this is fyf

Oxymorons of the recession: Bottle service half-off. Or, why I don't cover "the news".

Another "tempting" deal...

So..."The News" is Rod's thing. I can't watch/listen/read for fear of losing my already tenuous grip on sanity/optimism/any reason to get up in the morning (See this for an example of both why I have my head in the sand and what I might write were I to try and take on current "events". Upon reading, I think you'll agree the "news" aspect of FYF is best left to Rod.).

Perhaps more "topically", someone either utterly clueless or the victim of a recent birth (and a paucity of nightlife history) wrote a post on LA's Guest of a Guest about Gilt Poop/Lifehooker/Bloomtwat/Dupe-on offering a "deal" on bottle service at night clubs, warning it could "ruin nightlife as we know it".

Oh, if only it could be ruint any further, dear. That is, any "nightlife" associated with an establishment that offers bottle service, anyway.

Meanwhile I, too, had noticed bottle service "deals" popping up in my inbox recently and had also mused at the change of fortune (and also the oxymoronic aspects of getting "discount" bottle service!?) once "proud" (i.e. - utterly greedy) nightlife establishments had experienced.

Like the majority of policy decisions being made by leaders - both political and corporate - in the face of the current financial crisis, bottle service always seemed like an incredibly short-sighted stop-gap measure that fully acknowledged it's unsustainability and cynically adopted an "I'mma get minez..."-and-get-out mentality (Hello, 27th Street between 10th and 11th 2005-2009).

So much wrong in such a short post, but...I'm not done!

New York Mag - per usual - brought this whole debacle (...of an article, a "deal" and a sign of the dismal, dismal times in which we live) to my attention (in an article titled "Groupons for Bottle Service: Is Western Civilization as We Know it Over?") , yet it was in its comments where I found the most depressing of all heretofore seen/mentioned evidence of societal moral bankruptcy:

And yet, just as the Guest of a Guest piece was unintentionally factually correct, there's much truth to this comment as I believe the ridiculously extreme level of sports fanaticism exhibited unashamedly in this country (not to mention the ABSURD AMOUNT OF MONEY WASTED - largely - ON GROWN MEN WHO PLAY GAMES!?!?) is a sign of "the end times"! This man's story is but one example of the utter lunacy that has become acceptable OVER COMPLETELY IMAGINARY ALLEGIANCES!?!?

...And we think the English are childish for rioting for 42" plasma screens.

(And yes, I realize the comments were likely tongue-in-cheek. The fact that people had actually analyzed sports teams in relation to the downfall of civilization - as though "good" sports teams somehow ensure a "healthy" society - is the bone I have to pick with the commenters. And America.)

So...this happened (we're all doomed.).

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.

FYF After Dark: The Door(s). The End. (NSFW!)

It's/They're both.

Also, superlative. 

See for yourself after the jump.

What Ugandans really need to know. (Hint: It STILL isn't fisting.)

Reminded today of the galling video of Chairman of the Ugandan National Task Force Against Homosexuality and rabidly anti-gay (to reiterate) Martin Ssempa's "educational" sessions by Lady Bunny's post of the clever, if still disturbing when you remember what it is, remix of that video, I was again left wondering what possible purpose this "education" of Ugandans served. Were they a nation of "budding" fisters (Oh god!)? Was there rampant "drive-by fisting" occurring on the streets of Kampala against which the average citizen needed to be armed (HA!...I say again, HA!)?

But seriously. Nevermind the high rate of illiteracy among females, or the lack of adequate facilities and the poor quality of primary education in Northern Uganda. No, nevermind those real educational needs, this man needs to be able to show gay porn in Ugandan churches.

If it weren't in such poor taste, this whole thing'd be soooo FUCKING rich!

"This is evil!"

"I feel that Gaugin is evil. He has nudity and is bad for the children. He has two women in the painting and it's very homosexual. I was trying to remove it. I think it should be burned. I am from the American CIA and I have a radio in my head. I am going to kill you."

Egyptian revolution erupts into violence

Perhaps not surprisingly (Power is a helluva of a drug to kick?), Mubarak and his supporters aren't going quietly into that good night. Apparently Pro--Mubarak rabble-rousers (as well as those paid $17 to become so) entered the peaceful crowds of protesters in Tahrir Square today, spreading chaos and mayhem resulting in at least one dead and hundreds injured, according to Al-Jazeera. New York Magazine is reporting the same number of casualties, as well as that Nicholas Christof of the New York Times is a tweeting voice of defiance in this debacle. (Who knew?)

More generally...over at ONE, their new Spring intern makes a reasoned case for soaring food costs in Africa as a cause (if not THE cause) of much of the unrest we've already seen in Tunisia and Egypt. I think he makes a good point, Mr. President! Why not work to see the U.S. make good on its promises to support the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, i.e. GAFSP (to the tune of $408 million remaining to be paid out of the $475 million committed by our government.), instead of it continuing to shore up the corrupt government of Mr. Mubarak to whom we (America) have contributed an average of $2 Billion a year since 1979?

