Croissant and a little Blue Box

After taking a shower and getting dressed I grabbed my keys and iPod and headed out for a nice stroll. It was a marvelous day for a Sunday walk. The sky was clear and crystal blue and air crisp. I walked around the neighborhood and down by Chandler Street at which point I came across an old Salon I used to go to. It was a rather nice salon and I remember my stylist telling me that the landlord was raising the rent and was forcing them out. Well, today I saw the new tenets. It was a convince store... can you imagine a convenience store with beautiful hardwood floors. It wasn't even a fancy convenience store either like the kind you find on Newbury Street or in the Back Bay , but just a run of the mill corner store. I really was sad, and it was even more depressing to walk by the old Tatnuck Book Store that is now empty. What is this world coming to when respectable establishments are forced out the door and replaced with the mundane? Ah well, C'est la Vie!

The rest of my walk was quite delightful and on as I was crossing through the wooded park I came upon a red tail hawk. It was amazing to see such a large and powerful bird up close while it was resting on a fallen tree.

Anyway, when I got home I felt like watching a movie and decided on Breakfast at Tiffany's. This was my first time watching it and I have to saw I was completely entranced by Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. Talk about style and glamour I so get the desire to want to become that enchanting woman, even if she was a call girl. Now I am going to have to hunt for the perfect pair of shades so I can have my on little fun at playing Holly Golightly after all I already have a little something from Tiffany's.

Last Night

Last night we were trying to figure out what movie we wanted to see that would give us enough time to hang out with our friend's Amy and Marsha later in the evening. The only thing that was playing around six o'clock was 10,000 B.C. part of me wanted to see the movie, but another part was ambivalent about spending money on a movie that I would probably end up disliking. So, I went on the Internet to find a movie review to help sway me either way and I came across a film review that settled the conundrum for me. Turns out my ambivalence was justified. Check out the review below.

These two film critics are hilarious and are extremely insightful. Anyway, we ended up skipping the movie and went over to Amy's place to meet some of her college friends. Michael and I brought cannolis and we had a good time playing some games and just chatting. Plus, I finally got Amy to sing, which I have been pestering her to do ever since I found out she used to do a lot of musical theatre. Turns out the girl has a really pretty voice, don't know why she is so shy when she knows she can work that song out right.

You Had To Burn

Madonna / The Power Of Good-Bye

This is one of my favorite songs off of Madonna's Ray Of Light album. I've been in Madonna mode every since her latest single was released (4 Minutes). Anyway, the song is beautiful and moving and she looks breathe-taking in the video. Enjoy :)

Bad Bad Blogger

I have been neglecting my blog recently because I have been so busy this week with getting my project on Degas finished. Since I have a free moment I'll let you guys know about this really interesting lecture that I attended on Thursday night about controversial art in the 19th century.

The lecture was really fascinating and the guest professor discussed how works can be controversial in their own time and then controversy can be assigned to works by other generations. One of the paintings that was rather shocking was one by Gustave Courbet, who during his own time was a controversial artist, but his painting The Origins of the World just totally caught me off guard.

So did some of the disturbing images of Francisco Goya. The thing is I feel like it is important to see and appreciate images that are sometimes unpleasant because the truth is those dark elements are a part of the human condition. I feel it is better to face that darkness within directly and deal with it rather then shun it and hope that it goes away. Check out some of the paintings that were discussed below. WARNING some of the paintings are very graphic!

Courbet - Origins of the World - 1886

Goya - Saturn Devoring his Son - 1819

Eakins - The Swimming Hole - 1885

Avenue Q

Last night Michael and I and another couple went out into the rainy night. We travelled out to Boston to go see the hilarious musical Avenue Q. I was excited to see the show, but even more so for the fact that we were going to one of my favorite pizza places Crazy Dough's for dinner. I got my favorite slice there, which is a baked potato pizza with thin slices of potato, bacon, chives and all that great stuff topped with ranch dressing.....YUM!!!

Anyway, after dinner we left Harvard Sq. and headed into Boston. This was my first time sitting in the balcony at the Colonial Theater, and man do you loose any sense of personal space. There was no leg room, which was really an issue for Michael, but the plus was we could see the entire stage.

