Winning Productions proudly announces Equalipalooza - a night of entertainment for equality. San Francisco 's Margaret Cho, internationally recognized comedienne and civil rights activist, will help raise funds to defeat Proposition 8 by hosting Equalipalooza on October 15, 2008. Proposition 8, on the November ballot, aims to amend California 's Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Who: Cho will be joined by fellow comedians Johnny Steele, Heather Gold and Ali Mafi for an evening of comedy with a conscience. All Proceeds will benefit the ‘No on 8 - Marriage Equality USA' campaign to defeat Proposition 8, which aims to ban same-sex marriage in California. In addition,Assemblyman Mark Leno, District Attorney Kamala Harris, City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Deputy City Attorney ThereseStewart and her wife Carole Scagnetti will be acknowledged for their contributions to the marriage equality movement,Janice Mirikitani, San Francisco 's Poet Laureate, will read her poetry and Margot Duane, the producer of Equalipalooza, will exhibit her photographs of the same-sex wedding movement.
When: Wednesday, October 15, 2008, 7 PM - VIP reception; 8 pm - show Where: Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
Apple released a 2.2 update to Apple TV this weekend. FINALLY included in this update: the ability to play music videos in succession, and the option of creating music video playlists.
This is one of the main reasons I bought the AppleTV in the first place, and was incredibly pissed off to find out that such a feature, previously touted, did not exist in the final product. Sort of like Apple advertising wireless Time Machine backups via AirPort Extreme/AirDisks, only to quietly drop that feature from their literature and come up with a $500 separate solution two years later.
Also added to the AppleTV functionality: on-the-go playlist creation, genius function, ability to purchase HD programs from the device directly, and--wonder of wonders--an off switch. I keep unplugging mine because it runs hotter than a skillet frying an egg all the time.
Refer the table below for Apple TV Software Update 2.2 features:
Feature
How To
HD TV shows
Purchase the leading HD TV shows directly from the iTunes Store. (US only)
Movie browsing by actor and director
Browse movies on the iTunes store by actor and director. Select “More” on the movie page and browse the actor and director list on the left to see other movies for that individual.
Chapter selection, alternate audio and subtitles
While playing a movie, press and hold Play/Pause to access chapter selection, alternate audio and subtitle display. The display shows the options available for the current movie.
Movie description
Press Up when playing a movie to display a description of that movie.
Genius playlists
To create a Genius playlist based on the currently playing song, press and hold Play/Pause to bring up the contextual menu and select Start Genius. Note: The Genius feature must first be enabled in iTunes 8.0.1 and synced with Apple TV.
On-The-Go playlists
To add the currently playing song to the On-The-Go playlist, press and hold Play/Pause to bring up the contextual menu and select Add To On-The-Go.
Music videos in playlists
Make playlists in iTunes combining your favorite music videos and songs. Play them back on Apple TV and let them play continuously.
Apple TV standby mode
From the main menu, press Play/Pause for about three seconds (or go to Settings > Standby).
Like so many millions, I love the Australian show Kath & Kim. And like millions, I've been continually annoyed that the DVDs aren't available for order or purchase in the US (or even in Region 1 format). Why? Because NBC bought the rights to make a an American version. With the exception of The Office, American attempts to repackage British humor always fail miserably (see Ab Fab, Coupling), and no one loses more than the quality-starved television-viewing public.
The new Kath & Kim stars Molly Shannon and Selma Blair. But by reviews, it seems that this too will suck.
I needs me some wine time.
From the SF Gate and Tim Goodman:
Oh, great, now we have to apologize to Australia.
With American television buying so many premade "formats" - a.k.a. importing shows from other countries and ruining them - the need for saying sorry has increased a hundredfold in just a few years. For every miraculous victory - say, "The Office" or, to a lesser extent, "Ugly Betty" - there are hordes of failures.
This time, it's NBC's Americanized version of "Kath & Kim," a fantastically funny Australian comedy that goes into the record books on these shores as a contender for worst remake ever.
Someone asked me about this last week, a straight friend as I recall, and I didn't know anything about it.
