Ego TV
Spike Lee has seen the light. Of course, you must have heard that in an effort to remain in the public's immediate consciousness, Spike Lee attempted to block the renaming of TNN to "Spike TV." Well, it seems that Spike has settled his case, probably due to the fact that several other Spikes had come forward to join the case in a class-action suit, damaging his credibility. director Spike Jonez, the late Spike Jones' estate, Spike the dog from "Tom & Jerry," and James Marsters & Joss Whedon (for the Buffy character "Spike") have all laid claim to sole use of the name. OK, that's not true. But wouldn't that be cool?
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!
Is this the summer of celebrity death or what? Since June 11, the following celebrities have kicked the bucket: Gregory Peck, David Brinkley, Katharine Hepburn, Buddy Hackett, Barry White, Buddy Ebsen, Hume Cronyn, and Leon Uris (author of Mila 18, which forced Joseph Heller to change the title of his book from Catch-18 to Catch-22; just a bit o' trivia for ya). Also, universally reviled Senator Strom Thurmond finally did something nice and shuffled off his mortal coil. More celebrities died this June than in any other month this year! It's just a little weird.
I'm not holding out much, ugh, hope, for Bob Hope to make it past August. And Regan's just hanging on there by a thread as well. It's time to join your local celebrity dead pool, people. It's not morbid, it's just life.
Is this the summer of celebrity death or what? Since June 11, the following celebrities have kicked the bucket: Gregory Peck, David Brinkley, Katharine Hepburn, Buddy Hackett, Barry White, Buddy Ebsen, Hume Cronyn, and Leon Uris (author of Mila 18, which forced Joseph Heller to change the title of his book from Catch-18 to Catch-22; just a bit o' trivia for ya). Also, universally reviled Senator Strom Thurmond finally did something nice and shuffled off his mortal coil. More celebrities died this June than in any other month this year! It's just a little weird.
I'm not holding out much, ugh, hope, for Bob Hope to make it past August. And Regan's just hanging on there by a thread as well. It's time to join your local celebrity dead pool, people. It's not morbid, it's just life.
More Surprising News
Adult conjoined twins who decided to be separated died on the operating table. Wow, who could have predicted that? Just another reminder that just because they'll do the operation in Singapore, it doesn't mean it's a good idea.
Adult conjoined twins who decided to be separated died on the operating table. Wow, who could have predicted that? Just another reminder that just because they'll do the operation in Singapore, it doesn't mean it's a good idea.
A Star Is Born
Okay, so maybe that's an overstatement, but I had the most amazing show last night. I'm singing on Monday nights at Stonewall Bar in Greenwich Village, and last night was my first official solo show. At 8 pm, I was ready to go, but as I got on stage, the microphone failed, and we had to stop the show. I had a feeling there was just a knob that needed to be turned, but we had to have the sound guy come, all the way from Queens, to find which knob it was. Finally, around 9:15, the sound was fixed, and I went on.
I was doing several new songs, some of which I had just finished learning that afternoon. I was very pleased that I remembered most of the lyrics, and everytime I forgot them, I feel like I covered very well. The feeling of being up there, in the light, with everyone looking at me, was very powerful. I always get that vibe when I'm on stage, but I haven't been on stage for that long, by myself, before. I loved it! Everyone was so supportive and complimentary, I wasn't able to self-deprecate, which is a nice change of pace.
If anyone is in the area, please come on down Monday nights at 8 pm. No cover, 2-for-1 happy hour, and smoking! Stonewall is located on Christopher Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, on the same side of the street as The Duplex.
Set List
Set 1
"Boy From New York City"
"Que Sera, Sera"
"Downtown"
"Leader of the Pack"
"Everything's Coming Up Roses"
Set 2
"Frank Mills"
"Fever"
"Harper Valley P.T.A."
"Walkin' After Midnight"
"Stand By Your Man"
Okay, so maybe that's an overstatement, but I had the most amazing show last night. I'm singing on Monday nights at Stonewall Bar in Greenwich Village, and last night was my first official solo show. At 8 pm, I was ready to go, but as I got on stage, the microphone failed, and we had to stop the show. I had a feeling there was just a knob that needed to be turned, but we had to have the sound guy come, all the way from Queens, to find which knob it was. Finally, around 9:15, the sound was fixed, and I went on.
