Monday, December 31, 2012

CliffsNotes


Senate Outraged at Having to Work Weekend to Save Nation
Read HERE

Al Qaeda Disbands; Says Job of Destroying U.S. Economy Now in Congress’s Hands Read HERE.

The Red Baron


 I'm totally not one to say I told you so, but Page Six reports:
“Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson nearly caused a riot at St. Barts’ tiny airport after attempting to “hijack” a fashion designer’s chartered jet to get off the swanky island by sunset.

Ferguson, who plays Mitchell Pritchett on the hit ABC sitcom, his fiancĂ©, Justin Mikita, and two girlfriends were waiting for their chartered plane to take them off the chic destination Wednesday night just before the island swung into high New Year’s season but became agitated when it was delayed. 
A St. Barts airport witness tells us, “All the planes were delayed, and sunset was approaching. You cannot fly out of St. Barts past sunset. Jesse’s plane was late, and there were also three other groups at the airport who were waiting to get planes. They were all freaking out that they were going to miss the sunset deadline, because all the hotels were fully booked.” 
All hell broke loose when a plane chartered by New York fashion designer Ramy Brook Sharp and her entourage came in before Ferguson’s. The spy said, “Jesse and his group barged through the doors and stormed onto the tarmac and jumped on the plane. It wasn’t their plane, but they insisted they were first. They basically hijacked Ramy’s plane." 
“The pilot started to taxi onto the tiny runway with Jesse and his group on board, but Ramy wasn’t standing for it and had the airport call the plane back in, right as it was going to take off.
The Ferguson crew had to do the walk of shame back into the terminal. 
“It was pretty funny, and they were very embarrassed. It was like an episode of ‘Modern Family, ’ ” said our spy. 
 Keep reading HERE.

Mousing Around


Here's something to look forward to in 2013: Television reporter Gio Benitez is coming to New York City to work for Mickey!

'Paradise' Found


  Saw "West of Memphis" yesterday at the Angelika, Amy Berg's detailed documentary about the infamous West Memphis 3, a trio of misfit teenagers in Arkansas who were charged with the "satanic-cult" murder of three 8-old-boys in the early '90s. For those who are not familiar with the case -- another conviction based on a bogus confession of a mentally retarded teenager -- it's a great all-in-one place to learn about it. (Peter Jackson and the supposed ringleader of the crime, Damien Echols, co-produced it.) And for those who have been haunted by the case since HBO's shocking documentary "Paradise Lost" (1996) -- where Jackson, Eddie Vedder, Johnny Depp and several other high-profile people first learned about the case and began questioning the prosecutors' actions -- and its two sequels, it will bring you up to date on the three guys' release from prison in 2011. And it will also reveal shocking new evidence that implicates one of the boys' stepfathers, who was only questioned in recent years after trying to sue Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks for defamation after she mentioned that new testing showed that Mr. Hobbs' DNA matched a strand of hair caught in one of the shoe laces used to hog-tie the boys. Like "The Central Park Five," you will be horrified at the miscarriage of justice in this most-horrifying of cases. But as Damien Echols points out while still in prison, this type of railroading of the dirt-poor and under-educated is far more common than people want to believe.

Mary Richards Slept Here


 At this point, the main difference between me and Mary Tyler Moore -- not counting the diabetes and alcoholism -- is that she quit while she was ahead. But if I decide to call it a day and move back to the Midwest, I see Mare's old home on North Weatherly Avenue is on the market ... for a mere $2.895 million. Her old studio apartment is definitely tempting, although I'm not sure I could live there without Rhoda and Phyllis upstairs! Read HERE.


Sign Language


Song of the Day: 'Senses Working Overtime' by XTC


 Another classic single I first learned about via early MTV, from the British band's 1982 album, "English Settlement." Was mortified to read that Mandy Moore covered it in 2003.

Six Pack None the Richer


Ben Harvey and Dave Rubin have apparently called it a day on "The Six Pack" podcast and Sirius/XM show. I'm friendly with both guys, but haven't heard exactly what's going on. Might this tweet from Dave be a hint of bigger things to come -- perhaps a show on Current TV? It appears I've already gone from being a friend to a "fan" of his on Facebook overnight!


Morning Wood


Page 1 Consider (12/31)






Sunday, December 30, 2012

Hillary Clinton Hospitalized With Blood Clot


 Read HERE.