The show was amazing! Michael had purchased the soundtrack a year or two ago and I had listened to it off and on, but never got really into it. But, being there live and hearing all the songs in the context of the show was beyond funny. I think my favorite number was "Everyones a little bit Racist" and I have to say I love the reminder that George W. Bush was only for now. Honestly every song had me laughing like crazy. Who would have thought puppets f*cking on stage would win a Tony award for best musical :)

All Hail the Princess Of Pop!

Kylie Minogue / Wow

She is like a shot of sunshine right when you need it most. I will never understand why America can not see what the rest of the world can. Kylie is the defintion of Pop, Sexy, and Cool. As they used to say back when, she is the living end.

You, Me, & Friendly's

Last night Michael was feeling pretty down. We were suppose to go see a play at Clark called The Woman of Shanghai, but he was just not feeling up to it. So, to cheer him up we went out for some ice-cream. This probably just relates back to being a kid, but there is something about getting a sundae that makes all the horrible things a lot more bearable. Anyway, we both got sundaes, mine was cookies n' cream and Michael got the peanut butter cup one.

When we got back home I had received and e-mail from a good friend who I thought had dropped out of existence. It if funny how the universe works. Just a few days ago I received another e-mail from my High School best friend and now my old work-mate and accomplice in crime was saying hey after at least three months of no communication. Now all I need to do is have an accidental run in with old pal Ina May to make things really weird and complete.

p.s. can I just say shameful I feel for liking Miley Cyrus's (Hannah Montana) song See You Again. It sounds so 80's I Wear My Sunglasses At Night that I can't stop listening to it....scary!!!!

Unite

An amazing and inspiring woman, Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm (1924-2005) was an American politician, educator and author. In 1968 she was the first African-American Woman every elected to congress and served her constitutes from the New York 12th district for seven terms. In 1972 she became the first African-American Female candidate of a major party (Democrat) to run for the Presidency. She won 152 delegates.

Let us unite people not divide. Here are her words, which are very interesting in light of this current primary race:

• I was the first American citizen to be elected to Congress in spite of the double drawbacks of being female and having skin darkened by melanin. When you put it that way, it sounds like a foolish reason for fame. In a just and free society it would be foolish.That I am a national figure because I was the first person in 192 years to be at once a congressman, black and a woman proves, I think, that our society is not yet either just or free.

• I want history to remember me not just as the first black woman to be elected to Congress, not as the first black woman to have made a bid for the presidency of the United States, but as a black woman who lived in the 20th century and dared to be herself.

• Of my two “handicaps” being female put more obstacles in my path than being black.

• I’ve always met more discrimination being a woman than being black.

• My God, what do we want? What does any human being want? Take away an accident of pigmentation of a thin layer of our outer skin and there is no difference between me and anyone else. All we want is for that trivial difference to make no difference.

• Racism is so universal in this country, so widespread and deep seated, that it is invisible because it is so normal.

• We Americans have a chance to become someday a nation in which all racial stocks and classes can exist in their own self-hoods, but meet on a basis of respect and equality and live together, socially, economically, and politically.

• In the end anti-black, anti-female, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing - anti-humanism.

Source: PBS.org

Speaking of Fierce

Madonna on the cover of her new album Hard Candy. This is pure hottness!!

Say It Ain't So...

I had heard the rumors, but now it is confirmed. My favorite show on the f*cking planet is coming to an end. Yes, the sapphic soap the L word will return for a brief eight episode season next year and then say good bye. I was trying to brace myself for this possibility but hoped that deep down the show would last for another five seasons. It seems so strange, as if only the show just aired for the first time versus the five years in which I have grown to love the fierce lesbian ladies and their fabulous lives that make up this phenomenal show.

So now that Sex and the City is gone and and no more the L word I'll have to find a new fix of glamorous women, let's hope ABC and NBC renew Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle. All I have to say is thank god for DVD where I can revisit Jenny (Mia Kushner) and my personal favorite Bette (played by Jennifer Beals of Flashdance fame) any time I want.

Clinton and her campaign are so racist!!

Or at least that is the rallying cry that has been said every few months through out this primary for the democratic nomination. This cry has been brought out again thanks to a comment that Geraldine Ferraro made regarding the fact that Obama would not be as far along as he is if he was not black. Is that really racist and is it really that shocking?? Ferraro's comment taken out of context and turned into a juicy sound bite for cable news pundits to denounce and decry, and there by denounce and decry Hillary Clinton would like us to think so.

