Random Friday Thoughts — August 30, 2013

The weekend is almost here.  I’m not in Cancun and I’m not back from there for one day before heading to Chicagoland to see Depeche Mode like last weekend.   Don’t get me wrong.  Both were awesome.

However, this weekend, with the intense summer heat, I’m vegging out with Ray and my sister, Tammy.  Maybe we’ll spend some time floating in the pool, grilling out, and devouring humans and taking part in the bloodshed of the undead.  Simply put, we’ll be watching season three of “The Walking Dead”!!!  It arrived Thursday.

Whatever you do this weekend, be safe outdoors.  Drink plenty of water, wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing, and take some air conditioning breaks!  For now, check out my random thoughts this week!

WINTER IS COMING!

I believe in forecasting several days in advance with a decent degree of accuracy.  I refrain from giving forecasts for an entire season, yet people love to hear outlooks for the upcoming winter.  So, here goes…

The “Farmers’ Almanac”, which has been forecasting weather since 1818, just released its winter forecast and it looks pretty cold (biting or piercing) for us in the Quad Cities.  Whatever you do, don’t cross the Mississippi River from Iowa into Illinois unless you want a “snowy” winter!!! 🙂

However, NOAA is not forecasting  “piercing” or “biting” cold this winter.  It’s calling for above average temperatures this winter!

On that note, there’s a local television meteorologist in the Quad Cities that’s probably already calling for 20″ with every snow event that develops this winter!

If you really want me to go out on a limb, I expect many days with really cold temperatures, several round of light snow, a few heavier snowstorms, and many people dreaming of a “White Christmas”.  Since the “Farmers’ Almanac” and “The Old Farmer’s Almanac” both boast a high degree of accuracy with their vague forecast, I bet my vague prediction there is pretty accurate, too. 🙂

WHERE DOES PAULA DEEN GO FROM HERE?

A few weeks ago, I talked about the “racial discrimination” lawsuit against Paula Deen being dismissed.  Last Friday afternoon, Judge William T. Moore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia signed an order of dismissal in the case of Jackson vs. Deen.

What this means is that Lisa Jackson, the woman who filed the lawsuit against the celebrity chef that brought down her culinary empire after Deen admitted using the “n-word” many years ago, reached an undisclosed settlement with Paula and her brother, Bubba Hiers.

While Deen said she was happy and was looking to put this all behind her, I’m agitated with the money-hungry accuser Jackson.  Here is what she (or her lawyers) released after the settlement:

“I assumed that all of my complaints about the workplace environment were getting to Paula Deen, but I learned during this matter that this was not the case. The Paula Deen I have known for more than eight years, is a woman of compassion and kindness and will never tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind toward anyone. I now know that the workplace environment issues that I raised are being reviewed and will in the future no longer be at issue. I wish Ms. Deen and her family all the best in all of their future endeavors and I am very pleased that this matter has been now been resolved and can now be put behind us.”

Wait, let me read this again, “The Paula Deen I have known for more than eight years, is a woman of compassion and kindness and will never tolerate discrimination or racism of any kind toward anyone.”

That doesn’t sound like the kind of woman I’d file a multi-million dollar lawsuit against, but maybe I’m wrong!

Despicable!

SPEAKING OF DESPICABLE

Two words:  Pat Robertson.

Just when I think the man might have just an ounce of humanity, clarity, or compassion, he proves me wrong and solidifies my belief that he’s a moron!  I will not even apologize or sugar coat it for people who like him or listen to his drivel.

Earlier this week, a question was posed from a woman who drove a man dying of AIDS to church on Sundays.  She did this more than twenty times.  However, she wasn’t told he had AIDS and she feels deceived and is going to another church until she “sorts this out.”

In response, Robertson starts out with a moment of sanity before it goes south.

His co-host Terry Meeuwsen is compassionate about the situation adding, “I think you were doing a good thing by transporting this man.  I have known people in AIDS and have never felt fearful even if you had had a car accident.”

And, now, here’s where it goes to hell.  Robertson says, “You know what they do in San Francisco? Some in the gay community there, they want to get people. So if they got the stuff they’ll have a ring, you shake hands and the ring’s got a little thing where you cut your finger,” he said. “Really. It’s that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder.”

Seriously????

CNN’s Anderson Cooper had the best response to Robertson’s hateful, hurtful, and stupid comment, along with some of the best of the worst of Robertson’s God-loving “advice”.  (For the uninitiated, that was sarcasm!)

