Thursday, May 31, 2012
'Magic Mike' One-Sheet Is Here
Warner Brothers released the official poster for "Magic Mike" today, plus a couple more photos from the gay-porn-without-sex film of the year.
Tyler Clementi's Parents Troubled by Son's Tormentor's 30-Day Sentence
I really feel for Tyler Clementi's parents, Jane and Joseph. They've always shown restraint and compassion -- insisting that they were only after the truth -- but when it all came out, they saw their son's victimizer get virtually no jail time for his serious offenses, which a jury unanimously agreed upon. Today the Clementis finally spoke out:
“Although we do not question the sincerity of his feelings and we have never sought harsh punishment, we are troubled by the judge’s failure to impose even a short jail sentence on the several charges of criminal invasion of Tyler’s privacy and bias crimes,” the parents said in a Thursday statement via their attorney, Paul Mainardi.
“As to the so-called ‘apology,’ it was, of course, no apology at all, but a public relations piece produced by Mr. Ravi’s advisers only after Judge Berman scolded Mr. Ravi in open court for his failure to have expressed a word of remorse or apology,” they said. “A sincere apology is personal,” the parents continued. “Many people convicted of crimes address the victims and their families in court. Mr. Ravi was given that opportunity but chose to say nothing.”
Sign Me Up for Some Bangers
Like David Beckham isn't ridiculously hot enough, here he is out to lunch with his mum (above) and gran (below) -- for a pie and mash lunch. (Guessing Dad was the looker?)
Hot Daddy Alert
How totally exciting to see Tommy Haas through to the third round at the French Open. The 34-year-old German-American defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky in straight sets earlier today, giving renewed hope to his dream that he will be playing long enough for his young daughter to remember his days as a pro!
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe
36 candles.
At this point, it's hard for even a superfan to keep track of which "never-before-seen photos" of Marilyn Monroe really have never been seen before. But whatever the case may be, Lawrence Schiller's just-opened "Marilyn & Me" exhibit -- featuring photographs taken during the superstar's final months -- promises to be absolutely mesmerizing. More than 50 of Schiller's shots of Monroe go on display today at the the Steven Kasher Gallery, including a series of poolside nudes from the set of “Something’s Got to Give,” Marilyn's final film, from which she was fired two months before her death. Schiller will be signing copies of his new book, “Marilyn & Me,” at the gallery this evening from 6 to 8 p.m. View more of the photos HERE. Order the book HERE.
Paula Strasberg fetches Marilyn a snack.
Butt Seriously?
Anyone watching this match between Richard Gasquet and Grigor Dimitrov? A guy could do some serious blow off that ass ...
UPDATE: GASSquet ended up winning, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.
Meet Your New Roommate
The punishment doesn't fit the crimes of which he was convicted, but Dharun Ravi will find out what it's like to be stripped of his privacy when he spends the next 30 days in the slammer. Read HERE.
DOMA Is Indefensible (Duh)
While I'm thrilled a U.S. appeals court unanimously agrees that the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutionally denies federal benefits to married gay couples, I'm terrified of what the Roberts court will have to say about it. Read HERE.
Music Box: Lisa Marie Presley
Can't really explain why, but I had such a huge crush on Lisa Marie Presley growing up. We were the same age, and something about her extraordinary life -- as the daughter of the most famous (and formerly most handsome) man in the world and the most beautiful woman in the world, who looked as stunning as you'd expect their child to look -- completely fascinated me, and her reluctance to seek the spotlight made her seem all the more cool. But as she grew older, there was cause for alarm. The Michael Jackson years concerned me, and the Scientology connection concerned me more. Still, when she finally cracked and released an album in 2003, I raced out to buy it. (I even schlepped out to Atlantic City to see her perform, which in truth consisted of her hiding behind a microphone stand the entire evening.) While it was abundantly clear she was no Rosanne Cash, I found "Lights Out" to be instantly catchy. But the rest of the album -- as far as I even recall -- suffered from "everything sounds the same" syndrome, a disease that normally doesn't bother me much. (See: But the Girl, Everything.) When Lisa Marie released her follow-up two years later, its "What Now?" title seemed to say it all, and I never even bothered to get it.
Now happily married (again) and raising twins in the English countryside, she's just put out her first album in seven years, the rootsy T Bone Burnett-produced "Storm & Grace." A reader just sent it to me -- so far so good, in an "everything sounds the same" kind of way -- and with hints that she's pulling away from Scientology, it looks like Lisa Marie Presley might finally have her act together, and my crush may here to stay.
Posted by Kenneth M. Walsh at 9:30 AM 1 comments
Labels: Lisa Marie Presley, music box, Song of the Day
Is Mitt Romney a Secret Mexican?
This is Mitt Romney's supposed birth certificate. But having been born in Michigan myself, I can tell you my birth certificate looks nothing like this -- mine has a raised seal, which means I'm an actual American -- and it certainly doesn't say my dad was born South of the Border. Perhaps this explains why Mitt doesn't even know how to spell America.
Your move, Donald.
Scary Mary on the Loose
His name is Luka. He lives on the 2nd floor.
All day at work yesterday I kept hearing about somebody mailing a foot to a political organization in Canada. Had no idea a family member was involved.
CNN reports:
A gay porn actor is suspected in the killing of his acquaintance, videotaping and posting online the man's dismemberment and mailing the severed limbs to different locations in Ottawa, including to a political party's headquarters, according to a source with direct knowledge of the investigation. Authorities are searching for Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, who they say is allegedly responsible for a human torso discovered in Montreal, thought to be linked to a human hand and foot that were separately mailed from Montreal to Ottawa. Magnotta, also known as Eric Clinton Newman, is a Montreal resident who allegedly knew the victim, identified only as a white male, Montreal police spokesman Ian Lafreniere told reporters on Wednesday. The suspect has no criminal background, and his image and information related to him were later recovered from a "very graphic" website, Lafreniere said. The source later confirmed that at least one of the websites examined by authorities was a pornographic site.