Ms. Ferraro's comment which taken at face value is a racially charged statement, but placed back into the context in which Ferraro was actually speaking about the issue of racism becomes invalid to any rational mind.

“I think what America feels about a woman becoming president takes a very secondary place to Obama’s campaign - to a kind of campaign that it would be hard for anyone to run against,” she said. “For one thing, you have the press, which has been uniquely hard on her. It’s been a very sexist media. Some just don’t like her. The others have gotten caught up in the Obama campaign.
“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position,” she continued. “And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.” ~Geraldine Ferraro, March 7, 2008

This was the quote that set the whole thing off. Ferraro was giving a speech at Torrance Cultural Center in Torrance CA. Why is this woman racist, or the comment is made racist? Bringing up the legitimate issue of race in terms of Senator Obama's success is automatically racist? Does America thing that racism is so far behind us that to suggest that some one's race may play into a persons electability is automatically racist. Yet when people credit Clinton and her support from women this is a non-issue, as if Senator Clinton's gender had nothing to do with it.

If Barack Obama was a white man do you think he would get the large margin of the African-American vote in southern states over Hillary Clinton, which as a proven track record of support for civil rights and issues concerning African-Americans? This is not to say that support for Obama is solely based on his race, but you can not deny that it is an advantage in his favor. Obama has many great qualities. He does inspire and gives a sense of hope and his politics and stances on issues such as Health Care and the war in Iraq are almost mirror images of his democratic rival. Both candidates if elected would make history, so the fact that he is a bi-racial, but for this country's need a black man not be a driving force in his campaign? This is one of the problems within this country, we are not above racism or living in a post-racial society because of this any thing can be turned into a negative racial slur. This is something that again favors Barack Obama and why many people think he would do well in the general election. The Republicans would not have as much fire because they would run the risk of being called racist. So questions about is policies and political background would be left untouched, while Clinton would be fodder for the Republican attack machine. Sexism and sexist views which have been prevalent through Senator Clinton's campaign are never seriously addressed simple because sexism is still acceptable then a perceived racism.

What about the issue of sexism/racism when Jesse Jackson, stomping for Obama in New Hampshire called African-American congressmen "Uncle Toms" for supporting Clinton's campaign over their racial brother. Is this not a racially charged statement? Can not these men vote for whom they think is the most appropriate candidate and not solely on the sharing of a perceived racial identity? How about when gospel singer/pastor McClurkin was brought onto Obama's campaign in the south to help suede black voters away from Clinton? McClurkin who is an out spoken homophobe and as publicly stated that "the gays" want to murder the children of America, where is the big out cry? Was this not a typical tactic to use homophobia to get the black vote that helped G.W.B. win in the south? We have Obama endorsed by Minister Farakan a man that is visceral in his anti-semitism and is admired by Obama's spiritual advisor, none of this seems to be a major concern to any one.

Is the double standard of it all becoming clear to any one yet?? WAKE UP AMERICA!!!

I also want to address Keith Olbermann's "special comment" on his cable news show. I am fan of Mr. Olbermann but recently his obvious bias for Obama and against Clinton has turned me off completely. For once I would like to just get the news without the presenters opinion whether liberal or conservative. Olbermann is quickly becoming the Bill O'Reily of the left, which in my opinion is a sad day. Instead of being a man of conviction he is turning into the very think he hates the most a ring leader in a dog and pony show. Big mouths shooting opinions without any true balance or evidence is bad no matter how closely those opinions may align with your own.

The New Donna Summer

Kelly Rowland / Work (Freemasons Remix)

This song is pretty hot and I have noticed in Kelly's last video for "Like This" that she resembled the great disco queen Donna Summer this clip just clenches it for me.

Absolutely Fabulous

Róisín Murphy / You Know Me Better

Words of Wisdom from the Queen

"Freedom is a funny word because when we think we're free, we're not really. I think freedom is quite illusory….When I stop thinking about myself all the time and put other people before me on a regular basis, that's real freedom. When I can love unconditionally….then that's real freedom. So it's something to strive for, but I'm not free." - Madonna in Interview

I thought this was an interesting and thought provoking statement on the concept of what freedom is and how it can be achieved.