Oh and Anderson Cooper and Katie Couric and even a reporter from Vice Magazine got roughed up by Mubarak supporters.

A travesty of compassion/empathy/good judgement.

David Wojnarowicz "A Fire in My Belly" - Smithsonian, National Portrait Gallery Edit from ppow_gallery on Vimeo.

 

The level of indifference and callousness and the utter lack of compassion shown by the National Portrait Gallery in the controversy over the removal of David Wojnarowicz' "A Fire in My Belly" from the  "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture" exhibition on display now is as epic as the significance of the mounting of the show in the first place.

Despite inviting the controversy and going to the trouble of mounting a giant exhibition focused on sexuality for the first time, The National Portrait Gallery removed a "controversial" piece showing ants (God's creations, no?) crawling on a (poorly!) manmade object depicting a horrific torture/capital punishment technique of the Roman empire, because this was deemed sacrilegious to individuals who put way too much emphasis on the temporal and material in their spirituality, not to mention who have giant chips on their shoulders and are on constant guard for a "fight"; i.e. - are bullies.

Now, despite the insensitivity of removing something deemed offensive to a group/religion's sensibilities who have almost everything to do with the continued ostracization and - implicitly - abuse/death of homosexuals (the primary focus of the show, remember?), the National Portrait Gallery has chosen to turn down a request by an artist - a homosexual personally touched by the AIDS crisis, which was the subject of the piece that was removed - to have his piece (which remains in the exhibition) removed from the show. What's worse? The piece is a picture of the body of his partner Felix, shortly after his death from AIDS in 1994. So basically...The National Portrait Gallery wants their cake (AIDS included in a show about homosexual art. Which is a no-brainer, obviously.) and eat it, too ("Oh, sure Catholic League! We'll remove a piece important to the people the show's actually for because you got your knickers all in a twist!").

Way to undermine practically any good this exhibition might have done, inept governmental officials improperly influenced and bullied by idiotic blowhard politicians who seem primarily to like to hear themselves speak, as opposed to engaging in any real thought.

I applaud the Gallery for undertaking mounting this exhibition, but utterly denounce their handling of the ensuing (and likely welcome?) controversy. Way to utterly piss us off, asshats.

AA Bronson's Felix, June 5, 1994 after the jump...

My, that's some in-depth research you've done there, sir! (Ugandan homophobia looks a lot like interest?)

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Demonstrations AND photos? Wow. YOU, sir...have gone above and beyond!

I remember (to my chagrin and deep embarrassment) getting caught perusing a male "erotic nude" photography book at my hometown Barnes & Nobles back in the day and claiming I was only looking at books of naked men to better empathize with homosexuals...so I could help them.

Also? This individual has a very interesting method of "eating" if his motions miming it are at all accurate.

I guess it's comforting to know some things are exactly as you'd expect?

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?

I believe Ms. Plain (sic) said, "...[doesn't it] stab you in the heart..."? Seems someone's following up to make sure it does (though he missed slightly and slashed the cabbie's neck)?

Oh my goodness! What a surprise! Someone's so angry about a COMPLETELY NONEXISTENT AFFRONT TO ANYONE IN AMERICA he went and stabbed an innocent cab driver last night. Great work, fear-mongers! Not only have you racked up awesome points in the polls as you go into your/your party's respective primaries, but you've incited a young man to violence and caused an American cab driver (Who happens to be Muslim) pain and suffering (Great! Let's kill each OTHER!? Won't that restore America as a World power?). More than that, though, you've undoubtedly extended the "War (I use that word loosely) on Terror" a good decade? And here I thought you were concerned about all those deaths of our brave soldiers over there in Afghanistan, Irag and anywhere else terror lurks (read: has oil)! You had me fooled! Kudos!

(Sarah's Twitter quoted originally here.)

Via Towleroad.

Aptly named, the "Tea Party" movement allows its "leaders" to have their cake and eat it, too.

As reported here previously, Sarah Plain's (yes I know how it's spelled) latest demagoguery aims to use a Muslim group's application for a permit to build an Islamic community center and mosque near (about two blocks from? maybe four...) Ground Zero to improve her standing as potential presidential candidate and bolster her popularity with the burgeoning (and bumpkin?) Tea Party movement.

At the same time, Republican politicians (arguably many with Tea Party sympathies, either ideologically, or out of a pragmatic desire to keep their office.) in the House voted down a bill to pay for the health care of those who suffer ill-health and potentially life-threatening medical conditions as a result of their exposure to asbestos and other harmful substances in the air at and around Ground Zero after the attack on the World Trade Center.

"Cart before the horse", "Can't see the forest for the trees" and all that, but mostly - wow, don't your words ring hollow Sarah Plain and (of all entities??) the American Defamation League!?!?