The featured story this week in SF Weekly is that of Porn Star and local celebrity Michael Brandon, and his nasty, nasty relapse into crystal meth addiction. And likely return to prison.
As much as I/we joke about the "I lost me to meth" campaign (I lost my keys to meth; I just want to lose 20 pounds to meth...), meth is one seriously fucked up drug that seriously fucks up the lives of those that try it.
Some Alert Readers/friends may remember a Michael Brandon mention from the year that Raging Stallion was one of the sponsors of the rodeo.
"Open Eyes, Queer Film Night" takes place the first Friday of each month at the Femina Potens Art Gallery. Open Eyes features local artists' provocative, critical, and engaging films. This October 3, 2008 at 7pm, Femina Potens proudly presents the talented Mary Guzmán. Guzmán is a Cuban American filmaker, residing in San Francisco. Her award winning films have screened in Spain, Italy, Australia. Guzman will be presenting the following films: Mind if I call you sir?, Desi's Looking for a New Girl, Dangerous Kisses, Worst Case Scenario: Butch Edition, Worst Case Scenario: Femme Edition, Mechanics Daydream, and Do the Math. A question and answer session will follow the film screening, along with wine and cookies. We invite the public to screen their short films that are five minutes or under in a film open mic before the featured films of Mary Guzmán.
I went home from Sundance early last night with an upset stomach. I think Sarah Palin made me sick. If I had to hear about "sitting around the kitchen table" again I was going to puke. It's nice to know you think can identify with our problems because you've sat around the kitchen table worried about the same problems with your family—even though I don't think you ever did—but I need a leader who doesn't sit and fret over problems but rather is smart enough to devise and articulate a plan to do remedy them.
If she's not in the kitchen cooking up strategies for America's economic crisis, then at least she could just make me some breakfast.
I thought she came out looking a lot better than I thought she would, but the debate camp prep and memorization, and the art of the non-answer, where certainly on display.
Andrew Sullivan has some really good post game comment round-ups. A gay Republican conservative and pundit for the Atlantic he often has an interesting take. And calls out bullshit when he sees it.
It's a well-written rant on the Dark Lady's blog. I had not visited the Dark Lady before. She describes herself thusly: "Darklady is editor at YNOT, a regular contributor to Adult Video News, erotic event impresario for Darklady Productions, Inc., and has nearly two decades of experience covering the adult entertainment industry, free speech, internet technology, and alternative sexuality beats online, in print, and via traditional and web radio."
So I'm thinking if you want to click around her site, it would be rather NSFW.
The blog post is fine though. And worth the click-thourgh.
But these are not the reasons that Sarah Palin pisses me off enough to write this.
Sarah Palin pisses me off enough to write this, because she’s a slap in the face of every progressive woman with an ethical backbone, a loving heart, a functioning brain, and an ambitious spirit.(emphasis added —IJS)
It doesn’t bother me that Sarah Palin can drop an elk with a rifle – although I think picking off wolves from an airplane is unsporting, cold-blooded, and cowardly. It doesn’t bother me that Sarah Palin has a beauty queen background – although I find the timing of her first and fifth pregnancies interesting to ponder. It doesn’t bother me that she’s opposed to abortion and chose to give birth to a child with Down syndrome – although I must admit amazement at her nearly super-human ability to camouflage this last pregnancy as compared to her previous ones.
So, what is it about Sarah Palin that sets my blood to “percolate” and makes my entire epidermis crawl? What is it about Sarah Palin that really pisses me off?
It’s the fact that she uses the contents of her uterus like a deflective shield.
I have never seen anyone throw one of their own children under a bus as quickly as I saw Sarah Palin throw not one, but three of hers. Track, Trig, and Bristol; all momma’s little career-sound bytes and photo ops, with Piper’s gregarious cuteness thrown in for good measure and snuggly dressed, but tastefully underage, Willow wisely fading into the background whenever possible.
When faced with rumors that Trig’s matronage might be closer to Bristol than Sarah, the governor of Alaska/newly tapped GOP vice-presidential pick did the only logical thing to defend her title: she outted Bristol as nearing the end of her own second trimester.
Thanks, mom!