Pure Light

After my last post I felt compelled to balance the hate and darkness with the only thing that can overpower it, light and love. So here is that light and love manifested in the form of the incomparable and talented Cyndi Lauper singing "True Colors."

May you be open to the light and enjoy :)

Hate with a Smile

The hate of middle America:

Sally Kern a representative of the state of Oklahoma talking about the dangers and the destructiveness in the spread of the "gay life-style." I think my favorite part of her speech is when she says she doesn't hate and isn't any type of gay basher, but she feels that gays are the last nail hammering into America's coffin. She also goes on to state that I being a gay man is more dangerous to this country than terrorists that attacked on 9/11. Sally Kern, you with your hate speech that springs forth from your lips are no different then those terrorists that wish to destroy America's freedom. You are no different then Hitler when he used the Jews as the sacrificial goat to bring about his fascist rule in Germany. You, Sally Kern are a disgrace and disgust me and you Sally Kern is the true danger to America and it's legacy of freedom.

Happy Birthday 2 U

This post is dedicated to two of the most important women in my life, and no I am not talking about Madonna and Kylie! Who are these two fabulous women you may ask? Well, they are non-other then my dear Mother and Sister. I just wanted to wishyou both a happy and adequate birthday tomorrow and to let you know that I wish I could be there to help celebrate with you. Sending you lots of yellow for you to enjoy in the California sun. Love Chad.

P.s.

Wow Sis, you look a little like Xena: Warrior Princess in this pic. That is pretty damn fierce!

Just Because...

Madonna - Hung Up

The Comeback

"For everyone here in Ohio and across America who has ever been counted out but refused to be knocked out, for everyone who has stumbled but stood right back up, and for everyone who works hard and never gives up, this one is for you," - Hillary Clinton

Source: BBC

Before I went to bed last night I checked the results of the primaries that were going on around the country, knowing that this could be the last shot Hillary Clinton had at gaining the Democratic nomination. At that time Obama had won Vermont with Senator Clinton having wins in Rhode Island and the important state of Ohio. The two contenders were still battling it out neck and neck for Texas. Barrack Obama had a 2% lead over Hillary and I prayed that during the night she would over take him. This morning I thought I heard Michael tell me that Hillary had won last night before he left for work, but I could not be sure if it was just a dream. I dreaded the idea that she might have lost Texas. So, when I woke up and saw that Senator Clinton had taken Texas I couldn't have been more happy or proud. There is still hope America that we can have both change and experience to lead this country to a brighter future.

Speaking of funny...

Kristen Wiig / Maya Rudolph /Tina Fey shot by Annie Leibovitz

Funny ladies are honored in the new issue of Vanity Fair, featuring some of my favorite women in comedy Wanda Sykes, Amy Sedaris, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Susie Essman, Kristen Wigg and many more. Move over fellas the ladies are going to show you how real comedy is done!

Pretty Funny

From the Big Gay Sketch Show

Christine Ebersole plays Edie Beal in the Broadway production of Grey Gardens which was based on the documentary of the same name about little Edie and her mother. This was a pretty hilarious spoof of both Grey Gardens and Extreme Makeover. Mrs. Ebersole does a knock out job as Edie. Her incarnation as the cult figure is very astonishing and the skit is hilarious. Enjoy :)

Rainy Tuesday

It is the second day of Spring Break and the rain as not stopped at all today. Weather like today's makes me wonder how any one gets any thing done in a places like London where the norm is drizzle and gray. Days like today make it hard for me to be motivated at all. I just feel like sitting around watching movies and sleeping in. Hoping that the hours I pass under the covers will make the sun reappear in the sky, but there are still things to get done even on a gloomy day.

I sent out about five packages to various places today and passed an old co-worker from my last job while I was out running errands. I noticed her and mentioned it to Michael but I felt no desire to call out to her and tell her what I thought about her since I no longer did think about her, which was a nice thing to realize. She was nothing more then a faded apparition of an annoyance I once had in a past life. It is nice to be able to move on.

I just woke up from a three hour nap. Michael has been watching the show Angel since he has been home from work and the non-stop marathon was starting to wear thin on me. I think I've convinced him to turn off Angel in favor of watching La Vie En Rose to give me a break from the Buffy spin-off for a while. Until then I am going to try to lift some of the gloom with some music. Cheerio!

