We’ve been in office six months now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good feelings about the Obama administration.”

As demonstrated by my Prop 8 meltdown last year, my patience is wearing very thin these days, too. But as we look back on the 40 years since Stonewall, it's not unwise to be reminded just how much progress has been made in that time. As Hendrik Hertzberg notes this week in the New Yorker: In 1966, three years before Stonewall, Time, then the voice of middlebrow, middle-class respectability, published a long essay on “The Homosexual in America.” The magazine, while acknowledging that “homosexuals are present in every walk of life,” concluded that homosexuality is a pathetic little second-rate substitute for reality, a pitiable flight from life. As such it deserves fairness, compassion, understanding and, when possible, treatment. But it deserves no encouragement, no glamorization, no rationalization, no fake status as minority martyrdom, no sophistry about simple differences in taste -- and, above all, no pretense that it is anything but a pernicious sickness.

Obama concluded his remarks by saying, "I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you."

I realize Obama is as shrewd a politician as he is smart a man. But that he later looked into the eyes of Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach -- an Air Force officer who is facing expulsion proceedings because of being ratted out under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy -- and said, "We’re going to get this done," has me believing that he means what he says.

Call me naive, but maybe it's true what they say, ya gotta have faith in something ...

Read the president's complete remarks HERE.

The Bald Truth

The Times caught up with Pete Sampras in T.O. today to rub it in his face that his Most Grand Slam Titles record isn't going to last too much longer and boy is he as boring as ever. To think I used to think he was as cute as he was gifted. But as he lost his looks he also lost his humility and with it, the respect and admiration of many. I've seen a hint of this behavior in my beloved Federer (the excuses that were never made before, the lack of compliments for his opponents). Let's hope it was just a hiccup and not a hint of things to come ...

The Naked Truth About Airline Safety

 

In its new ad campaign and in-flight safety video, New Zealand Air wants its passengers to know the airlines has nothing to hide. It's a pity, though, that the crew isn't a little more attractive. (Via The New York Times)

Leading Men

Tommy Haas, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic all won comfortably today to move into the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. Now if Andy Roddick and Stanislas Wawrinka can somehow manage to get through, this may be the hottest Elite 8 ever ...

Fruit Fly on a Wall

Wondering what is really going to happen at today's Stonewall commemoration at the White House? (You know, the one John Aravosis of AMERICAblog says is "a show-off event for the star-f*ckers" and "a chance for the Obama administration to use our community's 'leaders' for some much-needed CYA.") Towleroad reports that you can watch it live HERE via streaming video. President Obama hasn't lived up to his word on gay rights OR transparency. Let's see what happens when you meld them together. Will our gay leaders finally let the prez have it? Will the prez finally lay out specifics on his LGBT agenda? Tune in a beginning at 4:25 p.m. today to find out (Servicemebers Legal Defense Network is bringing dismissed Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach along, but God, what I really want is Larry Kramer to show up!) ...

RE: Michael Fucking Jackson

OK, I'll admit it. I'm kinda pissed that Farrah Fawcett's death got completely pushed to the back burner thanks to what's-his-name. But my anger pales in comparison to Farrah's:

Michael Jackson moved me, all right -- all the way to page 10D!

Ten fucking D!

You know what? Someone up there -- I mean, someone up here -- must really hate my fucking guts. Ever since "Charlie's Angels," I have struggled to be paid the goddamn respect I deserve. Do you think it's easy propping up the lust of an entire generation with only a one-piece swimsuit and professionally feathered hair? IT IS NOT.

(Keep reading HERE.)