As the daughter of a religiously based female right-to-lifer myself, that feels especially icky.
...
But the thing that really pisses me off about Sarah Palin – and I say this as the sister of a mentally retarded adult — is that at every moment possible, poor Trig is clutched in front of the cameras like the photo-op heavy, invaluable, and easily manipulated manifestation of the evangelical movement that he is.
And all of this is being puppeteered by a party that has thrived on condemning the sexual misfortunes or aberrations of others; simultaneously claiming a perverse corner of the market on virtue and family values while its loudest champions are repeatedly found in bed with the polar opposite of their preachings.
[This post is PG-13/R. Self-censor yourself accordingly. This is tame by local community standards, but I can't account for everyone. If you don't like gays, leather, or sexy bits, skip to something else.]
Not to much to tell this year, but I should wrap up the Folsom weekend bits before I head out to watch the debate tonight.
Saturday afternoon, after a painful workout with James at the G gym, I met RMJ for a late brunch/early dinner at Harvey's. The always lovely and kind Carl Anderson was there too, and as an official leather title holder had some extra and free tickets to the Raging Stallion porn party at the EndUp that night, which he generously passed on to us.
We met up with Carl and his posse in line (with charming British Carl in the union suit).
The party was great fun, if not for the over the top asshole bartender(s) who treated the gay, and leather queens at that, with such disdain. Offensive attitude, over-priced drinks, tiny cups, and weak pours did NOT make for a good cocktail. I've talked to my straight friends many times about the "gay drink" versus the "straight drink," the former poured much stronger than the latter, and this night sorely proved my point. It was enough for me to over hear lines like "Fuck this, let's go to a bar that appreciates the gays" multiple times. Fag Fridays does not a gay bar EndUp make. We started ordering shots just to add to our cocktails because they were so weak. Even the shots were about a fourth of a normal shot pour. Weak in so many ways.
The view, however—the chesty slutty, muscled, harness-bound view—was without par.
The crowd was nice,
some more than others,
and eventually everyone poured outside for the Dance of the Men of Raging Stallion.
Chi-Chi La Rue was on hand, of course, and stepped up to the DJ booth. I completely forgot Chi-Chi moved on to DJ'ing, and she played the best freaking set. Never mind the pron stars and gratuitous flesh on display, it was Chi-Chi's set that made my night.
Especially because my two favoritest dance party people ever were there:
I was supposed to leave for L.A. in the morning and miss this weekend's celebrations and would miss dancing with them again. I had a ticket to see the Broadway-bound Nine to Five but have to stay here for work. At least with the dancing, there's an upside to missing the show.
My favorite lines of the night:
This one across [redacted]'s ass. "Fashion jeans indeed.
And this line from Suzan, putting the mini in miniskirt:
"You know your skirt is too short when your Brazilian friend calls it a belt."
Sunday, it turns out I didn't have to work a booze booth for the first time in years. Coco had a generous pre-party but considering transportation logistics I opted to park near the fair and join RoMo at a swank rooftop party.
There I met my husband for the day Gregg,
and his friend Eric
and the clever and quirky Kiwi Carol.
We need more of Carol. Her sense of humor was so PLU. And BIG SHOUT to handsome,and humorous Javier, with whom I was laughing so hard frozen cucumber cocktail almost came out my nose.
You may have noticed I trotted out the Pig III Champion short again, and it did not go without comment. With the other fashion forwards Charlie Courtney and Matthew, we put out for Folsom that Orange is the new Black.
I expect orange harnesses next year. I'm just sayin'.
And check out Matthew's shoes. I was very impressed. RoMo was more impressed by the belt, but he is all about the accessories.
Other shouts:
To Scott—
Lance—
Flirty Seth with the perfect smile from Dore (on the right)—
And Ugly Duckling in fetish gear—
who was much more suggestive and forward before I told him I knew he was behind the mask. His boots were distinctive and I noticed when he arrived in "street" clothes. That, and please, who else do I know with a metabolism like that?
He did at one point say, "Take a picture; it lasts longer." So we did.
Silly fetish boy.