Speaking of the 70's

Justin Timberlake in the new Mike Myers' comedy The Love Guru. Very shag-a-delic baby, yeah!

Blank This! (The Match Game)

Michael and I have this current obsession with watching the 70's game show Match Game. It is one of our nightly rituals now to watch episodes that out TiVo records for us during the day while we are out and about. The whole point of the game is for the contestant to try to come up with an answer that best fits a blank part of a statement and then must match that answer with a panel of celebrity guest.

I first was exposed to Match Game one summer while I was staying at my sister's house in Califorina. They had satellite t.v. at the time and with that came a gross amount of channels to choose from. One day instead of being outside enjoying the Califorina sunshine I was flipping through channels I came upon a game show with a horrible tacky set all decked out with orange shag carpet, namely the Match Game. (let me reiterate the 70's era here) I watched an episode or two and found them to be very ammusing in a quirky way. Most of the celebrities I was oblivious to except for a few rare ones that I could recall from programming on Nick-at-Night or from 80's sitcoms like the adorable Betty White.

After my brief exposure to Match Game that summer it slipped to the recesses of my mind until another fateful summer. This time around I ran into the game show at Hampton beach where I was staying with my then high school bff Ina and her family. We're staying in tiny little efficientce (that is what it was called), when to my delight Match Game was once again on the telly. We watched the show every night after coming in from swimming and walking the boardwalk and it was the perfect end to the day. So, nine years later when we got a notice that our cable provider was offering the Game Show Network I searched for airings of Match Game.

Now it is the way that Michael and I relax, watching the show and laughing because every match as the possibility to end up in the gutter. It has to be something to do with saying the word blank, your mind naturally wanders there. Charles Nelson Riley is one of my favorite celebs, I think it has to do with the fact that a lot of his jokes have subtle gay undertones which almost have the feel of a private inside joke. Needless to say watching Match Game has become our new ritual. To bad they don't have a modern verison of it now because as a side note Michael and I would kick ass at it. We always tend to come up with something to help fill those blanks :)

On a lighter note...

Renoir - Luncheon of the Boating Party - 1881

...enjoy Renoir's painting Luncheon of the Boating Party. No one was better then creating the illusion of happiness then Renoir even in situations of social class tention and distiction. If only every body that was different could move about and live so easily as in this painting.

Tragic

Ellen DeGeneres speaking on the tragic death of a young boy.

This speaks so well to what I am reading in a book about America and the overwhelming need to appear masculine and the marginalization of any thing that threatens American masculinity. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this horrible event.

Hotness

Madonna on the cover of the new issue of Dazed and Confused.

The Queen is back!

Seventh Tree

I was introduced to the music of Goldfrapp through Madonna. I was watching an interview with Pop Icon for a British music program when she mentioned she was a fan of the electronic duo Goldfrapp. Time pasted, but when their album Supernature caught my eye at Newbury Comics I convinced Michael to grab it. We popped the CD into the car to listen on the ride home and from the first 5 seconds of their song "Ooh La La" I was hooked and desperately, madly in love with them.

With that in mind their latest effort Seventh Tree takes a different path. If you were expecting the in your face sex and glam disco of Supernature or Black Cherry you will be disappointed. If Supernature was the album for sweat filled urban nights Seventh Tree is the album for a beautiful weekend in the country.This album more closely aligns itself with their first album Felt Mountain which was full of ethereal and cinematic ballads. The change in direction is certainly not a bad one at all. The lead off track "A&E" has been playing in my head on repeat for quite sometime now. The lyrics are dark and beautiful and fit so well with Alison's wispy vocals. There are plenty of up-tempo songs to help bridge the gap between their last project and this one, especially songs "Happiness" and "Caravan Girl" though up beat these tracks do tend to have a more earthly or acoustic feel but still contain elements of electronic sound. This album will definitely be in my top play list soon.