I’m glad I have God in my life and I’m glad I don’t have to find him through some vile little man like Robertson.

Oh, by the way, even “The 700 Club” or The Christian Broadcasting Network obviously knew that Robertson was so far off his rocker that it edited that segment out of the show before posting it to their website later that day!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

MEMORIES OF CANCUN

Since our trip to Cancun was all-inclusive for food and drinks, here are a few pictures of my favorite drink there.

It was a heavy pour of Smirnoff Vodka, melon liquor, a splash of sour mix topped off with a little blended (not frozen) pina colada.  It was incredible!  Maybe I’ll have to make some at home by the pool this weekend!

OKAY, I’VE GOT TO MEET THIS WOMAN AND HANG WITH HER!

While I’d love to meet Madonna, Gaga, Britney, Kylie, Olivia, Reba (again), and Gillian (Anderson of “The X-Files” and “Hannibal”), I just read an article in “Out” that made me fall in love with Angela Raiola!

If that name doesn’t ring a bell, try “Big Ang”, from the second season of VH1’s “Mob Wives” and the one season of “Big Ang”, the spin-off.

She just opened her second bar, “Miami Monkey” in South Beach and that’s where she’s enjoying that big orange fruity drink.

I don’t watch reality television, so I don’t know anything more about her than what I read and she sound like a hoot!!!   I think she and Divine would have made an awesome team.

And, she told “Out” that she’s an incredible cook and her favorite hot-weather dish:  tangerine zest linguine (minced garlic, olive oil, Parmigiano, fresh linguine with tangerine zest, salt, and pepper).

She seems like a down-to-earth gal that also knows how to have a good time.  Big Ang, let’s hang some time!  It might even be fun attending one of her Botox parties!  She loves them and she’s not shy about it. 🙂

DEPECHE MODE CONCERT

Last Saturday night, we saw Depeche Mode in concert at First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park, outside of Chicago.

I have to admit that I was really scared that we’d miss the opening of the show because traffic was such a cluster (you know the rest of the word).  It took us more than an hour to travel one-quarter of mile once we were within 1.5 miles of the venue.  Needless to say, we missed the opening act, Bat For Lashes, and I was seated for only about ten minutes before Depeche Mode took the stage.

Tinley Park, EPIC FAIL!

However, Depeche Mode was great and it was well worth the 30-year wait to see them in concert.

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS

The big winner (and loser) was Miley Cyrus at last Sunday’s ceremony in New York City.  More on that in a moment.

I never thought it would excite me so much for Mother Monster to be booed and have people say “I hate her”.  However, that was part of the act as Lady Gaga kicked off the awards show in a triumphant return to performing after having to cancel much of the North American leg of the “Born This Wall Ball” tour for hip surgery earlier this year.

“ARTPOP”, Gaga’s new album featuring “Applause” comes out November 11th!

The biggest reaction from the show was Miley Cyrus’ over-the-top sexual performance of “Blurred Lines” with Robin Thicke.

After watching the performance, the dirty dancing and sexcapades with Thicke didn’t bother me since you see that kind of action in music videos and movies all the time.  I think the thing that was most creepy to me was Cyrus sticking out her tongue like an animal and the hideous bear costume she was wearing.

Love it or hate it, the performance got Cyrus what she wanted:  free publicity for her album “Bangerz” which comes out in early October.  The first single and song she performed Sunday night, “We Can’t Stop” is a Top Ten radio airplay hit after reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, it’s already sold two million copies, and the video has been viewed on Vevo almost 166 million times!   And, if you saw this video, you should have known that “Hannah Montana” would not be at the VMAs!

If you didn’t like Cryus’ performance and you wonder what happened to little Hannah Montana, just remember that Miley’s birth name is Destiny Hope Cyrus.  Maybe this was her “Destiny” and there’s still “Hope”. 🙂

Earlier this week, I blogged my in-depth thoughts about the performance and the Miley-bashing that took place for days afterwards.  Here is that much-viewed blog if you didn’t a chance to read it:  https://anthonypeoples.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/she-blurred-lines-but-mileys-not-the-antichrist/

ONE CHILD STAR TO ANOTHER

Former Disney Channel star Selena Gomez,  who is scoring hits at pop radio and won a Moonman at the VMAs Sunday night has this to say of Miley’s sex-driven performance, “Amazing. I thought it was awesome.  I love Robin Thicke, too, so I like that they collab’d.”