Sounds like we've got another Andrew Cunanan roaming the streets, eh?
More about this gruesome attack HERE.
Page 1 Consider (05/31)
The New York Post: Manhattan student who 'bedded' teacher scores $400 in wager with buddies / Read HERE.
The Daily News: Married teacher accused of having monthlong sex romp with student at same school where two female colleagues were caught naked together / Read HERE.
The New York Times: New York Plans to Ban Sale of Big Sizes of Sugary Drinks / Read HERE.
The Wall Street Journal: Europe Woes Ignite Selloff / Read HERE.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Church of the Poison Mind
As police in Gilbert, Arizona, tell a gay couple that it's their own fault their family -- which includes disabled children -- is being terrorized for neighbors ("You're gay, what do you expect?"), a church in Indiana is giving a standing ovation to a 4-year-old for his rendition of "Ain't No Homos Gonna Make It to Heaven." (How's that for "post-gay"?) Naturally, the church is the real victim here, being bombarded with "harassing phone calls" and "death threats." Hopefully the police there had a similar reaction to the Gilbert police.
Adam Levine is an Attention Whore
And thanks to Details magazine's June/July issue, the Maroon 5 frontman won't have to ever go without, on those rare moments when a female friend isn't around. Read why he says he's so promiscuous and such an "attention whore" HERE.
Griffin Sundays' Last Hurrah
The comments on this Queerty slideshow from Griffin Sundays are so deliciously bitchy I cannot help but share. Have at it HERE!
What's Your Favorite Donna Summer Song?
Scene from the Castro
Donna Summer died two weeks ago tomorrow, yet I'm less comfortable with the idea of her not being with us anymore than I was then. Michael and Whitney were self-destructive wrecks, but not Donna. Donna was a church-going wife and mother -- whose mezzo-soprano vocal range made me more likely to believe in God than anything I'd ever heard in church. I spent a huge chunk of yesterday listening to my Donna catalogue, marveling at its variety, sophistication and how influential so much of it was. But more than anything, I was reminded just how much fun it is to listen to over and over, so completely infectious.
The day she died I declared my long-held belief that "Heaven Knows" is my favorite song of hers, but came close to reconsidering a few times yesterday. I would love to hear what YOUR favorite Donna Summer song is -- and feel free to share any memories you have of her music. It's in that spirit that I confess that in 1978 when "Heaven Knows" was riding high on the chart, I mistakenly thought she was singing "Farrakhan"! I was 10 or 11, so this had no political meaning or anything to me. I just thought it was a guy's name, which puts it right up there with "Alex the Seal"!
Please vote in the comments sections.
P.S. One of the things I love about "Heaven Knows" are the backing vocals by Joe Esposito of Brooklyn Dreams, which performed the music. (Donna would later marry band member Bruce Sudano.) Tonight I discovered that Esposito recorded his own version of the song with Donna Summer on backing vocals. It appeared on Brooklyn Dreams' 1979 LP, "Sleepless Nights." Enjoy!
Rescuing Newspapers
Freeze Out
Gee, I can't imagine why Etan Patz's father pulled the distribution rights for his photos from the Associated Press. Sadly, it's not liable to do much good. Read HERE.
'Book of Mormon' Star Andrew Rannells: 'I Am Gay in Real Life'
Well, this whole "All Cute Guys Are Gay" line that I've long said was bullshit just took another hit. In an interview about his recurring character as Hannah's now-gay ex-boyfriend on "Girls," the Broadway cutie and upcoming star of Ryan Murphy's "The New Normal" matter-of-factly states his sexual orientation -- and it doesn't involve playing games or dating beards! Read HERE.
Tuesday Ad Watch
You gotta love JC Penney for using an adorable two-dad family for its Father's Day ad campaign, with copy that reads: "What makes Dad so cool? He's the swim coach, tent maker, best friend, bike fixer and hug giver -- all rolled into one. Or two." As sweet as this is and as nice as it was for one of my gal pals to agree over the weekend to have a child for me if I wanted, I still don't think fatherhood is in the cards for me! (Via Joe.My.God.)
CK's 'One'
In case you were losing sleep over how Calvin Klein boy toy Nick Gruber is doing since going into rehab, Page Six has the full story HERE, based on the porn star's grammatically challenged Facebook wall:
“Hey everyone. I just had such amazing learning experience from Rehab. I have leaned so about my self. I am so Thankful that I went. I am a different person. I don’t want to go back to my old self. I want to focus on my future on become a successful person on Education, Work and Bettering my self every day by day. No more partying. Time to be a grown adult. Thanks to rehab and the people who love and care About me. I am now going to aftercare. I want to better my self even more.”
He's awfully young to have cleaned up his act completely, but here's hoping no other best friends of his get punched in the face by The Gruber any time soon.
How to Make an American Quilt (More Accessible to the World)
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the creation of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Next month, the Quilt will be featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington. In July, the Quilt will be laid out -- in its entirety -- on the Capital's Mall for the first time since 1996. (I was fortunate to see it in 1987 and 1993.)
Page 1 Consider (05/30)
The Daily News: Jeweler to stars Dawnelle Yager arrested after beating man with umbrella over West Village parking spot, cops say / Read HERE.
The New York Times: Western Nations, Protesting Killings, Expel Syrian Envoys / Read HERE.
The Wall Street Journal: Investors Bet on Facebook Fall / Read HERE.
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