Favorite songs for far:
A&E Happiness
Cologne Cerrone Houdini

Road to Somewhere

Caravan Girl

A Message from Senator Clinton

As I have traveled around the country these past twelve months, what I sensed in my heart has been confirmed – America is embracing its LGBT sons and daughters with an acceptance and understanding as never before. On the campaign trail, a father of a gay son will ask about ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. A woman will ask why she can be discriminated against just because of who she is. Sometimes they wait furtively for the crowd to thin and then whisper their confidences in a soft voice and sometimes they stand up proudly at town meetings and want me to share my views on how I will help lead the change to assure that this country fulfills its promise to everyone.

Let me tell you what I have been telling voters across America. I am fully committed to the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans. For seven long years, the Bush Administration has tried to divide us - only seeing people who matter to them. It's been a government of the few, by the few, and for the few. And no community has been more invisible to this administration than the LGBT community.

I will change that. The best evidence of what I will do as President is what I have already done.

* I am proud of my record as First Lady, as a U.S. Senator and as a candidate for President in working toward the fair and equal treatment of LGBT Americans.
* I am proud that as Chair of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee in 2006, I worked closely with LBGT community to develop a smart strategy that defeated the Federal Marriage Amendment. I am proud of fighting the FMA as divisive wedge politics at its worst.
* I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligation Act which would grant the same benefits (including health insurance) to domestic partners of federal employees that are currently offered to employees’ legal spouses.
* I am proud to have authored the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which expands access to vital treatment options for low-income individuals living with HIV, and fought to fully fund the Ryan White CARE Act.
* I am proud that I hired a National Director of LGBT Outreach within a month of announcing my candidacy for President and to have openly gay and lesbian staffers serving at all levels of my campaign.
* I am proud to have a National LGBT Steering Committee of over 130 that includes openly LGBT elected officials, Board members and opinion leaders on issues ranging from transgender rights, to HIV/AIDS, to “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”.
* I am proud to have marched in Gay Pride parades as both First Lady and as Senator and to have spoken in front of so many LGBT audiences ranging from the Human Rights Campaign, Empire State Pride Agenda, the Hetrick Martin Institute, PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis), and the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
* I am proud to have fought Republican efforts to demonize and marginalize the LGBT community, and I will continue to do that as President.
We have so much work to do. When I am President, we will work together to make sure that all Americans in committed relationships have equal benefits and that nothing stands in the way of loving couples who want to adopt children in need. We're going to expand our federal hate crimes legislation and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and assure that they are both fully inclusive of all people. And finally, we will put an end to the failed policy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Courage, honor, patriotism and sacrifice – the traits that define our men and women in uniform – have nothing to do with sexual orientation.

My father was a conservative Republican, who held very traditional views for much of his life. Yet in his last years, it was a gay couple who lived next door who provided much of the compassion and comfort he and my mother needed as he grew ill. And it was that same neighbor who held his hand as he died. If my father can move, America can move.

To each and every LGBT American, I say this. You have done so much to help this country understand your lives by simply being open and honest about who you are and living your lives with dignity. Thank you for your courage. It is time that we recognize your hard work. I know that this country is ready for changes in the law that reflect the evolution in our hearts.

America deserves a President who appeals to the best in each of us, not the worst; a President who values and respects all Americans and treats all Americans equally no matter who they are or who they love. I want to be that President. I want to be your President.

Source: HillaryClinton.com

Little Priest from Sweeney Todd

Enjoy the twisted goodness of it all!

Vogue Bitch

This is has to be olympic Vogueing or something, beyond fierce and a little scary!

Musicals are the Bomb!

just got back a little while ago from seeing Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and it was fabulous. This was my second time seeing the film on the big screen, the first when it was released on Christmas day in 2007. It is a total Tim Burton film through and through and his aesthetic works so well with the story of a barber who slits the throats of his victims with his razor and his cohort, the devilish Mrs. Lovett, who bakes them into meat pies to serve to the hungry throngs of London. I think my favorite song from the film is "Little Priest" in which Mrs. Lovett (played by Helena Bonham Carter) and the killer Todd (played by Johnny Depp) discuss the various flavors they will have from all of the victims he will slay. Hollywood needs to wake up and do more musicals; there should be a ratio like 2 musicals to every non-musical or something like that. I truly believe in the bottom of my soul that the world would be better off with more musicals in it for mass consumption. Life is always better with a song that can be sung.