Favorite new word of the day: Noodle. Javier's term for the (usually) young and very, very slim. Typically these are the guys who still look rather awkward in their 20's but will become increasingly handsome in their 40s'. Seth's boyfriend was a noodle. Although inclined, Javier and I decided not to break them up (keeping them separately for ourselves). We are kind and generous that way.
Javier, Carol and I also mastered the art of the false rumor, to the utter confusion and derision of others and complete amusement to ourselves. We also collaborated on what my response should be to the frequently asked question: "What did you have to do to be come Pig Champion?"
"It's a triathlon of sorts... involving among other things of water sports, fisting, and sawdust."
My favorite response: "Oh dear. I hope you didn't win." I answered "Win?!" turning around, "I was the Champion!"
I/We also refused to explain the sawdust, implying that it was one of those "if you don't know I'm not going to tell you" sort of things. That wonderfully intimidated the intimidating.
Of course, we came up with our own answer for what the sawdust was for. If Heloise (points to Javier for that reference) were a dominatrix, she'd tell you it's akin to using kitty litter on an oil stain.
Carol and Javier were all kinds of fun. I need them on the next adventure.
Despite the clear and hot Saturday, this Folsom Sunday, it never got truly warm enough for the wardrobe. And the fog did roll in hard.
So to speak.
Update: As usual, YouTube has nixed the audio on the video.
Tonight’s debate is, like America’s future, all about Reduced Expectations. If Sarah Palin manages to remember what office she’s running for, she will have “managed expectations.” If Joe Biden manages to make it through the night without calling Gwen Ifill a “gorgeous negress,” he will have beaten his debilitating gaffe addiction. But what about the other 90 minutes of bullshit? Let’s make it fun — or hazy, at least — by taking a drink off your wine or beer when the following occurs:
PALIN evades a question by mentioning state rights. BIDEN says he takes the train home every day. PALIN fills time by listing all her kids, by their ridiculous names. BIDEN talks about Scranton. PALIN blames Iraq for 9/11. BIDEN blames McCain for 9/11. PALIN says “like” as a White Trash discourse particle or interjection. BIDEN audibly laughs at Palin. PALIN stares blankly when she can’t answer a question. BIDEN makes a sarcastic joke that goes right over Palin’s head, along with about half the viewers. PALIN says anything comically retarded about Russia or Canada. LIGHTNING BONUS ROUND:
The following situations call for One (1) Shot of Liquor:
PALIN doesn’t know what FDIC or SEC stand for. BIDEN admits to plagiarizing the Constitution. PALIN admits to dealing meth. BIDEN references Palin’s stump speech insult — where she claims she’s been hearing about Biden’s Senate speeches since she was in second grade — by saying there’s no evidence Sarah Palin ever made it second grade. GWEN IFILL asks Sarah Palin about incestuous rape. PALIN insults Biden for having hair plugs. BIDEN calls her “another tanning booth whore, and I’ve know a few.” PALIN says “lipstick” in any context. Finally: Three shots and throw the glass at the teevee if:
BIDEN calls her a “hockey pig.” PALIN pulls off her pantsuit to reveal a confederate-flag one-piece bathing suit, and she looks fat, and the audience boos.
I don't know if you've heard about this one yet or not. A few twirlers at Van High School in Texas have been disciplined by administrators and suspended from games and rallies for performing a routine to the ridiculously popular and ubiquitous song "I Kissed a Girl."
Barney could not attend Folsom this year (having returned to his native New Zealand and all), but took in an entirely different sort of fashion extreme on Sunday: The World of Wearable Art Awards:
I had the family down here in Wellington over the weekend. We got to enjoy the Wearable Art Awards. Very fun event and something I had been wanting to go to for years (its been running for 20 years). It is a very uniquely kiwi event. Image a fancy dress competition, set to broadway/circus musical. Very entertaining. It is an event that I could see RoMo and yourself loving. See some pics of the entries here: http://www.worldofwearableart.com/
I thought this leather gown was very cool. A lot of the other winners are more costume than art, but well worth a click-through.
Speaking of Kevin, last night he took himself to the Oakland taping of So You Think You Can Dance? He nearly popped a blood vessel having no one to make commentary with. Statler needed his Waldorf. Next year we are getting box seats. And probably podcasting.
