Tonight will be a momentous and an historic evening. Barack Obama, junior senator from Illinois, will accept the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidency. Obama becomes the first African- American major party candidate for the presidency.
Obama is likely not to dwell on the historic nature of his candidacy—the news media, his campaign, its supporters and everyone else will surely continue to discuss the historic implications. On a more basic level—and its probably no coincidence—today is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech. The full version on YouTube:
Obama excels at delivering prepared speeches, so, prepare to be impressed. I'm wondering what type of speech will he deliver, who will he thank, what will he promise, and, how much imagery and cadence will pay homage to Dr, King.
Should be a very interesting night. Love to hear your thoughts ...
Thanks to Alicia Banks for the heads up. If you were watching the NBC coverage of the Olympic Games, undoubtedly many of you were cheering on Australian diver Matthew Mitcham, the only openly gay male athlete to compete in Beijing. Mitcham's win was an incredible sports moment, coming from behind in the 3m springboard to clinch the 10 diving platform challenge. It was also an historic win as Mitcham becomes the first openly gay male athlete to win Olympic gold. You wouldn't have known this if you were watching NBC "News", which failed to report Mitcham's sexual orientation, his family in the viewing stands, or, the struggle to bring his boyfriend to Beijing.
NBC did not mention Mitcham’s orientation, nor did they show his family and partner who were in the stands. NBC has made athletes’ significant others a part of the coverage in the past, choosing to spotlight track athlete Sanya Richards’ fiancee, a love triangle between French and Italian swimmers and Kerri Walsh’s wedding ring debacle.
Mitcham's sexuality is reported on the NBC Olympics site. The Australian diver is also the subject of a recent cover feature at The Advocate, where he discusses his sport, coming out, his long bout with depression and his hopes for Beijing. "Being gay and diving are completely separate parts of my life. Of course there’s going to be crossover because some people have issues, but everyone I dive with has been so supportive."
Mitcham's personal struggles and sexuality are an integral part of an incredible journey, and, he makes history as the first openly gay male athlete to win a gold medal. That in itself is newsworthy. Denying this story to millions of viewers means that many young people, who are struggling and gay, do not get the chance to see gay men as athletes, heroes or Olympic gold medalists. Shame on NBC.
According to the Los Angeles Times, which has regularly reported Mitcham's sexuality, the first thing Mitcham did when he met reporters after his win was "hug the reporter who handled the story with particular sensitivity." And here is YouTube of that press event, where Mitcham stood with both his mother and his partner, Lachlan, thanking them for their support.
Aww c'mon. Man, what is that sh--. Did he do that really? Does that mean they took the egg from him, from Ricky, and injected it into .. a woman? I mean, man, I'm different but that's different. If I make babies I want to feel it. I like to feel the act.
It certainly would be a medical first if "eggs" were harvested from Ricky Martin. Moving along... The TMZ videographer asked the musician about the recent reports that Clay Aiken also conceived his child via artificial insemination. "Why do you think Clay and Ricky would [have children] this way?" The Black Eyed Pea took the bait.
Did he really? That's gay. Wow, gay. I mean ... I am not saying they are gay but that's kind of weird. Why make babies if you don't want to do it right? I mean, I'm just saying, I'm not saying they are gay but ... wow.
Watch the video and hear the musician's roadie ask TMZ to "edit" the gay reference. TMZ writes, "Literally seconds after he dropped the statement, the furious backtracking began! His assistant wanted us to "edit that part out."
Who knows (nsfw) the sexuality of Clay Aiken (nsfw) and/or Ricky Martin. (Well, we know ...) But it's insane that a beer-swilling d-list pop star—with a ridiculously punctuated stage name—wants to offer his two cents. Oh, and please take a refresher course in human biology, Mr. "I Want to Feel it."
The Barack Obama campaign debuts a harder-hitting contrast to John McCain on the economy. The new 30 second television spot "Seven" hits swing state markets and takes aim at John McCain's disconnect with the recession. The "seven" refers to the number of homes owned by the Arizona Republican. With seven houses and those many millions from Cindy's fortune, it's no wonder Mac believes "the fundamentals of the economy are strong."