From what I understand, their collective reasoning for decrying the Muslim center is they feel it would be insensitive to the families of 9/11 victims having a mosque so close to the site of an attack by Muslim terrorists. Specious as this reasoning is (the mosque and its adherents almost certainly didn't have anything to do with the attack, despite sharing - ostensibly in name only - a common faith.), insensitivity/a lack of compassion for the victims is certainly what the Republicans and their bastard children, the Tea Partiers, are showing by voting not to take care of those victims who are still alive?!

Does this make ANY sense to anyone reading this??

The comment in the screenshot above is on a Gawker article regarding the Islamic center's announcement that it will include a memorial in its building for the victims of 9/11 and nearly perfectly captures my sentiments on the matter...not to mention sets visions of hot Puerto Rican/Italian cops dancing through my head.

Talking Points Memo on the World Trade Mosque misspelling (possibly intentional): Sarah Plain. Memo content? Spot-on.

 

I am in as much agreement with this Talking Points Memo on the potential siting of a mosque near the World Trade Center site as I can be. 

"Following her logic (no small feat, I might add), do I now have the right to protest the construction of a new office building in Anchorage because it may house the offices of an oil company and might insult the people who suffered from the BP oil spill?"

Touche! "Doesn't it stab you in the heart" indeed!?

I'm usually all about empathy and am generally the last one to try and attribute anything but the best of intentions to people, but - for a while now - I'm convinced the vast majority of the American people have completely lost it. We Americans have taken leave of our senses (No, not CENSUS...though the Becks and the Bachmann's would have you do that as well.) and are fighting windmills instead of facing the reality of a shrinking world that's nearly tapped out when it comes to natural fuel resources and - as a result - is not-so-slowly going all to hell. THIS reality, to me, IS important.  Your bass-ackward way of thinking; your "Let me channel Middle America's fear of a black planet/aliens/anyone who doesn't look like me and talk like me" hoaky "I feel for you so you'll vote for me" tactics and shameless posturing over a bullshit issue that will likely NEVER EVER affect you in even the SLIGHTEST of ways way the fuck out there in Alaska (WHERE YOU SHOULD STAY) except for the one time you come and stand in front of it for the cameras and news crews while on the campaign trail...you, your opinion and your made-up issue are NOT important!

YOU and the people who obfuscate REAL issues with bullshit like you spew are the reason Congress cannot pass even a toothless clean energy bill.

You should be ashamed.

Final thought: Those of us who actually lived through a terrorist attack aren't fooling ourselves thinking we can protect ourselves from further attack by making everyone Christian, or speak English, or look like us.  

We were attacked because we uphold liberty and believe in freedoms of speech and of religion. By restricting those, we're - in essence - making all those deaths in the World Trade attack for naught. How's THAT for stabbing you in the heart, Ms. Plain?

OMG You guys!!! You can see Sex and the City 2! Tonight! With director Michael Patrick King!!!

 
 The Museum of the Moving Image is hosting a special preview screening of Sex and the City 2:  The Milking of the Cow tonight at the Beekman Theater.  There's a bonus: 

This special preview screening will be followed by an exclusive conversation with Michael Patrick King, who wrote and directed more than 30 episodes of the popular TV series, and wrote and directed the first movie, Sex and the City.

This gives you the unique opportunity to ask King why he presents all of his gay characters as caricatures.  Stanford Blatch and "the other one" are like a one-note piano constantly playing an out-of-tune shrill note.  

Reviews are in, too.  Let's check in with one of my favorite reviewers and a fellow homosexual, The Observer's Rex Reed:

Tired of being called the heterosexual equivalent of Armistead Maupin's gay West Coast lampoon Tales of the City in the San Francisco Chronicle, this installment opens with Carrie in a man's tuxedo, playing the best man at a gay wedding almost as vulgar as the homophobic one-liners about the minister, played by-are you ready?-Liza Minnelli, who parodies herself by telling the congregation, "Marriage is serious ... or so they tell me," before blasting off with Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)."

Tickets are still available!

Happy Earth Day - NYPD trashes hundreds of bikes for Obama visit.

 
Citing security concerns that bikes might be secret pipe bombs, NYPD officers clipped the locks of hundreds of bikes along Houston Street this morning in preparation for President Obama's speech at Cooper Union.  The bikes  were unceremoniously put in the back of the truck.  There was no prior notification of the bikes needing to be cleared along the route by NYPD and onlookers were not given information as to what would become of the bikes.  Happy Earth Day!  (Updating this story as more information comes available.)

It seems that the President is no longer your new bicycle, but NYPD's overzealous response to his visit is your reason for needing to get one.

(Photo by Anthony Rebholz.)

Update:  Gothamist has more information and another picture.

Update 4/23:  Your bikes have been located and no, there was no sign.

Update 4/29:  Video!  Sad, sad video!