Going Under the Knife

I'm having a bit of knee surgery in the morning, so I doubt if I'll be doing a lot of blogging for the next few days.  I'll catch up as soon as I can. 

History of Red vs. Blue

As Crooks and Liars pointed out, the entire nation was blue during the FDR years, then there was an explosion of red during the civil rights era.  Interesting.

Make Me Lunch Before You Go Go

Brazenly stolen from Andrew Sullivan

Monday's Man: Jim Cantore

What better choice after our hurricane disaster porn weekend than The Weather Channel's own Jim Cantore?  I've always thought he was a hunk. 

 Yes, there are shirtless pics. 

No Same-Sex Smiling on Christian Mingle

You never know what smiling could lead to. 

Via Think Progress.

The Old Guard Never Falters

A lone sentry walks his tour at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery during Hurricane Irene.  Makes this cynical old Army veteran proud.   

Raw Footage of Irene's Impact on NC Outer Banks

Power lines intact, streets are clear.     

From Talking Points Memo

Irene Hits Shore

Hurricane Irene made landfall on the North Carolina coast this morning as a category 1 storm.  According to the Wilmington, NC Star News, "Tens of thousands are without power and parts of at least several roads are impassable due to downed trees and power lines. Early reports also show some beach erosion and minor damage to structures in some areas."  There are also reports of tornadoes.  This is all very serious, but "some beach erosion and minor damage to structures in some areas" sounds like Irene isn't living up to the hype of the 24-hour disaster porn news channels.  The Outer Banks have faced much worse than this.  Hopefully, Irene will continue to weaken as it moves up the coast towards LC readers and friends Ron, Mark, Doug, Ray, Junior, and everyone else in it's path.  Stay safe guys. 

Dick: Heads Will Explode

Brace yourselves, people, Dick Cheney's much-anticipated autobiography is about to drop and the Big Dick says that heads will explode all over Washington!  Maybe the Washington Heights Senior Center where you can find the only people left who actually give a shit what he says.  Prepare for a major media onslaught as the publisher tries to recoup what was, I'm sure, a hugely inflated advance.  Too bad there's a major hurricane about to hit New York that will consume 110% of media attention just when Dick needs everybody to pay attention to him.       

It's a Paula Deen/Anthony Bourdain Smackdown!

The tedious Anthony Bourdain recently had an interview with TV Guide in which he inexplicably went off on our lovely Paula Deen, calling her "the most dangerous person to [sic] America" and saying that her food "sucks."  Paula, naturally, handled it like a lady and resisted the opportunity to call Bourdain a narcissistic douchebag or something else appropriate.  She went on (forgive her) Fox and Friends and had this to say (and forgive me for posting something from Fox): 


 
If Bourdain's smart, he'll take her up on her dinner invitation and kiss and make up.  I would kill for dinner with Paula. 
 
I've never seen Fox and Friends before, and don't plan to start watching now, but who's the cute guy on the left?  Does he seem a little, oh, I  don't know, festive to you guys?  Don't you just love that they felt the need to bleep out "sucks?"  How about Miss America in that painted-on mini-dress?  She's rocking a great body for, what, 78?  Didn't she inherit the crown from Bess Myerson?       

Quote of the Day

“Even if an alcoholic is powerless over alcohol once it enters his body, he still makes a choice to drink, and, even if someone is attracted to a person of the same sex, he or she still makes a choice to engage in sexual activity with someone of the same gender.”

--Rick Perry in his 2008 book On My Honor, demonstrating his deep understanding of both alcoholism and homosexuality.

WTF Has Obama Done So Far?

Start clicking, bitches. 

The Gay Housewives of Dallas

As if The A-List New York wasn't bad enough, those enterprising queens at Logo have a new cast in Dallas.  Prepare for brain rot, Texas style:

Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

Now, I have never pretended to be A list and I'm not a barely legal twink like some of those cast members, but I do know an awful lot of folks in gay Dallas, including some real A Listers, and I have no idea who any of those people are.  Nobody has any idea who those people are.  I understand the cowboy is actually from Oklahoma, which is not Dallas or even greater Dallas and that longhorn shot was Fort Worth, which is not Dallas.  An A lister would know that.  Maybe they should have called it The A-List Southwest/Midwest Region with a Blonde, Fake-Boobed Yankee For No Discernable Reason. 