FWIW, we'll be much more comfortable when Obama and his campaign deliver some stronger blows and re-frames the image of McCain as a principled, "maverick", "straight-talker." Obama continues to lead McCain in some national polls—but barely. The NBC/WSJ poll has Obama leading 45-42 and CBS News also has Obama leading 45-42.
·The Trevor Project launches The "I'm Glad I Failed" campaign, its first-ever social marketing campaign in conjunction with National Suicide Prevention Week September 7 through 13. The "series of print and online advertisements feature four young people, representing those who attempted suicide" because of intolerance, harassment and homophobia, The Los Angeles-based non-profit operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth.
· New GED program in Dallas aimed at gay youth who are more at risk to drop out of high school. "About 28 percent of gay youth drop out of high school, usually to escape the harassment, violence and alienation they face."
· By unanimous vote, California Supreme Court rules in favor of a lesbian mother's fertility rights and says doctors cannot withhold medical care to gays and lesbians based on religious beliefs.
· Opponents of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts hope to place a ballot measure to reverse the recent repeal of the 1913 law that prevents out-of state same-sex couples from marrying there.
·Laurence Fishburne will join the cast of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation to replace departing cast member William Petersen. CBS says Fishburne "will be introduced in the ninth episode of the upcoming season. He plays a college lecturer and former pathologist who is focused on why people commit acts of violence."
· Almost one week after its cease fire, there is still no proof of Russia's promised troop pullout from Georgia. The Georgian Foreign Ministry "cited new operations by Russia on Monday, including the re-occupation of a military base in Senaki in the west of the country where explosions were heard by AFP. US officials said Monday that Russia had moved short-range SS-21 missile launchers into South Ossetia since fighting there halted."
· After decades of silence, are black churches more aggressively confronting HIV/AIDS? Possibly. One report finds "things are slowly changing and homophobia is often condemned too by church leaders, as communities open up to those hit by the disease who are yearning for moral and spiritual support from their fellows."
·Say in ain't so. Rod 2.0 fave Rio Ferdinand is passed over for the captaincy of the England team. Chelsea's John Terry retains the lead position for the World Cup after holding off the strong challenge from the Manchester United phenom. Off the field, Rio and fellow football phenom David Beckham are spokesman in the campaign to reduce knife violence in British schools.
If you're becoming addicted to the Olympics television coverage and all thingsCullen Jones, you may enjoy this new commercial for Johnson & Johnson. "Thanks, Mom" is a tribute to the Olympic gold medalist swimmer, his mother, and, mothers in general. The spot began airing last night on NBC and MSNBC and aired before and after that super-dramatic 4x100-meter freestyle relay where Cullen Jones, Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak won the gold for Team USA.
Cullen says mom always called him her "little water baby" and later told him: "If you're going to take up swimming, you're going to have to see it all the way to the end. There is no quitting."
Olympic triathalete Jarrod Shoemaker is also featured in the campaign.
Isaac Hayes, the iconic Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer songwriter with the buttery soul baritone voice, died this afternoon at his Memphis home. Hayes was one of the most important musical artists of the late 1960s and early to late 1970s, ushering in the new disco movement and branding the Memphis sound with the legendary Stax Records. The New York Times.
With his muscular build, shiny head and sunglasses, Hayes cut a striking figure at a time when most of his contemporaries were sporting Afros. His music, which came to be known as urban-contemporary, paved the way for disco as well as romantic crooners like Barry White.
And in his spoken-word introductions and interludes, Hayes was essentially rapping before there was rap. His career hit another high in 1997 when he became the voice of Chef, the sensible school cook and devoted ladies man on the animated TV show ''South Park.''
''Isaac Hayes embodies everything that's soul music,'' Collin Stanback, an A&R executive at Stax, told The Associated Press on Sunday. ''When you think of soul music you think of Isaac Hayes -- the expression ... the sound and the creativity that goes along with it.''