This kid is only fifteen. At first I thought, "Man, he must get the shit kicked out of him every day." Then I was informed it's an act. And he's cracking me up.
But man, fifteen. Fifteen!! I was not CLOSE to coming to terms with the gay then. Of course, we did not have home computers, or the internet, or digital video then either. And gay was invisible, or beaten.
Hello YouTube, FaceBook, and MySpace.
Kids. Today.
And I would kill for his metabolism.
I should not have done the math. If he's fifteen, he was born in 1993.
The One Man Star Wars Trilogy was actually a great show. I would call it a must for all Star Wars fans, and thoroughly entertaining for anyone who (1) liked the original trilogy at all; or (2) enjoys fun, simple theater.
His combination of vocalizations, character impersonations, physical expression, and wry commentary do make for a good show. I would have personally preferred more smarm, and some more adult commentary, but that would have pushed his bit into Robot Chicken and Family Guy territory—which is probably where it best belongs.
Not to mention, this is very family fare. And, truthfully, fun for the whole family (which is why the humor is very much rated G).
And like any true Star Wars function, there will be fans in costume.
And as a family yet. Whatever keeps you together these days.
Afterward, Michael wanted to avoid the weekend Folsom factor so we eschewed SoMa and the Castro for a low key beverage at the Pilsner. Some guys left their six-month old chihuahua with us to watch for a moment while they went to the bar. Michael really wants his own. He is determined to get a tiny yappy gay dog like this.
I've really enjoyed getting to know new friend and great dancer David Kearney, who invited me for a little bit of paradise in his garden Friday evening after work and before theater time.
We've all seen the cute redesigns of the Google logo the company pulls out for various occasions. I've always enjoyed the whimsical retakes.
The Google logo on the home page today is the standard one, but the little person in the Street View of Google Maps is on his way to the Google birthday party!
I've always loved the CAS. The temporary digs were underwhelming, and I am looking forward to exploring the collection again in the brilliant new design. Check out this video about the living roof.
I had planned to walk over tomorrow afternoon, but James will be beating my body to a pulp with a new Crossfit workout down at the G.
Hotelier/Concierge Michael Harkin and I have enjoyed some good random theater in the past, and tonight he's taking me to another random event which promises not to disappoint: a one-man performance of the Star Wars trilogy.
One Man Star Wars Trilogy is a hilarious, high energy, nonstop blast through the original Star Wars trilogy, but with one catch: there's only one cast member, Charles Ross, a writer and solo performer who spent way too much of his childhood in a galaxy far, far away. Ross plays all the characters, recreates the effects, sings the music, flies the ships, and fights both sides of the light saber battles, making for a side-splitting evening.
I met David Barton and his significant other John Ledwith years ago. For a while (ages past), John was at Citizen in the Castro and I would stop in and say hi whenever I passed. He's now at Landor, an ad/branding agency where several of my friends have had careers in the past. I know David better than I know John, perhaps because we've had a chance to talk more intently on a range of topics, and because I see him more often. David (a wicked smart guy with an MDiv) tends bar and manages at 440.
At Ladonor, John received a company-wide e-mail calling for freelance writers. Even though I haven't seen John in years, he remembered a conversation long ago wherein I mentioned how much I love writing copy. He was kind enough to think of me and wanted to pass the call for submissions on to me.
One problem: he couldn't remember my name exactly.
He called his hubby (this part of the story comes from David, who might get into trouble now that I am writing it down).
John called David and asked, "Hey, what's the name of that friend of yours who writes? Something like Winston Honeysuckle the Third?"
That's not my name. But sometimes, I kind of wish it were.
If you ever find a romance novel written by Winston Honeysuckle III, you'll know who to blame.
Winning Productions proudly announces Equalipalooza - a night of entertainment for equality. San Francisco 's Margaret Cho, internationally recognized comedienne and civil rights activist, will help raise funds to defeat Proposition 8 by hosting Equalipalooza on October 15, 2008. Proposition 8, on the November ballot, aims to amend California 's Constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.