I was doing several new songs, some of which I had just finished learning that afternoon. I was very pleased that I remembered most of the lyrics, and everytime I forgot them, I feel like I covered very well. The feeling of being up there, in the light, with everyone looking at me, was very powerful. I always get that vibe when I'm on stage, but I haven't been on stage for that long, by myself, before. I loved it! Everyone was so supportive and complimentary, I wasn't able to self-deprecate, which is a nice change of pace.
If anyone is in the area, please come on down Monday nights at 8 pm. No cover, 2-for-1 happy hour, and smoking! Stonewall is located on Christopher Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues, on the same side of the street as The Duplex.
Set List
Set 1
"Boy From New York City"
"Que Sera, Sera"
"Downtown"
"Leader of the Pack"
"Everything's Coming Up Roses"
Set 2
"Frank Mills"
"Fever"
"Harper Valley P.T.A."
"Walkin' After Midnight"
"Stand By Your Man"
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Criminy
So I don't check my e-mail for three weeks, and I'm greeted by 1705 new e-mail messages, 99% of which is spam. Hooray. I heard recently that even Bill Gates is tormented by spam. Now you know it's a problem.
Can't stay on long, but the big news is that I have a weekly gig at Stonewall, Mondays at 8pm and 9 pm. Singing, that is. More musings after I get my DSL line set up at home. Then no one will be safe from my ranting, mwahahahahahahaha!
So I don't check my e-mail for three weeks, and I'm greeted by 1705 new e-mail messages, 99% of which is spam. Hooray. I heard recently that even Bill Gates is tormented by spam. Now you know it's a problem.
Can't stay on long, but the big news is that I have a weekly gig at Stonewall, Mondays at 8pm and 9 pm. Singing, that is. More musings after I get my DSL line set up at home. Then no one will be safe from my ranting, mwahahahahahahaha!
Friday, June 13, 2003
Passings
I a moment of poor judgement, I let my TV stay on Jimmy Kimmel's grotesque excuse for a talk show for a few minutes last night, and I learned that Gregory Peck had died. Before I had a chance to reflect on what a fine actor he was, Kimmel was mocking him by showing film of him on Michael Jackson's carousel and joking about it. What a pig. That didn't get a lot of laughs, but I was disappointed in the lack of boos. What an ass. Gregory Peck was a true Hollywood star, the likes of which we rarely see anymore.
Also, David Brinkley passed away on Wednesday night. ABC News did a very nice tribute to him. He was 82 years old. Maybe Rather and Jennings could learn a few things from his old tapes.
I a moment of poor judgement, I let my TV stay on Jimmy Kimmel's grotesque excuse for a talk show for a few minutes last night, and I learned that Gregory Peck had died. Before I had a chance to reflect on what a fine actor he was, Kimmel was mocking him by showing film of him on Michael Jackson's carousel and joking about it. What a pig. That didn't get a lot of laughs, but I was disappointed in the lack of boos. What an ass. Gregory Peck was a true Hollywood star, the likes of which we rarely see anymore.
Also, David Brinkley passed away on Wednesday night. ABC News did a very nice tribute to him. He was 82 years old. Maybe Rather and Jennings could learn a few things from his old tapes.
My Life Is A Musical Theatre Cliche
I woke up this morning at 2:53 am after having a really bad, scary dream. I was reading a Stephen King book and as I was reading it, it was coming true. I even read it three times to see if it would change, but it didn't. It was post-apocalyptic, but it involved people running through the woods trying to escape from monsters who were eating them. Very stressful and scary. I mean, these big Sasquatch-type things were eating people! Anyway, I was happy to wake up, but I was very tired. Everytime I almost fell asleep, I would fall back into the dream, and I didn't want to! I couldn't call anyone to talk me down, and I was too tired to get up and watch TV. So -- and don't laugh, at least not to my face -- I started singing "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music so I would fall alseep to happy thoughts. I had to sing that thing (in my head) four or five time before I nodded off. Thankfully, no more nightmares. I guess I really am soothed by the thought of cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels. Who knew?