Hayes was currently working on a new album for Stax. The legendary singer had just finished work on a movie called Soul Men, in which he played himself, starring Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, who, unfortunately also died this weekend.
The YouTube below is Isaac Hayes' most excellent version of the Burt Bacharach classic "Walk On By." It's from his 1969's LP Hot Buttered Soul, one of our favorite tracks, and, perfectly embodies the layered texture of Hayes' sound. If you prefer to remember Isaac Hayes by listening to his Oscar-winning "Theme From Shaft", that is here. True disco aficionados will enjoy the YouTube of Hayes' fierce "I Can't Turn Around" from 1975's Chocolate Chip. If you're not familiar with the track, crank up the volume at the break that begins at about 2:40, turn down the lights, imagine a reverb and smoke machine, a few hundred shirtless high school and college-aged boys. This was how "house" music began at the old Warehouse and Powerplant in Chicago in the early and mid eighties.
Isaac Hayes' passing is very sad news. As a little boy growing up in the late seventies, I remember Hayes' iconic Live At The Sahara Tahoe was one of my& ; mom's fave albums. This was a double album, those were quite rare then, and it pulled out into a poster. IIRC, the liner notes were embossed on the reverse. When music was music. What memories.
If you thought you could watch the Olympics without competing ads from Barack Obama and John McCain, think again. Ad Agereports McCain just bought a significant slice of NBC Universal's Olympics coverage.
The McCain campaign made a last-minute $6 million ad buy, which tops the $5 million Sen. Barack Obama's campaign had announced last month it was buying during the Olympic Games, which begin Aug. 8.
Like the Obama team's ad buy, the McCain campaign's purchase includes network and cable spots. NBC Universal is airing 3,600 hours of Olympics coverage on its broadcast network and cable networks including NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Oxygen and Telemundo.
Unlike Obama, McCain is accepting federal funds for the general election campaign and advertising analysts speculate the NBC/Uni Olympics buy may be a last-minute effort to spend campaign donations raised this primary season. The money cannot be spent after the Republican National Convention, which will be held the first week in September.
Apparently McCain's new ad campaign that compared Obama's celebrity to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, as well as raised questions about his experience and fitness to be CINC, has made some inroads. The Gallup Daily Poll on Tuesday shows Obama leads by only three points, where a week before Obama had held a nine-point lead. Plenty of time to widen the margin, but, given Obama's mega fundraising and media profile, and, the poor economy and the Bush/McCain record, it continues to be worrisome that Obama is essentially tied with McCain.
Have you seen the previews of Bravo's new reality series Million Dollar Listing? The new season official debuts tomorrow and Madison Hildebrand—the hottie "bisexual" multi-millionaire dollar real estate agent who happens to be the most likable of the agents—is seen working out on the beach with his hot n steamy personal trainer. Some screen caps of Madison and Robert, the muscley and abtatstic trainer who comes across as one of those personal trainers to the stars. Even the tattoos look expensive.
"My trainer is hot. There is no doubt about it," Madison says. "I may be open to it, but I don't think Robert goes that way. It is a one-way situation." Robert's advice: "Drop that butt down, Madison!"
Let's be honest. Project Runway has gone from the must-see tv of the seasons 1, 2 and especially 3—MichaelKnight! Laura Bennett! Uli!—to last season's so-so creations to ... this year. It's obvious Proj Run is on life support until the show migrates to Lifetime and the producers and cast are phoning it in. However ... it's heartening to see such a diverse cast. All except one of the men are gay. Plenty of rockers and biker chicks,. Silly third person Suede. Blayne, the tanorexic wigger ("Holla atcha boy!"). Two very fierce sistahs and ... well, then there's Jerell Scott.
How to say this gently? Jerell is just not very impressive. If you can get beyond the voice and the "child" and "girl" country queenisms—think Alex on Noah's Arc—Jerell's creations are less than inspiring and borderline pedestrian. The Gristede's challenge? Not much of a wow factor there.Oh, and it's very interesting watching him choose his models. Not very diverse.
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How to say this gently? Jerell is just not very impressive. If you can get beyond the voice and the "child" and "girl" country queenisms—
