Remember Rohin and his pop-culturally prescient "C.P.R." here that ended not too long ago? Well, this next piece would have been a perfect item in his weekly round-up. Not too surprisingly, I copped it from a post of his (in which he makes an excellent argument regarding the "art" of music production in a Simon Cowell context.).
And yes, that's this she's sampled for her debut single. Yep! It is.
Well, not right here at FYF, but if you would like to follow the progress or lack of progress in the marriage equality bill winding its way to a vote in Albany, consider following the Albany Times Union's coverage in their Capitol Confidential blog. Their coverage is fair and quickly updated. It's so much more than what you'll read on the majority of the gay blogs with a keen understanding of all the politics that are in play. Here's a link to all of their stories that mention the issue.
Via who asks us to note the name of the columnist in the "N" column...
Mister Mike Albo has made a huge mistake. In his recent article for The Advocate, he has named Minneapolis "Gayest City in America". Most read that and think, "Oh, funny Mike Albo is dissing San Francisco and New York." Even The Daily Show found it to be worthy of ridicule. Maybe it's time to issue a retraction.
Having been to Minneapolis just once, I'm no authority. It was snowing in May during that visit (on a job interview to work for Target just out of college). There was the Mary Tyler Moore statue and the cool downtown where every building was connected so that one did not have to go outside in he brutal weather. They tried to sell us on the lakes and the great (if brief) summer weather. They presented Prince's nightclub as evidence of the town's hipness. Still though the impression was made, and this closeted college senior didn't get that (then scary) gay vibe.
Let's take a look at the equation they used to justify their choice of Minneapolis (at left):
And, breathe.
Here's the bigger news: Minnesota's Senate is voting, probably today to make an amendment to their state constitution to ban marriage equality. (And yes, that is an Advocate link, just for irony.)
Now San Franciscans are in a tizzy about being ranked eleventh (and about organic tea and just about anything as they have too much time on their hands there). New Yorkers don't really care as we're too self-assured to worry about some list. But still, should we really give the crown to a city in a state that is going to amend its state constitution to keep gays second-class citizens? No, that crown should be snatched off, and the Advocate should issue a retraction!
Via GQ who features the comedian in this months issues. More pics here along with their very non-tempting enticement to buy the magazine on the stands. If you've not seen it, perhaps check out "Zach Galafianakis: Live at the Purple Onion" streaming on Netflix now.
Or just stupid people still doing stupid things?
No. Worse. It's actually news by current standards.
"Phone calls are rude. Intrusive. Awkward. “Thank you for noticing something that millions of people have failed to notice since the invention of the telephone until just now,” Judith Martin, a k a Miss Manners, said by way of opening our phone conversation. “I’ve been hammering away at this for decades. The telephone has a very rude propensity to interrupt people.”
Though the beast has been somewhat tamed by voice mail and caller ID, the phone caller still insists, Ms. Martin explained, “that we should drop whatever we’re doing and listen to me.”"
- Pamela Paul quoting Miss Manners in an article exploring the declining use of phone calls as means of communication, much less the primary one. (Probably) Needless to say, your author is in complete agreement with Miss Manners on this subject. Ms. Paul, however - while clearly sympathetic - covers exceptions and opposing viewpoints with magnanimity.
Image via
Not a bad daily planner, Mr. Franklin! I am not a morning person at ALL and have only recently come to the realization I can't roll out of bed and in to work in 30 minutes' time. Having made that realization, and having felt the benefits of a more leisurely rising, Mr. Franklin's three-hour allotment to rise and start the day pretty much marks the opposite end of the spectrum from mine, yet it's making more and more sense to me as the days (mornings) go by.
His demarcation of "work" time as apart from the hours immediately preceding bedtime for "diversion" appeal to my sensibilities these days as well as I'm learning I can't be busy all the time, but must structure my time to include downtimes as much as I include time to "get things done". Without the breaks, I get run-down quickly and am far less productive - despite the increased time allotment for being productive - than I am when I limit my work to "work hours" and make sure to leave time for leisure.
Taking into account modern technological advancement, FYF recommends this, a more modern tool, for scheduling your day/to-dos. The companion book, Bit Literacy, is equally genius.
Image via
Speaking of the continued denigration of journalistic standards, what would Alanis have to say about this?
I think this one is farce.
But Sombra Dolorosa is genius!
His feature-length movies, including My Winnipeg and The Saddest Music in the World - starring Isabella Rossellini - are available to watch instantly on Netflix. Probably more appealing to students of cinema, his cinematic style draws comparisons to David Lynch and German Expressionists (F.W. Murnau, et al.).