Still have a few brain cells?  This will take care of them:

 

Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

I guess James is supposed to be the Hot one.  If he wants to be the Reichen of Texas he should start by toning down the lip gloss.

Wilma Flintstone Smokes Like a Lady

Huntsman Takes on Perry and Flat Earth Society

Watch former Governor and Ambassador Jon Huntsman position himself as the sane one:

Monday's Man: Jim Parrack

It's Hoyt from True Blood, guys!  I love him.  I think he was perfectly cast as the good ole boy from Louisiana who's hopelessly in love with the young vampire, Jessica.  He's not stunningly perfect like Alexander Skarsgard, and his body isn't ripped to within an inch of it's life like Ryan Kwanten, but that's what makes him so attractive.  He seems real.  And cute as hell. 

Quote of the Day

"I have friends who are gay, I accept them as they are, but I disagree with them vehemently about what is in the best interest of society with respect to our marriage laws."

--Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum who obviously attends a church where lying is no longer a sin.  He went on to say:

“You also have to respect me for feeling very differently for trying to take that orientation and then trying to project that agenda on to the American public that is consistent with that.” 

It sounds like he's taken elocution lessons from Sarah Palin. 

He compares our relationships to child rape and dog fucking, blames the economic downturn on our marriages, wants to destroy our families and turn us all into criminals, but we have to respect him.  What a stupid little man.    

US To Halt Deportation of Gays in Bi-National Marriages

The Obama Administration has announced that it will suspend deportation proceedings on those who pose no threat to national security and instead, focus on criminals and those who have "flagrantly violated immigration laws."  This will provide relief, on a case-by-case basis, for many young people who would qualify for the Dream Act if it were enacted.  It would also end deportation proceedings against gay and lesbian immigrants who are legally married to same-sex partners, and it may extend to others in same-sex partnerships.  This is a great step forward. 

Texas' Long National Nightmare is Finally Over

H&M's first Texas store is opening today in Dallas.  If you're wondering where all the gays are this weekend, look to Northpark Mall.  This might be an even bigger opening than In and Out Burger, which you still can't get within a block of six weeks after they opened.

So, what do you think, should I get one of those man skirts?   

    Would this pass as business casual? 

Rick Perry at Texas A&M

Amanda is All He Needs

Oh My God, people, it's like so totally 90s!  Amanda and Peter from Melrose Place, AKA Heather Locklear and Jack Wagner are getting married.  In real life!   They're still looking good, don't you think?   

Perspective on the GOP Race

"The twitter accounts for Michelle Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty and Rand Paul combined have fewer followers than a twitter account for a cobra that escaped the bronx zoo. @BronxZoosCobra"

From Andrew Sullivan.

Seen at a West Texas Rest Stop

Michele Bachmann Wants You To Forget Her Hate and Ignorance

Watch Michele Bachmann try to run away from her anti-gay crusade and watch David Gregory (for once) actually hold a conservative politician's feet to the fire:



Her anti-gay jihad has been her life's work but she knows it doesn't play so well to middle America any more so she's trying to get people to forget it.  It's an albatross around her neck that she and that grifter husband of hers are going to have to drag around for the rest of their lives.  You reap what you sew. 

Monday's Man: Christian Van Horn

We're just back from our annual trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the opera.  This year, we had the privilege of seeing La Boheme featuring the handsome and dashing bass-baritone Christian Van Horn singing the role of Colline.

 This fast-rising star will soon be seen in Turandot with the San Francisco Opera and Carmen in Salzburg.  Get your tickets now. 

As good looking as he is, the best way to appreciate him is to experience his voice.  Here he is in Tosca:

Chris Evans Eats an Apple

From his upcoming movie, What's Your Number:



Via Towleroad and Perez
Have a nice weekend. 

