Saturday, January 31, 2009

Today's Movie Break

Today I would like to introduce you to a clip from a fantastic movie directed by George Cukor called "The Women" about which I have posted before. It was released in 1939 which is generally considered to be the "golden year" of cinema in America. That same year we saw the release of "Gone With The Wind", "The Wizard of Oz", "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", "Ninotchka", "Of Mice and Men" "Wuthering Heights", and many more.

In this scene we are entertained by a fashion show of designs by the great Hollywood designer Adrian. Note the use of color for this scene while the rest of the movie is shot in black and white. You may remember that in "The Wizard of Oz" that most of the movie was shot in color and only a couple of scenes in black and white.

It is also worth noting the crazy beach costumes and the dresses for going on a picnic. Completely crazy. My favorite is the French military inspired daytime suit. Fantastique!

Lumières! Musique!



Same-Sex Excitement On Wheel Of Fortune... Part 2

You may have read the recent post on the same-sex couple that were on Wheel of Fortune, where the contestant breathlessly introduced the man standing at the "family/friends rail" as his fiancee. Well Dan Savage of "The Slog" has a little commentary on that.

A lot of gay bloggers are pointing to this...

...as evidence of progress and cultural change and the integration of gays and lesbians into the mainstream of American life. And it is all of those things. But I don't remember ever hearing a straight guy introduce his fiance on a game show without the audience responding with an "awww" and an ain't-love-grand round of applause. Don't get me wrong: this was an exceedingly sweet moment, props to these guys for being out and engaged, and the kind of people who watch game shows—middle Americans, older Americans—are exactly the kind of people who need to be exposed to non-threatening gay couples in ugly sweaters. But the audience's silence is just as revealing, I think, as this Wheel of Fortune contestant's casual introduction of his fiance. We are outer than ever, more open than ever, and more integrated into the mainstream of American life than ever. But the mainstream—that studio audience—doesn't quite know how to respond to us yet.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Top 15 Disco Tunes

Inspired by a list on List Universe of 15 Great Disco Tunes, I have decided to give you my top 15.

15. "Hot Shot" by Karen Young



14. "Party Train" by The Gap Band



13. "Native New Yorker" by Odyssey



12. "Can't Turn You Loose" by Anthony White



11. "Ask Me" by Ecstasy, Passion and Pain



10. "Armed And Extremely Dangerous" by First Choice



9. "After Dark" by Patti Brooks



8. "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes



7. "I'm Gonna Let My Heart Do The Walking" by The Supremes (sans "Miss" Diana Ross)



6. "Cherchez La Femme" by Doctor Buzzard's Original Savannah Band



5. "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps




4. "Vertigo/Relight My Fire" by Dan Hartman




3. "Disco Party" by The Trammps



2. "Can't Stop Dancing" by Sylvester



1. "You're The First, My Last, My Everything" by Barry White



Honorable Mention:"Midnight Love Affair Suite" Parts 1 and 2 by Carol Douglas
This is one of those LP singles that is just under 18 minutes long so it was split up on YouTube to meet their 10 minutes or under policy on video posting. Make sure you enjoy both parts.




Just Wondering...

Has anyone noticed that since President Obama's inauguration that the Republican "noise" has gotten even more ugly and vitriolic than before the election? I can't even get into the car and turn on the radio for fear I'll have to listen to Ed Lambert (local conservative water carrier), Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh, or Howie Carr (another local "wag") spewing their innuendo and supposition to the just barely listening followers of their programs.

What these listeners don't seem to get is that, with the exception of Lambert, whom I know, these folks are multi-millionaires to whom their so-called conservative ideals are simply exercises in theory, and that we, the people who work at honest jobs are the ones who suffer when the economy is tanking, and it is our children and loved ones who are cannon fodder for their ideological wars. I am simply not amazed anymore by the short sightedness of the talk radio-listening public.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Let's take a tour of a Native American art exhibit

Conducted by our girl LaShawn, for real though...

"Standing Head"

From San Diego's News 10:

Another "Minister Accused Of Molesting Young Boys"


A Los Angeles man who served as a minister and music teacher at five churches in San Diego and Riverside counties pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of molesting two boys he mentored. During his arraignment at the East County Regional Center in El Cajon, Jimmie Xray Robinson Jr., 47, denied multiple accusations of lewd and lascivious acts with minors. Since he has two prior convictions under California's "three strikes" law, Robinson faces life in prison if convicted of the child-molestation charges, Deputy District Attorney Genaro Ramirez said.

Last September, the El Cajon Police Department received a report alleging that Robinson had sexually assaulted a 14-year-old he boy he had been counseling after meeting him through his church work, ECPD Lt. Tim Henton said. The molestation allegedly occurred at a home in the East County city, according to Henton. The lead detective in the investigation eventually discovered that two similar accusations against the suspect had surfaced over the previous eight years, but had not led to criminal charges. This month, DNA evidence obtained by police allegedly implicated Robinson in the El Cajon case, the lieutenant said. The suspect was booked on charges involving that alleged victim and one of the prior ones, a 15-year-old boy.

Betty Butterfield gives advice on "Meds"

Another "Thank Goodness For YouTube" Moment

I remember, looong ago, a terrific commercial for soup that had Ann Miller dancing on a soup can. Do you? Well here it is... The Great American Soup!


This morning's musical interlude

Here's a little something from Lou Rawls to get you moving this morning.

Guess who's coming in 2010??


Oh Boy!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Today's Musical Interlude

Won't you take a moment or two to listen to this lovely song by Matt Alber formerly of the group Chanticleer. He has a charming voice and the dance sequence at the end of the video will make even the most fervent hetero males think for a moment or two about someone in their past with whom they had that inevitable male crush. Oh, yes you did!


Same-Sex Excitement On Wheel Of Fortune

Male contestant introduces another man as his "fiancé" on Wheel of Fortune. And the world does not come to a horrifying end. Watch...

Ad Watch

A very funny ad from Virgin Atlantic.