Girl Power (Viacom can Suck It)

I already posted this clip of Tina Fey earlier this week, but I noticed that it was removed from YouTube. Most likely because Viacom is very protective of their products and hates the notion of ideas being available for free. So, I reposted it with a new video. I have to say I was really happy to see Tina Fey speak out for Senator Clinton since the media and major news outlets have pretty much removed even a farce of neutrality and have been giving Senator Obama a free ride. I like Obama, but I voted for Clinton mainly because in the fucked up world we are currently living in (hats off to you again George W.) and the amount of issues America faces on the international scene (Kosovo, Iraq, Iran, N. Korea, the rise of China as a super power). I feel it is imperative that we have someone in office leading the country that actually has foreign policy experience. Bush was elected with no foreign policy experience and look at the situation this country is in now. Also, I get the sense that Obama feels that he himself is unstoppable and it is that same cult of personality and ego that we have seen in Bush over the last eight years. I would hate to have similar mistakes repeated because the new Actor for America is not seasoned enough to know how to navigate this country through the complex waters of international relations. So once again here is the amazingly talented and funny Tina Fey from 30 Rock proclaiming that "Bitch is the new Black!"

Ms. Janet

I had all but given up on Janet Jackson after her Damita Jo album though there were a few decent dance tracks for the most part the album was just a repetition of her last great effort All For You. So, when 2.0 Yrs was released I skipped the album all together since none of the singles released off that effort peaked my interest. I was consigned to the fact that the Janet’s hey-day was good and done with her best work behind her. That was until I heard her song new “Feedback”. The track caught my attention and I began anticipating her new album Discipline.

So, when I came home today from my hair appointment and found that Michael (my boyfriend) had bought me Janet’s new album I was very excited. The first thing I did was pop it into my computer to transfer to my iPod to find out that the albums title should be changed from Discipline to Disappointment. (I apologize for the terrible pun) The album starts of strong with the lead of single “Feedback” and holds up well till about track 8 “2Nite.” From there the album dips into dreary ballads that all blend together and help kill the vibe of the first five songs. The album starts to regain its dance-aholic vibe with the track “So Much Betta” and “The 1” but then again Janet kills the mood with boring ballads. Don’t get me wrong I am a fan of some of Janet’s balladry, namely “Again” or “Every Time”, but with a song called “Discipline” I was expicting a hardcore club banger with some edge not some wishy washy song. For me the stand out tracks are “Feedback,” “Rock With U,” “2Nite,” and “So Much Betta.” I guess not all Icons can age as well as Madonna and Kylie and still produce consistently good albums.

On the plus side Michael also got me Goldfrapp’s new album Seventh Tree so I will be looking forward to enjoying the ethereal music of the electronic duo and I will probably post on it soon. Anyway, now I am off to go see Sweeny Todd again for the second time I love a bloody good musical. :)

Degas

Degas - Woman Bathing - 1889

So, I have been struggling with a research topic for my Modern Arts course when my professor suggested I work on Edgar Degas and it was like the clouds parted and and a heavenly light illuminated this divine understanding. Needless to say I am excited to start looking into Degas' work and how it relates to concepts of gender and misogyny. There is a wealth of research on the subject which will be vital for my research project so I will probably be spending spring break working on this topic and working out my presentation for class. I plan on focusing on his series of paintings that deal with women bathing and grooming themselves, the paintings are beautiful and it will be great to research more about them. Well now I am off to get my hair cut.

Do You Have A Friend In Jesus Ms?

Catherine Tate as Lauren. America needs more comdey like this!

The View

I was watching "The View" today and the ladies brought up an article that appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Post regarding John McCain and a woman lobbyist and their possibly unseemly connection. This is when Hasselback loses her Republican cool and calls the NY Times a tabloid rag. If Ro O'Donnell could not help this chick nobody can. In a way I can understand Hasselback's concern with the fact that the article really had no point nor actually sources that were justifiable, but for me what was inherent in the article was the questioning of McCain's self proclaimed impeachable ethics. The issue here is simple John McCain of the "Straight Talk Express" may not be so straight talk as he would have us believe. Personally I would never vote for McCain, but I have always had respect for him. He is an American Hero and has never been afraid of breaking party ties to do what is right. But, recently it seems to me that there is another side to the Republican front-runner. For me it all began when he spoke the commencement speech at Liberty University. Pandering to the wacko far-out Christian right that wants to turn America into some sort of bizzaro version of Sharia Law, was one of the forces that McCain was opposed to the radicals on both the left and the right. That was until he wanted to become president.