Saturday, December 29, 2012

Weekend Wood


Two more HERE.

Tired Old Queen at the Movies: 'The Poseidon Adventure' (1972)


 And you thought you've had some awful New Year's Eves?



Friday, December 28, 2012

On the Rag, Vol. 231

A weekly look at what's making news in the free gay rags:


Metro Weekly presents the Year in Scene 2012. Read HERE.


Get Out! thinks 2013 is going to be Vine and dandy. Online edition HERE.


 Next puts Le1F out front. Online edition HERE.


Frontiers remembers the 101 moments that made 2012 a remarkable year HERE.

RIP: Journalism, 1605-2012


  All credit to Colin Millar.

Jean Harris, World's Cutest Killer, Is Dead at 89


 Very sad to hear about the passing of Jean Harris, my second-favorite murderer of all time. (Sorry, Jean: Betty Broderick's phone message for "the fuckhead and the cunt" stole my heart!) If you don't know about the "Scarsdale Diet doctor murder" -- in which the private-school headmistresses shot her cheating lover, Dr. Herman Tarnower, FOUR TIMES then claimed she was trying to commit suicide(!!!) -- then you missed a golden era in tabloid journalism. (When cops arrived at the scene she was pulling away in her car wearing a mink jacket, then explained she was "going to look for a pay phone" to call them!!!) Harris' second act was legendary -- she created a foundation that raised millions for scholarships for children of women in prison -- even if she probably only got the chance because of how witty and charming she was. (She was released after 12 years in prison after Governor Mario Cuomo granted her clemency.) Read her (rather wonderful) New York Times obituary HERE. There would be no "Snapped" without her.


Cubs Fan


     Cutest day in the park ever! More photos HERE.

Subscription Drugs


 Ad Age picks the best magazine covers of 2012, including The New Yorker's "Spectrum of Light." See 'em all HERE.

Nadal to Miss Aussie Open


Bummed to read that Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the Australian Open, citing a ... stomach virus? Despite my penchant for posting shirtless photos of Mr. Bad Knees, I'm anything but a fan of his. But the game is suffering horribly in his absence -- Andy Murray won a major! -- so I can't say I'm at all happy about this, even if it will likely help Federer and Djokovic add to their trophy case.

Nadal said in a statement:
"My knee is much better and the rehabilitation process has gone well as predicted by the doctors, but this virus didn't allow me to practice this past week, and therefore I am sorry to announce that I will not play in Doha and the Australian Open."

RIP: Fontella Bass


 The voice behind one of pop music's most recognizable -- and, dare I say, best -- singles died Wednesday, at 72. Fontella Bass' life was marred by many of the same things that affected other singers of the era -- deprived of proper credit, royalty disputes -- but her mega hit "Rescue Me" will never be forgotten. Read her New York Times obituary HERE.

Yeah, What She Said


Hairy Situation


BuzzFeed weighs in on why Beards Change Everything. Read HERE.


Grin and 'Bear' It

 

Talk about random: A couple of guys who call themselves Bearnanarama have recreated Bananarama's "Move in My Direction" video scene by scene. OK. (Via Queerty)

Retro Ad Watch: Kirk Gibson's Home Run Secret


    The Dodgers legend looks pretty good getting out of a bathtub ... and he certainly was a a stud THIS night.


Song of the Day: 'Lonesome River' by Rosanne Cash


The great Rosanne Cash debuted her cover of the bluegrass song “Lonesome River” yesterday on TIME.com.  It's part of a Hurricane Sandy benefit LP called "The Storm Is Passing Over," billed as an indie-folk album of “16 classic American storm songs.” In exchange for a donation, you can download the collection HERE.


(Video looks dead but it works)

Morning Wood


Page 1 Consider (12/28)








Top 10 Most Read Books in the World


  Let's just say the fact that I've never read any of them makes me a nonconformist. From HERE.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Love Match


  Inspired by my friend Matt's 100 Hottest TV Actors and 100 Hottest Film Actors lists, I am busy working on my 100 Hottest Tennis Players (hint: you're lookin' at one of them). To weigh in before it's Game, Set and Match, send me an e-mail HERE.

The Gay It Was


  THIS is why 2012 was the gayest year ever!

Happy (Belated) Birthday to Ricky Martin!


His soon-to-be former "Evita" costars helped the Puerto Rican hunk celebrate his 41st birthday, which was on Christmas Eve.