I woke up this morning at 2:53 am after having a really bad, scary dream. I was reading a Stephen King book and as I was reading it, it was coming true. I even read it three times to see if it would change, but it didn't. It was post-apocalyptic, but it involved people running through the woods trying to escape from monsters who were eating them. Very stressful and scary. I mean, these big Sasquatch-type things were eating people! Anyway, I was happy to wake up, but I was very tired. Everytime I almost fell asleep, I would fall back into the dream, and I didn't want to! I couldn't call anyone to talk me down, and I was too tired to get up and watch TV. So -- and don't laugh, at least not to my face -- I started singing "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music so I would fall alseep to happy thoughts. I had to sing that thing (in my head) four or five time before I nodded off. Thankfully, no more nightmares. I guess I really am soothed by the thought of cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels. Who knew?
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Friends... How Many Of Us Have Them?
My friend Abby invited me to join Friendster.com, just a couple of short days after I read about it in Next, NYC's second best homo weekly. According to Next, it's a great way to meet guys through your friends rather than chatting up some hustler in Yahoo!'s "Uncut Pinga" room. They did concede that the creators of Friendster say that there are plenty of straight folks in the database, too, but you only see people to whom you are connected by a friend, so the guys at Next only saw... well, you get the picture. It's cute. Lots of people, though. I'm connected to 7404 other folks! Talk about six degrees of separation. One caveat: it may be the connection here at the ever-more expensive internet brothel, but pages are taking a long time troload, and I keep getting bumped back to the sign-in page. Maybe it's insanely popular and more than the Friendster server can handle, but if that's not fixed soon, I won't be feeling too friendly.
My friend Abby invited me to join Friendster.com, just a couple of short days after I read about it in Next, NYC's second best homo weekly. According to Next, it's a great way to meet guys through your friends rather than chatting up some hustler in Yahoo!'s "Uncut Pinga" room. They did concede that the creators of Friendster say that there are plenty of straight folks in the database, too, but you only see people to whom you are connected by a friend, so the guys at Next only saw... well, you get the picture. It's cute. Lots of people, though. I'm connected to 7404 other folks! Talk about six degrees of separation. One caveat: it may be the connection here at the ever-more expensive internet brothel, but pages are taking a long time troload, and I keep getting bumped back to the sign-in page. Maybe it's insanely popular and more than the Friendster server can handle, but if that's not fixed soon, I won't be feeling too friendly.
Monday, June 09, 2003
I Want My Internet!
How happy are you right now to see that I've posted today? I know how you sick kids crave my contradictory and salacious ramblings, but I've been without internet access for a little while because of my employment situation and my lack of a land line. So here I am at easyinternetcafe, working on a cheap ass keyboard with a sticky space bar, trying to hurry up and do all my web-related activities in but one short hour, after standing in line for twenty minutes waiting for the ticket machine to become available. Blogging is hell, I tell you. How did I become so dependent on the Internet? Without e-mail, how did I know what parties to go to? How did I domy banking and pay my bills? And how, oh how, did I express my unsolicited opinions? Well, just because it's not easy, I'm not giving up. I need the Internet, and it needs me.
What else is going on? I still don't know where I'm going to be moving at the end of June, but I'm hopeful. Next weekend is the annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, and my little bro happens to be in town then. The weekend after is Gay Pride weekend, followed by the move. I've filed for unemployment benefits, which should keep me from freaking out until I can start temping.
But enough about me. (Well, personal subjects anyway.) A couple of weeks ago, I filled out a questionaire from The Advocate about assorted subjects of interest regarding gays. As a gift for filling out the card, I got a trial subscription. Because I am a dedicated Fruit Fly (TM), I thought that would be just fine. I got the first copy in the mailtoday,and it was wrapped in opaque plastic. I found that to be bizarre. I didn't know they did that sort of thing anymore. I'm certainly not worried about my mailman knowing that I'm reading The Advocate. Sure, some people may wish for some discretion, but I think it should be offered as an option, not a given!
Spam has been breaking my time bank here at the cafe,so if you want to write to me,and I may not recognize your name, please write "blog" somewhere in the subject line. Thanks!
Hmm, what else...