One of the things I have always respected about John McCain was his stance on torture. He was one of the only well known Republicans in Washington to stand up like any decent person that values human life should and state that torture is unacceptable any time any where. That seems to have changed now with the white house closer in his grasp. For me what the article comes down to his connection to a lobbyist and not that they may have had an extra marital affair but how that lobbyist may have using her familiarity with McCain may have shaped his policy. So, yes Mrs. Hasselbeck attacks the Times ethics and rightly so for printing out an erroneous article with no clear evidence or direction but not to question the ethics of McCain boggles my mind.

Just Because

Andy Warhol - Turquoise Marilyn - 1962

I don't think any one understood the modern idea of spectacle and its relationship to commodity more then Andy Warhol. His work was an entire treatise on the subject.

All Hail the Princess Of Pop!

Does it get any better then this? She can do no wrong!! One of my favorite songs of the year so far. Enjoy and let the sonic bubble gum prefection that is Kylie wash over you :)

Warning Wii's May Be Dangerous to your Relationship!

The love of my life is currently obessed with playing this strange and crazy game called Rayman. We were first exposed to the game at a friend's house and it was fun in a bizzare goofy way. Now my guy is playing it every chance he gets. It is not even like there is a real goal to the game either. It is literally rabbits doing strange things like burping, fart racing, shooting plungers at each other, talking on the phone during a movie, and the list can go on and on. It is sometimes funny to watch him spend an hour or more flaying his arms around in an attempt to clean a pair of underwear in one of the mini-games. Meanwhile I am banished to the office because I refuse to partake in his form of merry making. Ah well such is life :)

Blogging as Procrastination

So, today I had the day off from class which was lovely and I had every intention of still going to school to start work on one of the numerous projects I have this semester. But of course the temptation of sleeping in and staying home over took me. So, here I am writing a blog when I should be reading on the feminist link in militarism for my World Order course. I've always been the king of putting things off to the last minute even calling into work so I could stay home and finish a paper that was due that day in class. Oh well, maybe I just work well under pressure ha ha ha! I'm sure I will find out at the end of this semester.

Family Drama

I just finished watching this movie and all I have to say is stunning. It has these moments of such intensity and awkwardness that you feel as if you're intruding on the intimate moments of a very neurotic family. There were a few times during the film that I felt as if I was watching a play, the scenes felt claustrophobic with all the emotionally charged space between the cast and their intense and dynamic relations to each other. I highly recommend this film for any one who enjoys dark comedy/dramas that are sometimes challenging to watch that deals with the sometimes intense and overwhelming dynamics that constitutes familiar relations. The cast is brilliant with a superb performance by Nicole Kidman. Over all the film left me hungry for more, and I will be sure to rent "The Squid & The Whale" which was the director's first film.

Graffiti to High Art

Jean-Michel Basquiat - Acque Pericolose - 1981

One of my favoite "contemporary" artist taken far too soon from this world. For some the temptation to ride the white horse is far too strong then the love of art.

Opinions are like assholes...

...and every body has one! So, with that in mind I want to introduce you all to my little internet soap box. Since I am a whore to trends I figured it was time that I created my own little blog to express my opinions on politics, art, culture, fashion, and blah blah blah. I know every one has been waiting with baited breath to read what I have to say, so without further ado I bring to you my blog The Dandy Flâneur. I hope every one out in the internet world will enjoy it and I hope it gives all you insomniacs and other web surfers some mild amusement and if it doesn’t well then you can suck it.

P.s. This is going to be a branch off of my first blog You Can Suck It. I felt the title though fitting to my personality was somewhat misleading. So, I have revamped and renamed my blog The Dandy Flâneur which has an air of culture to it. For those of you not aware of French terms the Dandy was what our modern metro-sexual would be. A man that is well versed in fashion and trends and it all about image and being seen, while the Flâneur was someone who understood society and critiqued it in satirical and maybe a even a little pessimistic way. On that note I give you my latest and hopefully finally incarnation of my blog The Dandy Flâneur.