Coming Soon to a Heart Attack Near You

It's deep fried butter on a stick!  Now, I've written about deep fried butter before.  In fact, in the interest of good blogjournalism, I actually ate some at the Texas State Fair last year.  This is different.  What I ate consisted of pats of butter, battered and fried.  This year, at the Iowa State Fair you can have an entire stick of butter, dipped in cinnamon honey batter, deep fried, and coated in a sugary glaze.  $4.00.  Ain't that America.

Kids Want Their Gay TV

GLAAD has released their annual Network Responsibility Index, charting the gay and lesbian content of network TV.  Not surprisingly, they found the highest concentration of gay characters are in programming aimed at young viewers.  The CW had the highest ranking while Fox, the home of all those adorable Glee boys and girls, came in second.  CBS, home of whatever the modern equivalent of Matlock is, came in last.  Gawker put it best:

"Well, what we knew all along—that the kids love the gays and that as they grow up, the entertainment aimed at their generation will probably continue to have just as many gays as you would want to see in the mainstream media. As for CBS and the rest, they'll eventually retire, live off their pensions, and yell at same-sex couples from their front porches until they eventually die and gays come in to gussy up the house and make it livable. The gay takeover is inevitable, so will you let us enjoy The Good Wife in our complacency while it happens?"

h/t LC NY Bureau Chief Doug.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Elliott, I mean.  All the best Sams were born on August 9. 

Want to Know What Michele Bachmann Thinks About the Gays?

She and Lady Bird watched this video of an "ex-gay" at a church service in Iowa.  This is the sort of bizarre, laughable filth that informs her worldview:


"A man's seed is not meant to eat crap and die."  I think this must be performance art.  Seriously.  The folks at The Onion would reject it as too outrageous, and I haven't  even gotten to the scarf.  Be sure to check out the choreography beginning at 4:30.   

Monday's Man: Aidan Quinn

I saw the new film Sarah's Key over the weekend.  It was well done, disturbing, and beautifully acted by, among others, Kristin Scott Thomas and Aidan Quinn, with an extrordinary performance from the child actress Mélusine Mayance.

Seeing Aidan on screen again reminded me of how much I loved him back in his Desperately Seeking Susan and Reckless days.  You remember those don't you?  It seems like he bared all regularly, and if you follow this very not safe for work link, he apparently did.

 He's aging quite well, don't you think? 

It's An All-Star Salute to the '84 Olympics!

Michael Musto is truly the queen of camp.  Want proof?  Check out this clip he posted to his blog.  Yes, that's Barry Bostwick, Gwen Verdon, Sandahl Bergman, Judy Landers, Barbi Benton, Lisa Hartmann and more stars dancercizing for the Olympics!



I've got to say that Barry's buns stoked my Olympic spirit.

via Boy Culture 

Quote of the Day

"It's perfectly all right with me. Some of the most gifted people I've ever met or read about are homosexual. How can you knock it?"

--The great Lucille Ball, in a People Magazine interview in 1980.  She was responding to the question, "How do you feel about gay rights?"  Lucy was a gay rights advocate over 30 years ago.  That's just one more reason We Love Lucy. 

She was born 100 years ago today. 

Via Towleroad. 

Happy Blogiversary to Lazy Circles!

LC reader Will tipped me off that today marks the fourth anniversary of this blog thingy.  This is the 2084th post.  What on earth have we been talking about.  It all started without any planning after a trip to Whole Foods where I was checked out by a hot bear and wanted to write about it.  When I say "checked out by a hot bear" I mean he ran the cash register and took my money.  That's it.  He still works there, by the way.  You can read that first post, complete with awkward photo placement, here.  Eventually I started getting some regular readers and commenters and I even started getting blogrolled.  The first to blogroll me was the fabulous Juice With Junior, which I still look forward to reading daily.  Thank you for reading and commenting, and please keep stopping by!

Fox "News" Celebrates the President's Birthday

In their usual style:

They don't even try to hide the racism anymore, do they?

From Think Progress.

