Might I suggest a change in your Desktop Wallpaper?

What can I say? I love me some Lady Gaga...The other day I was just wondering when Gaga was going to have her answer to Madonna's Sex book. Well...

And don't forget to watch the video of the Vanity Fair shoot she did with Annie Leibovitz for the January 2012 issue:

Some People Are Just Gay

OK, so, there is a reason why I, once-upon-a-time, decided not to watch real life interviews with actors playing in TV shows I lurved. But, I got blind-sided. I went into a fan-girl tailspin over a new sci-fi Canadian show called Lost Girl about a bi-sexual succubus (played by Anna Silk) coming to terms with her identity, looking for love, and kicking demon ass. (Who wouldn't love that?!) While it hasn't aired in the U.S., it is already half-way through its second season in Canada. Which means, thanks to the joyful tear-inducing miracle that is the internet machine, I've been able to gorge myself on 23 (and counting) episodes of Succubusty glory. (Side note: write your Congressman and urge them to vote against the Stop Online Piracy Act) Having exhausted those, I moved on to YouTube videos of the actors, and as Julia Robert's would say, Big Mistake. Huge.

So, what's the big deal, you ask? Some super nice Canadian (isn't that redundant) actors sitting around being genial and trying to get people to watch their fantasy series about a society of super-human beings called the Fae (“Genus, not species”) comprised of, among other things, shifters, brownies, sirens--and those are just the ones you might've heard of...and that I could spell. But the thing is, I heard about this show through the lesbian not-so-underground (get the AfterEllen 411 on Lost Girl here). It has a growing lesbian following due to the relationship of the aforementioned succubus, Bo, to her human doctor, Lauren (played by Zoie Palmer). (You don't even have to use your subtext-y powers on this show! It's all right there getting jiggy in your face. Sooo awesome...) So during these press junket-y things the issue of sexuality was bound to come up in the questioning, but for some reason, I was left having post-traumatic stress flash-backs to the Lucy Lawless/Xena Warrior Princess press tour when she was still insisting that Xena and Gabrielle were not lesbians (insert groaning, eye-rolling, oh-puh-leeze here). OK, so it wasn’t quite as bad as that, but…

During the Fan Expo panel with the series regulars, an audience member asked the group as a whole to expound a bit on the sexuality of characters that haven't been explored as much. We get that Bo is bi-sexual, or omni-sexual (I think really she's in Margaret Cho's I'm-just-slutty- where's-my-parade club.), but what's up with the other people? So, this fan asked a meandering rather than pointed question which no one exactly understood (because we live in a hetero-normative society and it should be assumed that everyone is straight unless told otherwise), to which Kris Holden-Ried (Dyson) said “I'm a lesbian” Big laugh. Yeah, that’s so funny…Then Zoie Palmer took a stab at it:

What was sort of integral to the writers and the concept of, certainly this dynamic [Bo and Lauren], was that it was done in a truthful, realized way, and that it wasn't about two chicks getting it on, it was really about a relationship between two people. And I think what's so cool about this show is that it's never really talked about. We never talk about Lauren's sexuality and what she is ...For all we know she could end up with a guy next season. It's assumed she's gay, obviously, but...what I love so much about playing it is that it's never kind of an issue...It just is what it is...They're people who love each other.

Said like a true straight lady. OK, don't get me wrong, Zoie Palmer, you had me at “Please...come with me.” and I would totally have your lady-babies, but woah, seriously? Lauren could end up with a...what? Maybe you were thinking that Lauren was just taken in by Bo's Succubusty charms, but she liked her before ever getting Succutouched, and then why isn't Kenzi and everyone else falling all over themselves to get their faces sucked off. Yeah, I don't buy it. And while I can see that as an actor it would be easier to play an action, (in this case some sweet Doccubus love) than a trait (Like, how do you play “gay”. Which reminds me, can people please stop casting Julianne Moore as a lesbian? Thanks.), but sometimes people are just gay! Trust me. I've done a lot of practical research in this area. And, Grandma, if you're reading this: When you're gay, even when you meet a guy who's the bees knees, it ain't gonna happen. True love will not be in the cards. I'm sure many of you have had your own “Yep, I'm gay” moment. Or maybe for you it was a “Yep, I'm Straight” moment. Or maybe you straddled the fence but found no clarity--more power to you. And if you never even tried...I'm sorry.