Probably most telling/helpful in assessing the likelihood you'll enjoy his ouevre is the following comment from a commenter named Wittgenstein on The Saddest Music in the World's Netflix page: "Here at least is a film that says something a little more intelligent than "America sucks". Everyone else can just go see Dogville and have their "avant guard indictment of America set during the depression but actually commenting on how things stand today" spoon fed them."
The above are from newspaper comic strips published in 1930. Probably wouldn't fly 80 years later.
Usually known for surrealistic or gender-fuck looks, performance artist Taylor Mac went full fish for the cover of Next. The issue features an interview about Taylor's new show at LaMama (starting this week) and the photos by Mister Karl Giant.
Or, rather, this man is she. Luis Venegas (pictured above), the creator of transversal-focussed Candy makes for an amazing Anna Wintour. Similarly amazing is Andres Borque as Grace Coddington. Each issue is limited to 1000 copies, and it's already sold out!
Via (and more at) homotography.
Roger Ailes: Obama ‘Just Has a Different Belief System Than Most Americans’
He says things like this. He looks like that.
Easy day at the office, huh Howard Kurtz?
The most important questions in life may never have answers. Questions like, "Did 30 Rock jump the shark last night by airing a live episode or did they jump the shark when Oprah turned up that one time?" and "How devastating is it that this week, Twitter turned the plight and (fortunate!) rescue of 33 Chilean miners into a spectator sport?" and "Would Harry Potter do shots with Voldemort if they crossed paths at Bushwick's Gotham City Lounge?" and "Why did Kylie Minogue's fan-fucking-tastic single "Get Outta My Way" not only miss the UK Top 10 in its first week, but tank 16 spots in its second, and then out of the Top 40 in its third?" Unlike someone who has whizzed away hundreds of thousands of dollars on a very-useful journalism degree at Columbia, I don't have the answers. So, instead, please help yourself to the following links. Wash down with seltzer water and don't forget to burp!
• What are the odds that if they forget their wands and spellbooks while wandering to a loft party off Bushwick Avenue, Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, and Ron Weasley might get shived for looking like hipster scum? [BuzzFeed]
• Landfills will now be mined for fuel and recyclables. This makes Staten Island a veritable gold mine. [TreeHugger]
• Steve Jobs is giving all the rescued Chilean miners iPods. [Hollywood Reporter]
Hello! It's Friday! And do you smell that! It's the sweat, grime, gasoline, and left-over hamburger chunks of a week, and a world that plans to put you through the grinder again come next Monday! But kick off your orthopedic sneakers and peel off your hole-riddled socks. It's the weekend--but not before peeking into what's making everyone else's lives much worse than yours this week. Yes, it's CPR time and we're all barely floating anymore! Wheeee!
• At times, I am grateful I am no longer at the mercy of a withered media outlet for my living--late paychecks and lack of professionalism notwithstanding, I'd mostly be concerned about developing Toasted Skin Syndrome from having to work on a laptop at all hours of the day--and not having the health insurance to seek out proper treatment. [The Atlantic]
• But then again, no longer being the mercy of said withered media outlet also means missing out on the small joys of life, like speculating in print who might have been John Lennon's alleged boyfriend. [MSNBC]
During every major seasonal shift in New York, fives of sixes city dwellers suffer from some strain of cold that is comparable to (and may even possibly be) dengue fever, swinefluenza, or any other pandemic that has, at one point in time, threatened to wipe out civilization (consequently jeopardizing the need for drawn out progress reports like these!) Why just this week, I paced around my apartment fighting off chilled sweats! Two nights ago, I fever-dreamt that acclaimed Ghost World/Boardwalk Empire actor Steve Buscemi was holding St. Marks Bookshop hostage at knifepoint, but that I managed to break away from the imminent hostage situation because I was so crafty. Only, I returned for no apparent reason and then found a three bedroom apartment nestled in the back of the bookstore, with someone emerging from it, unaware that Steve Buscemi had just abducted the entirety of the bookstore at knifepoint. I suppose what I'm trying to say, dear readers, is load up on Vitamin C and if you sneeze, do not sneeze on your friend's eye! I suppose another thing I'm trying to say is that this week, our society dreamt big, readers! But as usual, the fruits of their labors were ultimately no bigger than pine nuts.
• ELLEVATED CONSCIOUSNESS Have fans of Gabourey Sidibe taken a moment to stop crowing about the hundred odd things they dislike about the star's Elle cover to embrace the many things that they do like about it? [EW]
• Several Chinese villagers have thought of a winning survival tactic in the face of a wild boar overpopulation problem: Vuvuzelas and karaoke! [Treehugger]
• This week, Queerty devoted all of its journalistic resources to the pressing issue of big box retailer Target's exclusive record distribution contract with Taylor Swift. [Queerty]