Go see The Play What I Wrote ASAP. I missed the Tonys, but if it didn't win anything (and even if it did) it may close soon. It's hilarious and I recommend it highly. My friend Dave described it as "Monty Python meets Carol Burnett." A Must See.
OK, next time I'll write down some musings beforei get here so I can blog with more efficiency. Until then, keep on reaching for the stars,or at least another gin and tonic.
How happy are you right now to see that I've posted today? I know how you sick kids crave my contradictory and salacious ramblings, but I've been without internet access for a little while because of my employment situation and my lack of a land line. So here I am at easyinternetcafe, working on a cheap ass keyboard with a sticky space bar, trying to hurry up and do all my web-related activities in but one short hour, after standing in line for twenty minutes waiting for the ticket machine to become available. Blogging is hell, I tell you. How did I become so dependent on the Internet? Without e-mail, how did I know what parties to go to? How did I domy banking and pay my bills? And how, oh how, did I express my unsolicited opinions? Well, just because it's not easy, I'm not giving up. I need the Internet, and it needs me.
What else is going on? I still don't know where I'm going to be moving at the end of June, but I'm hopeful. Next weekend is the annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island, and my little bro happens to be in town then. The weekend after is Gay Pride weekend, followed by the move. I've filed for unemployment benefits, which should keep me from freaking out until I can start temping.
But enough about me. (Well, personal subjects anyway.) A couple of weeks ago, I filled out a questionaire from The Advocate about assorted subjects of interest regarding gays. As a gift for filling out the card, I got a trial subscription. Because I am a dedicated Fruit Fly (TM), I thought that would be just fine. I got the first copy in the mailtoday,and it was wrapped in opaque plastic. I found that to be bizarre. I didn't know they did that sort of thing anymore. I'm certainly not worried about my mailman knowing that I'm reading The Advocate. Sure, some people may wish for some discretion, but I think it should be offered as an option, not a given!
Spam has been breaking my time bank here at the cafe,so if you want to write to me,and I may not recognize your name, please write "blog" somewhere in the subject line. Thanks!
Hmm, what else...
Go see The Play What I Wrote ASAP. I missed the Tonys, but if it didn't win anything (and even if it did) it may close soon. It's hilarious and I recommend it highly. My friend Dave described it as "Monty Python meets Carol Burnett." A Must See.
OK, next time I'll write down some musings beforei get here so I can blog with more efficiency. Until then, keep on reaching for the stars,or at least another gin and tonic.
Friday, May 30, 2003
The End of the Line
Wow! Am I in a good mood or what? After two weeks of waiting and stressing, it's finally over. I feel relaxed and calm, especially because I got my severance in one lump sum. You know what that means! Unemployment, bay-bee! Plus, no freaking about having the money to put down a deposit on a share.
So, I'm feeling fabulous. My skin is better than it's been in nearly a year, I'm all a-shimmer with Nivea reflecting skin cream, my hair is down, my cleavage is showing, and I'm wearing sandals and a skirt. It's going to be 80 degrees today. I even tied a tiger print scarf to my purse. It's an Elle Woods-thing. I have these fantastic sunglasses that are big and black and have sparkly rhinestones in the frames. Funny how a little personal grooming can make you forget your troubles.
But it's over. No more stuffy old people and their family trees. No more cheap board of trustees who don't think it's important to clean your drapes more than once every twelve years. No more brick walls. No more daily commute from hell. At least not this one. I'm so ready to go, right now.
But I'll stick around. They want to have a little get together to show me how much they'll miss me. There better be food or cash, that's all I'm saying.
Today's a day for deleting personal files, filling up floppy disks, trashing old magazines, changing passwords, deleting cookies, changing voice mail, scamming office supplies. Today's a day for tying up loose ends and taking twelve cigarette breaks. Today's a day for early happy hour and much rejoicing. (yay!)
Today rocks!
Wow! Am I in a good mood or what? After two weeks of waiting and stressing, it's finally over. I feel relaxed and calm, especially because I got my severance in one lump sum. You know what that means! Unemployment, bay-bee! Plus, no freaking about having the money to put down a deposit on a share.
So, I'm feeling fabulous. My skin is better than it's been in nearly a year, I'm all a-shimmer with Nivea reflecting skin cream, my hair is down, my cleavage is showing, and I'm wearing sandals and a skirt. It's going to be 80 degrees today. I even tied a tiger print scarf to my purse. It's an Elle Woods-thing. I have these fantastic sunglasses that are big and black and have sparkly rhinestones in the frames. Funny how a little personal grooming can make you forget your troubles.
But it's over. No more stuffy old people and their family trees. No more cheap board of trustees who don't think it's important to clean your drapes more than once every twelve years. No more brick walls. No more daily commute from hell. At least not this one. I'm so ready to go, right now.
But I'll stick around. They want to have a little get together to show me how much they'll miss me. There better be food or cash, that's all I'm saying.
Today's a day for deleting personal files, filling up floppy disks, trashing old magazines, changing passwords, deleting cookies, changing voice mail, scamming office supplies. Today's a day for tying up loose ends and taking twelve cigarette breaks. Today's a day for early happy hour and much rejoicing. (yay!)
Today rocks!
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Close, But No Cigar
I was down with the idea of the all-boy version of The Bachelor, but then I read that some of the potentials will be straight! What the fuck? You can't have a "straightforward" gay dating show, there has to be some opportunity for humiliation? Because what else is it when you set a guy up, tell him all the guys he's choosing from are looking for the same thing he is, then flip the script and give a cash prize to the guy who can fool him? It's bogus, and I find it very self-hating on the part of the gay producer. But what do I know? I'm just a chick living the straight life. According to the creatprs, I should be eating this shit up with a spoon.
I was down with the idea of the all-boy version of The Bachelor, but then I read that some of the potentials will be straight! What the fuck? You can't have a "straightforward" gay dating show, there has to be some opportunity for humiliation? Because what else is it when you set a guy up, tell him all the guys he's choosing from are looking for the same thing he is, then flip the script and give a cash prize to the guy who can fool him? It's bogus, and I find it very self-hating on the part of the gay producer. But what do I know? I'm just a chick living the straight life. According to the creatprs, I should be eating this shit up with a spoon.
From Vegas Wedding to Online Divorce
If marriage was taken a little more seriously, I might not be so opposed to it.
If marriage was taken a little more seriously, I might not be so opposed to it.
You know You're In Trouble...
When rich people think your tax cut stinks. The other night I saw Warren Buffet, looking like any old retired guy in a cardigan and polo shirt, talking to Ted Koppel about Bush's tax cut. He mentioned that he could get back $3 million on his stock dividends with this cut, but what would that do for the economy? He said that he would just invest it, while you could give $1000 to 30,000 American families who would actually spend it, which is what helps the economy. He was all talkin' in the lay terms and being Joe Regular guy. He stressed that a true tax cut comes with a cut in spending, but laughed at the idea (not because it's impossible, but because no one would ever let it happen). I think I love him. Yes, ours is forbidden love, but he made me understand something about taxes and the economy and for that he will always be in my heart. Alexia + Warren 4 Eva!
When rich people think your tax cut stinks. The other night I saw Warren Buffet, looking like any old retired guy in a cardigan and polo shirt, talking to Ted Koppel about Bush's tax cut. He mentioned that he could get back $3 million on his stock dividends with this cut, but what would that do for the economy? He said that he would just invest it, while you could give $1000 to 30,000 American families who would actually spend it, which is what helps the economy. He was all talkin' in the lay terms and being Joe Regular guy. He stressed that a true tax cut comes with a cut in spending, but laughed at the idea (not because it's impossible, but because no one would ever let it happen). I think I love him. Yes, ours is forbidden love, but he made me understand something about taxes and the economy and for that he will always be in my heart. Alexia + Warren 4 Eva!
Home of the Blue Jays and Deadly Viruses
Sure, 1,700 students have been quarantined, but Toronto is still a very safe place to visit. Come one, come all to Outbreak, Canada.
Look, I like Toronto. I know many people from Toronto. But I still wouldn't go there now if you paid me. That SARS is some resilient stuff. I don't want to get anywhere near it, nor any surfaces or people that have been near it. So, let me know if you've been to Toronto lately; we'll have a nice chat over e-mail.
Sure, 1,700 students have been quarantined, but Toronto is still a very safe place to visit. Come one, come all to Outbreak, Canada.
Look, I like Toronto. I know many people from Toronto. But I still wouldn't go there now if you paid me. That SARS is some resilient stuff. I don't want to get anywhere near it, nor any surfaces or people that have been near it. So, let me know if you've been to Toronto lately; we'll have a nice chat over e-mail.
Hello, You Have Reached the Offices of God...
So, the producers of Bruce Almighty are feigning innocence over using a real telephone number in their film. I'm sure they never gave a single thought to all the free publicity they would get by not using the standard 555 exchange. Universal Pictures would never do such a thing! It was an honest mistake. They had no idea people would call the number, making prank calls or true confessions to God. It was purely a coincidence that the number reached a radio network that is creating a contest around the whole debacle. Big, big coincidence! Silly movie studio! Next time, they promise to think ahead. They're new at this whole thing. Oops! Sorry!
So, the producers of Bruce Almighty are feigning innocence over using a real telephone number in their film. I'm sure they never gave a single thought to all the free publicity they would get by not using the standard 555 exchange. Universal Pictures would never do such a thing! It was an honest mistake. They had no idea people would call the number, making prank calls or true confessions to God. It was purely a coincidence that the number reached a radio network that is creating a contest around the whole debacle. Big, big coincidence! Silly movie studio! Next time, they promise to think ahead. They're new at this whole thing. Oops! Sorry!
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
Losing It
I'm depressed and scared and confused. I'm worried that I'm doing the wrong thing and that I should be more responsible and just get a regular job so I can be safe. I'm scared to death. I'm more scared than excited. That makes me depressed. I wish I could talk to my mom about this. That also makes me depressed. I come to work and "So. Central Rain" by R.E.M. is on the radio, and I almost burst into tears. What saved me? Switching to Super 70s and hearing "Makin' It," sung by the erstwhile Dr. Pepper spokesman (spokeswhistler?) and American werewolf in London, David Naughton. Alert readers will recall my fondness for a certain little film called Midnight Madness (the mother of all scavenger hunt movies), which was Naughton's film debut. How could I not love this guy? So, thanks, David Naughton, for the brief reprieve.
I'm depressed and scared and confused. I'm worried that I'm doing the wrong thing and that I should be more responsible and just get a regular job so I can be safe. I'm scared to death. I'm more scared than excited. That makes me depressed. I wish I could talk to my mom about this. That also makes me depressed. I come to work and "So. Central Rain" by R.E.M. is on the radio, and I almost burst into tears. What saved me? Switching to Super 70s and hearing "Makin' It," sung by the erstwhile Dr. Pepper spokesman (spokeswhistler?) and American werewolf in London, David Naughton. Alert readers will recall my fondness for a certain little film called Midnight Madness (the mother of all scavenger hunt movies), which was Naughton's film debut. How could I not love this guy? So, thanks, David Naughton, for the brief reprieve.
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
New York Observations
Dr. Zizmor has a new subway ad. I had just been thinking about how I hadn't seen a "Dr. Z" ad lately, and there he is, Jonathan Zizmor, MD, "Board Certified Dermatologist" with his lovely, hatted wife, praising New Yorkers for their courage and offering new blemish treatments. You go, Dr. Z!
Park Avenue could really use some crosswalk lights. It's nerve-wracking!
There are a lot of blind people walking around midtown. I'm thinking that it's because the area is strictly on the grid and easy to get around. Whatever the reason, I've seen more blind people in the last 9 months I've worked in east midtown than I have in all my previous years combined.
Blah blah blah. Soon I'll be blogging a lot less.
Dr. Zizmor has a new subway ad. I had just been thinking about how I hadn't seen a "Dr. Z" ad lately, and there he is, Jonathan Zizmor, MD, "Board Certified Dermatologist" with his lovely, hatted wife, praising New Yorkers for their courage and offering new blemish treatments. You go, Dr. Z!
Park Avenue could really use some crosswalk lights. It's nerve-wracking!
There are a lot of blind people walking around midtown. I'm thinking that it's because the area is strictly on the grid and easy to get around. Whatever the reason, I've seen more blind people in the last 9 months I've worked in east midtown than I have in all my previous years combined.
Blah blah blah. Soon I'll be blogging a lot less.
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