So, unless, of course, one wants to make the case that not only is this a world where frost giants and furies roam the earth, but where everyone is a Kinsey 3, then, as soon as Dyson starts macking on dudes, you can have Lauren. But until that happens, Writers of Lost Girl, I beseech you, Can Lauren please JUST BE GAY? This may be too of a preemptive screed, but I just want to put this out there now to save myself the effort of having to throw virtual tomatoes at Canada at some point in the future. (Come on Canada, you have gay marriage fer crying out loud; throw us a bone!)

Also during this panel Anna Silk and Zoie Palmer alluded to the effort they had put in to creating a relationship that could stand up to Bo’s on-again-off-again relationship with wolf-shifter Dyson, but lately, I’m not seeing it. (How can you compete with fireworks-in-the-mouth wolf action?) And certainly not with the way the writers are writing the story and the way Anna Silk is playing it. Zoie Palmer’s playing for keeps, but Bo doesn’t even seem that into Lauren. She hasn’t even fed off Lauren once. (If you’re not familiar with the show…they do that. It’s cool. She doesn’t kill people…anymore.) So, that can’t be very satisfying. I wouldn’t even be so invested in Lauren being with Bo except for the fact that whoever ends up with Bo is going to get more screen time. (Just ask Kris Holden-Ried). But Lauren deserves better. I say, give her her own show! It could be like Body of Proof Fae-style. Lauren needs more screen time, not less.

According to a GLAAD report, less than 3% of scripted-series regulars are LGBT, and although that is a paltry number, relatively speaking, bi-sexual women abound. My very unscientific estimate is that there is ONE regular lesbian character on scripted network television. That would be Arizona Robbins on Grey's Anatomy. The rest of the ladies who love ladies also love them some stubble-faced men-folk. I think we all know, without employing the Pew Research Center, that women are perceived as having a more fluid sexuality than men, and are, hence, more available to said un-fluid men. (Which I’m sure accounts for the way the mass media decks are stacked.) And while that might be true, I don’t see EVERY straight women on television having occasional relations with other women (unless it’s sweeps), so I think TPTB should also respect the sexuality of women who love women and are past the coming-out story, they’re done experimenting, and yeah, like Ms. Palmer said, there doesn’t need to be a big discussion about it, they’re just…gay.

Doccubustless...or, nipple-less really

So, we all know that sex scenes are choreographed as much as fight scenes...except people are in various stages of undress, but with a little suspension of disbelief the audience can still get caught up in the moment. Or, should, that's the point after all...but I seem to always find myself focusing on the wrong things. It's probably akin to walking in on a couple at an inopportune moment and uncomfortably offering, "Wow, your wallpaper is so nice." (I almost said rug, heh. That would have defeated my example.) Anyway, in this case, Lauren and Bo are getting it on in a super Doccubusty-lusty scene and I keep thinking, How do they keep their boobs where they're supposed to be?? Now if this was on HBO, this wouldn't be an issue. So, what do you think? Boob tape? Lighting? Just really careful placement of arms?

If they can turn Bo's eyes blue in post, I'm sure they can airbrush out a nipple here or there. It's a mystery. I guess I'll just have to watch this scene over and over until I figure it out... Hey, this is a purely technocratic exercise...

Right Wing-Nuts are Hi-jacking Health Care Debate

I've been meaning to post this since the end of last week...Rachel Maddow has been following the right wing-nuts attempt to silence debate around health care, and I found last Friday's show to be particularly invigorating. I highly recommend watching the whole thing, but for a couple of the best segments, check these out:

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Tiffani Thiessen has a shit ton of stuff going on!