Dallas is Melting

Cool video from the patio of the bar at the Belmont Hotel which is in my neighborhood and is usually a great place for a drink, but not when it's 110:

Next Up for Faye Dunaway: Trog II

Miss Dunaway may be having financial troubles. 

h/t LC NY Bureau Chief Doug.

Man Circles World, Remains Adorable

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.


From Rick Mereki

Yesterday's Hottest Cities in the World

Baghdad 116
Fort Smith, Ark. 114
Djibouti 113
Dallas 109
Dubai, United Arab Emirates 110
Oklahoma City 108

This man and dog at White Rock Lake have the right idea.

Meet Your New Funny Girl

That's right folks, Claire from Six Feet Under, Lauren Ambrose, has been cast in the revival of Funny Girl, the role that Barbra Streisand made indelible.  Not Lea Michele.  Not Idina Menzel.  Not a Broadway star.  Lauren Ambrose. 

Excuse me, I need a moment to absorb this. 

I saw Lauren Ambrose on Broadway in the play Exit the King in which she overacted like crazy.  Nice hair, though.   

Can she sing?  I guess so:



Can she belt?  Seriously people, this role invented belting.  Barbra belting.  Beautiful, artful, powerful belting.  Not just loud, but gorgeous.      

I will maintain an open mind.  Funny Girl is scheduled to open in LA at the Ahmanson on February 1.  I need an LA reader to commit to seeing her.  Anybody?  Anybody?  Maybe a guest post?  Maybe I need to be planning a trip to LA?    

h/t LC Reader Ray and LC NY Bureau Chief Doug

"And the Honorary Oscar Goes Too..."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced it's honorary Oscar recipeints and they are:

 James Earl Jones, who will be honored for his distinguished acting career;

 Oprah Winfrey, who will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award; and

Make up artist Dick Smith, who won an Oscar for Amadeus,and will be honored for the body of his work. 

Like last year, the honorees will not receive their awards at the Oscar telecast.  Instead, they will receive them at the Governor's dinner in November.  Tacky. 

Is the Academy just going to let Doris Day die without honoring her?

"Believe it or not, it's 91Degrees at 5:00 AM"

"And we're looking for a high of 108."

That's what greeted me on KERA this morning.  When did Dallas become Phoenix? 

Ruta Lee's Fashion Tip: Seal Fur

Seal.  The status fur from fashion people in the know. 

A blast from the past from Miss Lee's Facebook page.

Never Trust Any (TV) Over 30

MTV turned 30 today and here are the first few minutes:



Where were you on August 1, 1981?  I was about to return to Charleston for my junior year of college.  It took another couple of years before MTV made it to SC, so it doesn't feel 30 to me. 

Barriers Broken

I am so excited that The State, which is South Carolina's largest newspaper, published this wedding announcement yesterday.  Gay, interracial, Army veterans, raising sons, been together 27 years, good looking, accomplished, apparently happy and well adjusted, and on and on.  How many myths and prejudices did these guys just disprove simply by being out?  Did I say barriers broken?  More like bulldozed.  Plus, as of this posting, there are 65 comments in the guest book and everyone of them positive.  Congratulations Greg and William and Congratulations to The State!

Debt Deal Reached

Congress has reportedly reached a deal to extend the debt ceiling, although no vote has yet occurred so it could still fall apart.  The deal calls for a bi-partisan commission to recommend a deficit reduction package by November 23 and, if Congress fails to enact legislation by the end of the year, automatic cuts will be triggered.  These massive cuts include defense spending and payments to Medicare providers (which will mean more and more providers will just stop taking Medicare).  In other words, folks, this ugly fight will continue for the rest of the year. 

All that is interesting and important, sure, but the pressing question on my mind is, who's the hot bearded guy walking with Harry Reid? 

Monday's Man: Andy Roddick

Tennis champ Andy Roddick is the face (and chest) of Lacoste cologne and just shot a smashing new spot for the scent:


Lacoste Challenge: Re/fresh (Directors Cut) from Rob Chiu on Vimeo.


Luckily, Roddick has never been one to be shy about whipping off his shirt and showing off his power serve: