Rod 2.0:Beta

News: California Fires, ENDA, Iraq War Funding, Michael Jai White

· A quarter million people are forced to flee after more than a dozen wildfires ravage Southern California, "killing at least one person, injuring dozens more and forcing hundreds of thousands of evacuations. Overwhelmed firefighters said they lacked the resources to save many houses."

· Right-wing pundit Glenn Beck ignores seasonal climate patterns and explains the wildfires as divine retribution against California's "liberal" values. "I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today." Audio at Media Matters.

· One week the White House vetoes health care for children, the next week President George Bush asks Congress "for another $46 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." Since 2003, Congress has "already provided more than $455 billion for the Iraq War, with stepped-up military operations running about $10 billion a month."

· Is Michael Jai White asking himself, Why Did I Get Married? Reports from the set of the hit film say the hottie actor has been juggling multiple dates and his wife only made a cameo appearance.

· George Clooney and Matthew McConaughey sitting in a tree ...

· The House will vote Wednesday on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which would protect gays and lesbians in the workforce, and, on an amendment to extend protection to include gender identity. Meanwhile, the United ENDA campaign drums up support for the Baldwin Amendment. More on that campaign HERE. For an engrossing historical perspective, Doug Ireland deconstructs the current controversy for the Gay City News.

· Visible Vote 08 watches the Republican presidential debate so you didn't have to. Strong analysis of libertarian and anti-gay Ron Paul's position against a same-sex marriage amendment versus serial flip-flopper and faux-pro-gay Mitt Romney's position supporting one.

· How will the presidential candidates address HIVAIDS? Bloggernista's Michael Crawford asks some of the same questions recently posed by noted HIV/AIDS activist Phill Wilson.

Michael Jai White Goes Shirtless (Twice!) in New Tyler Perry Trailer

Most of you know that we're not the biggest Tyler Perry or Madea fans—the improvisation-based humor of his stage plays has never translated onto the big screen, among other reasons—but you have to give the man credit for marketing. His newest project, Why Did I Get Married is a Big Chill-themed reunion film. The cast should broadly appeal to women and black gay men—besides himself, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Malik Yoba and Rod 2.0 fave Michael Jai White, etc. are forced to emote during their annual seven-day reunion in the "picturesque snowcapped mountains of Colorado."

The two-minute trailer is quite interesting. Super-hottie Michael Jai White does what he does best: He appears shirtless in two scenes.

Perry's knack for casting Michael Jai White, Boris Kodjoe, Henry Simmons, Shemar Moore, Terrell Carter et. al. in shirtless and tank top scenes—in addition to the history of the Madea character—have raised more than a few eyebrows. The director addresses those persistent gay rumors in the current Essence: "It used to bother me a whole lot in the beginning—it really, really did. But what it's done is give me a firm seating in my manhood. And if some people can't separate the character from the man that I am, then that's their issue, not mine."

Perry says he is looking for the "right" woman—but just hasn't found her yet.

Tyler's Not Gay [Post-Gazette]

Did You Read .. ?
MJW Stalkerazzi [R20]
Michael Jai Part Deaux [R10]
Terrell Carter [R20]
Madea's Oprah Reunion [R20]
Boris Kodjoe: "The Gospel" [R20]
Henry Simmons in "Madea's Family Reunion" [R20]
Ne-Yo on Persistent Gay Rumors: "I'm NOT Gay!" [R20]
Ne-Yo: "You're Nobody Until They Say You're Gay" [R20]
Shemar Moore: "I'm Not Gay" [R20]
Rodney Chester of "Noah's Arc": "I'm Still NOT Gay" [R20]
R&B Singer Tyrese Will Ban ALL MEN [R20]
Kanye Responds to Gay Rumors [R20]
Has-Been Rapper Beanie Sigel Demands Kanye and Pharrell "Come Out" of the Closet [R20]

MJW Stalkerazzi: Part ??

We really don't need an excuse to discuss Michael Jai White. Any time is the Jai time. You probably remember the frequent posts and lockerroom screen caps of him at my old blog ... that lead to a parking lot confrontation and then that silly restraining order and something about "stalking" ... any-hoo, that's all been settled water under the bridge. The truth is, We ♥ Michael Jai White and hate the thought of him going on unemployment. Again. So what is he up to now?

Wrapping two movies: Getting Played and Undisputed 2. The first is a buppie comedy starring all the regulars—Vivica, Tichina, Joe Torry, Stacey Dash, Carmen Electra (wtf?), yada yada yada

The second flick is a sequel to the 2002 Wesley Snipes film ... this time with Jai White sent to a Russian jail on trumped up drug charges and forced into a deadly, gladiator style fight. His opponent: The prison's resident bad azz, actor Scott Adkins, this time with a vaguely Slavic accent and a helluva lot more body and tats than we saw in Unleashed.

Muscles, martial arts, shirtless scenes, boxing, prison, Michael Jai White ... better than porn, right? Here are some rare stills that were exclusive to Moviehole, sent via my new buddy Dre. If you like types like MJW, Tiki Barber and Henry Simmons, check out his site.