Gay Pride: New York City

Although I worked all weekend, I did manage to enjoy a little bit of New York's Gay Pride/Stonewall 40th Anniversary festivities. On Saturday night Jay joined Michael and me at Therapy (and then Barrage) to help celebrate my favorite Drama Queer's birthday, along with a bunch of his pals. Then on Sunday before I went into the office, Michael and I met up with a bunch of our friends to watch the parade. Gov. David Paterson, disappointed that he wasn't there celebrating the legalization of gay marriage, was the grand marshal (a first for a sitting governor). The weather held up beautifully but, as I had tweeting earlier in the weekend, it sure seemed like a smaller turnout than years past. Perhaps the economic climate kept many tourists from visiting for this historic occasion. Nonetheless, I was proud to be a part of it. As pride month comes to a close, I hope you had a great time wherever you are. Here are a few memorable moments:

Beef, it's what's for dinner
Little Bo Peeping Tom
Michael: he's sure the boy I love
Me with Benny, Robert, Jay and Jeff
Michael and his bff, Benny

Page 1 Consider (06/29)

Clerks: Drew McWeeny recalls some great stories about his favorite customer at Dave's Videos in Sherman Oaks: Mr. Michael Jackson. (Hit Fix)

Love and Pride: Jarrett Barrios, the incoming president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), talks about his ambivalent feelings about today's Stonewall commemoration ceremony at the White House, the first time the birth of the gay rights movement has ever been remembered there. (Washington Post)

I Love You, Man: Relationships between gay and straight men aren’t always easy, but stereotypes are falling, writes Douglas Quenqua in Sunday Styles. And to think, I was pulling this off in the 1980s with Landon J. Napoleon.

Whac-a-Mole: Think it's impossible to keep information from spreading on the Internet? Read what The Times went through in a potentially life-or-death attempt to keep the news that one of its reporters had been kidnapped by the Taliban off of David Rohde's Wikipedia page. (NYT)

And the 10 Nominees Are: David Carr makes a compelling case for why the Oscars need less, not more. (The Media Equation)

Progress Report: Raymond Castro recalls the night of June 28, 1969, when he was arrested at the Stonewall Inn. (NBC)

Heavy Reading: The head of a high school English department in Litchfield, N.H., is leaving her job after some parents complained about reading assignments another teacher issued to a class. Kathleen Reilly announced her resignation Wednesday after parents and other citizens complained to the Campbell High School board about the assignments that included stories on homosexuality, abortion, drugs, and cannibalism. (Advocate)

Positive Step Forward: The Obama administration has taken the first step to ending the HIV travel ban in the United States. (Daily Kos)

Fallen Angel: A private funeral for Farrah Fawcett will be held on Tuesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles at 4 p.m. local time, church officials said. (CNN)

Sporting Goods: Carlos Bocanegra

With Wimbledon having its traditional first Sunday off, tennis fans (like Todd) were left with no choice but to look for their kicks elsewhere -- like American soccer stud Carlos Bocanegra. 

So THIS why the world is so gaga over the football. Watch this shirtless action on the beach and you'll see what I mean: 

 

Gay Pride: A Paris

Personal trainer and sometime KIT212 "correspondent" Gregory Capra sent in these fun photos from Paris' bustling Gay Pride celebration over the weekend. It seems Liza Minnelli even showed up, riding on a float with Paris' gay mayor, Bertrand Delanoe. (Via Towleroad)

This Is Rich

Once again, Frank Rich brings it home with a wonderful Op-Ed on the gay rights movement ("40 Years Later, Still Second-Class Americans"):

It’s a press cliche that “gay supporters” are disappointed with Obama, but we should all be. Gay Americans aren’t just another political special interest group. They are Americans who are actively discriminated against by federal laws. If the president is to properly honor the memory of Stonewall, he should get up to speed on what happened there 40 years ago, when courageous kids who had nothing, not even a public acknowledgment of their existence, stood up to make history happen in the least likely of places.

His words are thoughtful and moving. But is it really possible that Rich -- who was knee-deep in the theater community at Harvard and even got invited to lunch as an undergrad by Stephen Sondheim(!) after writing a lengthy essay in the Crimson about the musical "Follies" -- "didn’t know a single person, student or teacher, male or female, in my entire Ivy League university who was openly identified as gay"?