Not that I ever watched Saved By the Bell (ok, maybe, like, 2 times), but this is still funny. Especially if you've heard of the rumored Saved By the Bell reunion.

Tiffani Thiessen is Busy from Tiffani Thiessen

Erin McKeown has Cabin Fever

If you are a fan of Erin McKeown (and if you're not, why not?), then I recommend that you check out her streaming concert series called Cabin Fever. The first show is in the can, but you can still catch it on demand for the next week. The there are three more shows. The streaming isn't of the best quality, but the audio was good, and that's what matters!

Here's the trailer for the series:

Project Rant and/or Happy Pride

Project Rant has actors acting out internet rants. This isn't the only one, so if you want to check out some of the others, you should. I found this via AfterEllen.

Boycott Fox Broadcasting Company

The time has come. It's not just that the Fox Broadcasting Company has this one channel that caters to the right wing, it's that the owners and operators of the Fox Broadcasting Company have an operation (Fox "News") that has absolutely NO interest in or relationship with the truth and, in fact, engender precisely the opposite. They trade in tirades and lies. They rile up their "base" to generate cash flow for the wealthy of their party and to make themselves feel powerful--which may also incite people to murder. But, who cares about that. They're not responsible for anything, because they're just "entertainers"--when it's a convenient moniker. And it's not just the news channel. Fox was the only network that opted not to air Obama's 3rd press conference. They went with their scheduled program, "Lie to Me", instead.

I know that a lot of people want to boycott Fox for many reasons--"The Family Guy" is insulting, Fox didn't let Ron Paul participate in the debates, Fox insulted Canada's military (?!)--but the real grievance that they have done to the world is to dispense lies, propaganda and incitements to violence under the guise of news. Package it as NEWS and give their vitriol an air of credibility and respectability. Call their product "news" and providing a cover to people's prejudice and willful ignorance. "It must be true, I saw it on the NEWS!"

At the very least, Fox should take the word "News" out of everything affiliated with the Fox "News" channel. And at best (Well, sort of best. Short of pulling the plug on the whole thing...) their shows would be required to state retractions, make clarifications, and tell the truth! I can't even pick just one example, but think Sotomayor's recent slandering.

No More "American Idol", no more "House, no more "American Dad", or whatever your cup of tea is. Fox needs to grow up and start helping to foster a good democracy and a good society, not tear it down. Whenever you turn on the Fox channel, you are supporting Fox News.

Visit the Fox News watchdog here for more evidence of malfeasance.

CODEPINK Protesters Confront War Criminal Donald Rumsfeld

I've been watching this video over and over. It's very cathartic. Now if someone would just arrest him for real...



Jason somebody at HuffPo was said in his blog, "I...believe that just as crisis demands we not abandon our principles, our response to crisis demands we at least attempt to preserve a measure of dignity." WTF? People are dying every day--Americans, Iraqis, Afghans--largely because of these evil lying war mongers, and we're supposed to maintain our dignity, not raise our voices? F- that. Raise your voice! Scream to the heavens! These people are criminals, and they need to be tried for their crimes.

Lilith Fair 2010

I've been thinking lately about how Lilith Fair (among other feal-good events) were in hiding during the dark days of the Bush administration. And now word is that Lilith Fair is rising from the ashes. According to the head of Nettwork (Sarah McLachlan's label) via twitter, Lilith Fair will be coming back in 2010! Of course I'm excited, but where were they when our souls were being beaten black and blue by the evil doers and torture aficionados in our "elected" government? I don't really think that it was more than a coincidence. Sarah had a kid, at least the one, maybe more. But maybe there were other government related factors. Think about how hard it has been to get musicians into the country, eg Amy Winehouse, Alison Moyet (at least some of her musicians). And there was a passel of Cubans denied entry in 2002...So, maybe organizers figure that now musicians will actually be able to get into othe US to play Lilith Fair.

God, I am so glad to be done with that fascist fuckwit...

The Gaythering Storm

The HRC obtained audition footage from The National Organization for Marriage's hunt for actors pretending to be straight people who are afraid of gay marriage: Rachel Maddow discusses it here at about 2:08 into the clip:

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THEN watch this great funny or die parody. "Gay people will start raining from the sky!"

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

Lindsay Lohan EHarmony Spoof

File this under frivolous pop culture. Yeah, ok, it's Lindsay Lohan, but...it's funny. Or at least, mildly humorous.

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

"Well, Who Wouldn't Want to Teabag John McCain?"

The rich corporate fat-cats are trying to co-opt teabagging, which has long been a symbol for the power of the proletariat. Teabag them before they teabag us!

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Maddow on FDA under Bush

One (more) reason why I love government, and you should too, unless you like eating rat sausage and salmonella spinach.

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Stewart vs.Cramer

Jim Kramer get pummeled by Jon Stewart on the Daily Show and takes it like a little bitch--for which I am very grateful. Parts 2 and 3 are especially satisfying.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Jim Cramer Pt. 1
comedycentral.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Important Things w/ Demetri Martin Political Humor

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Jim Cramer Pt. 2
comedycentral.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Important Things w/ Demetri Martin Political Humor

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 3
comedycentral.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Important Things w/ Demetri Martin Political Humor

Two, count 'em TWO, upcoming movies with Zooey Deschanel

April brings Gigantic with Paul Dano (from Little Miss Sunshine)--Yahoo trailer here.

And in July, 500 Days of Summer with Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Third Rock From the Sun, Mysterious Skin). And if you don't know who Zooey is...well, there's no hope for you.

Rachel Maddow talks with the authors of the Left Behind Series

I don't even know what to say about this. These guys seemed nice enough though. Not like some of those assholes on Fox news or whatever. They had a nice chat about world socialism as a predicate to the coming Rapture and whether or not Obama is the anti-christ (they think not)... Crazy shit.

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Janine Garofalo on Olbermann

So, I'm posting this not so much for content (I don't so much care why more women don't like Rush, but one interesting note is that they are looking at why less women like him but not what I think is the more pertinent question: why do so many men like him?) but I freaking loooove Janine Garofalo! So, here she is on Olbermann a couple of nights ago:

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"Instead of Trusting Us to Make Decisions With Our Own Money..."

Last night after watching the State of the Union, I commented on how Obama is a breath of fresh air (trite, but I really think it's the best way to put it.) And today I tainted my air, by listening to the republican rebuttal. (Have you noticed how the Nellies are falling all over themselves to get people of color to speak for them these days?) I'll sum up the following video for you:

Members of the Republican party also have parents who were from a far off land

The Republicans also want to be bi-partisan

The Stimulus Bill is too full of stimulus

Nellies want people to have the option to pay for their own Health Care

Nellies are against corruption

And finally: The best government is no government!

I really loved this gem: America is great in evidenced by the fact that "We defeated the Soviet menace". Really? Are they trying to evoke some kind of superhero image? Let me ponder this for a moment...



Ooooh, my heroes! I do like the Republicans better now. They just need to find a Wonder Woman who can reminds us of how heroic we were when we conquered the Nazis with our invisible airplane and truth lasso. That would be hot.

But I thought the real topper was the meme about government should leave "us" along to do with our money what we please. I wonder if this us is the us that flushed the banking system down the toilet. Or maybe it was just the less important uses that put all of our life savings into the stock market to get flushed down the toilet. Or is it the uses who don't have any life savings and are struggling to pay their monthly mortgage. I could go on and on, but I think the uses that he's talking about are wealthy business owners who have money in over-seas accounts and have private health insurance whose kids go to private schools and who don't want to see their taxes increase in order to increase access to decent schools and public transportation for others. But...that's just me.

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California legislation process sucks

As a California resident for most of my life, I have come to view yearly budget impasses with a sort of non-chalance. I honestly haven't thought much about why this happens and, amazingly, have given little thought to how this could be different and why our state is so F'd up. That's why I found this segment on The Rachel Maddow show to be so enlightening. It was like the proverbial light bulb went on. Check it out, especially if you live in CA.

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