Before becoming a Disney star herself, Gomez appeared on three episodes of “Hannah Montana” with Miley.

TAYLOR SWIFT, GO AWAY!

Full disclaimer:  I own an early Taylor Swift CD and I saw her in concert with Keith Urban several years ago and, at that time, she was enjoyable.  Now, enjoyable, for me, has turned into annoying.

At the MTV VMAs, while One Direction was accepting the award for “Song of the Summer”, Swift is caught on an “audience cam” apparently mouthing the words “Shut the F&*k Up”.

Was she talking about her ex-boyfriend, Harry Styles’ band onstage or did Selena comment on how cute the boys are?

Whatever the reason and I don’t really care if we’re misunderstanding the lip-reading or not, just go away Taylor.  Please.

PEEPS’ ’80s FRIDAY FLASHBACK

Since sex was mentioned early in the blog (hello Miley and Robin), why not flashback to the 1980s with a song that doesn’t even beat around the bush with the sex in the title?

“Sex (I’m A…) was the second single from “The Pleasure Victim” album by new wave band, Berlin in 1982.  Imagine how scandalous this was to a 17-year-old Kentucky boy.

However, this one was a little to hot to handle for American pop radio where it peaked at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It did, however, reach the top ten on the American Mainstream Rock and the Dance charts.  Canada wasn’t so shy.  It peaked at #5 on the Canadian Hot 100.

The band would go on to score huge hits with “Take My Breath Away”  (#1) from the “Top Gun” soundtrack and “No More Words” (#23).

PICK HIT RE-DUEX

While I was in Cancun last week, it was interesting listening to the radio.  We found a station that was a mix of ’70s, ’80s, 90’s, ’00s, and today in both English and Spanish.  One song that I really liked was “Take A Picture” by Carly Rae Jepsen.  And, they were also playing was a song I picked as a future pick hit back in May.  I chose it as a potential song of the summer.  Maybe next summer!

Here’s Erika Jayne, featuring Flo Rida with “Get It Tonight”.

FINAL THOUGHT ON MILEY CYRUS

Okay, I know personally that my Facebook page blew up with negative comments about Miley Cyrus following her VMA performance Sunday night.

And, then you started seeing reactions from celebrities in the audience and the one that caught my attention was Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and their two kids, Willow and Jaden. For the record, this shot of the Smith family was during the Lady Gaga performance and Willow was in mid-chew with her gum and Jada was rubbing her nose.  It had nothing to do with Miley as some believe or have posted.

Now, about Jada. She is a beautiful woman. However, in that photo, I don’t know if the look of horror is from seeing the performance on stage or that she just realized, for the first time, her poor rip-off of Tina Turner’s amazing “Auntie Entity” look from 1985’s “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome”. 🙂

Jada

Tina Turner as “Auntie Entity”

Here’s a “Peeps’ ’80s Friday Flashback” bonus — Tina Turner’s #2 smash from the summer of 1985, “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)”.

Have a great weekend everyone and thank you for checking out my blog!

Anthony

She “Blurred Lines”, But Miley’s Not the Antichrist

Lady Gaga opened the MTV VMAs singing “Applause” in an incredible comeback performance.

Justin Timberlake reunited with ‘N Sync.

Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis, along with Mary Lambert and Jennifer Hudson, performed “Same Love” to let everyone know that love is love regardless if you’re gay, straight, or something in between and to raise awareness of marriage equality and homophobia in rap music.

But, by the time Katy Perry closed the show with a performance of “Roar” with a sexy back-up dancer named Lockhart Brownlie, no one probably noticed because they were too busy commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or blogging about the twerk of the century.

Yes, I’m talking about Miley Cyrus’ worldwide television audition for a new career as a Vegas showgirl or an adult movie star.

After her four-minute performance of her hit, “We Can’t Stop” segued into a duet with Robin Thicke and the biggest song of 2013, “Blurred Lines”, the lines were no longer blurred. Two things were established and set in stone from the social network chatter:  Miley was a skank and she ruined Robin’s big moment.

I didn’t see this live Sunday night, but as soon as MTV posted it, I had to watch to see what all the fuss was about.  While I commented on it with my status updates on Facebook, I wanted to write a few more lines here and expand on my thoughts.

Whether you thought it was disgusting or entertaining, that’s your prerogative and I’m not writing this to change your mind.  I just want to point out some obvious things based on some of the comments I’ve read.

Comment: “How am I going to explain this to my 8-year-old daughter or son watching?”

This awards show was on MTV.  These shows are known for pushing the envelopes when it comes to sex!

Comment:  “But I didn’t know it was going to be that nasty.”

Have you not seen the video to Miley’s “We Can’t Stop” complete with drug references and blatant sexuality? 

How about Robin’s unrated “Blurred Lines” video complete with naked women! I’m not talking about scantily clad women, but naked women parading around showing their boobies, feeling him up while he smiles and goes along with it, and boasting that he has a big, well, let’s just say that he’s “blessed”.

WARNING: Both of these videos are for adults only and NSFW!!!!!

Comment:  “My little girl loves Hannah Montana”.

Well, Miley Cyrus hasn’t been Hannah Montana since January 2011 and she’s worked very hard, especially lately, to shed that wholesome Disney image.  This performance was not billed as “Hannah Montana Does MTV”!

Comment:  “If I was Robin’s wife, I would have bitch-slapped her, kicked her ass, etc.”

Whether you liked the performance or not, it falls under the heading of “entertainment”.  That’s what music and television are for and that’s what MTV was providing that night.  What, you don’t think it was entertainment?  You’re wrong. 

When I see Michael C. Hall kill people as “Dexter”, I know it’s a performance. It’s entertainment. I don’t think he’s really killing people and I didn’t think Miley and Robin were getting aroused from the act on stage.

There are many musical acts, television shows, movies, and books that I don’t listen to, watch, or read, but that is my personal choice and just because I don’t care to take part in something or like it, it doesn’t mean it’s not entertainment.

Comment:  “She a tramp, a whore, a slut” (and many other names being thrown out there) “and she ruined his performance”.

I agree that Miley didn’t sound great singing “Blurred Lines”.  However, why is she the one that’s catching most of the flack?  Robin is just as guilty for this gratuitous act of sexuality.  He was thoroughly enjoying himself and the attention from Miley and the MTV cameras.

And, for the record, Robin is being degraded and blasted big time on his own Facebook page for the performance.  However, even there, Miley is being criticized the most!

I don’t know who, if anyone, Miley has slept with so calling her those abrasive names seems a little crass.  Maybe saying she was acting “like a tramp”, “like a whore”, or “like a slut” would be more appropriate.  She should have just acted “like a virgin touched for the very first time.”  Oh wait, even that was controversial back in mid-1980s!

The bottom line is that whether we liked the performance or not, it worked.

All people have talked about since Sunday night is Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke on the VMAs. And, on iTunes, Miley has two of the top five downloaded songs and Robin Thicke is at #4 with “Blurred Lines”.  His album is one of the top sellers and the pre-sale for Miley’s new album coming out in early October is already one of the Top Five pre-sales in the country.

The bottom line is that if my 12-year-old daughter wants to see Miley’s performance, I would allow her to see it. Just like any other television show or movie we watch with adult-oriented language or material, I’m there to answer any questions and give her my opinion of what I think is right or wrong.

Miley, you’re young and your adult entertainment career is just taking off. Make the right choices and think a little more about future performances.

Publicity, good or bad, is the name of the game in entertainment.

We need to get over it even though it’s fun to talk about right now.  There are more important matters in the world.  Google “Syria” and “Egypt” for starters.

But, I have to confess that I’ve already written a small piece about the VMAs and Miley for a blog later in the week, but then I’ll move on after that!

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — August 23, 2013

Getting up at 1 a.m., drinking caffeinated soda by 2 a.m. and having a rabbit cross your path on the way to work instead of sleeping in and having iguanas and sting rays dart across in front of you on walks along the beach are sure signs that I’m no longer in paradise.

Just 24 hours ago, I was waking up for one more stroll in Cancun.  We just got back late last night and four hours later I’m back to work.  Luckily, I only have one shift before I try to catch up on rest from the vacation this weekend.  I hope you’ve all had a good week.

CANCUN

Our getaway to the Yucatan Peninsula was awesome.  We ate plenty of fresh fruit and breakfast was my favorite meal.  A green-colored orange/pineapple/carrot/spinach juice combo was my favorite way to start the day.  The unlimited adult beverages were fantastic, too.  I’ll post a picture of my favorite potent potable next week.  And, I learned that Dos Equis beer is pretty tasty on tap and I’m not even a beer drinker.

Here are a few photos from the trip.  Hopefully, I’ll get around to posting the rest of the vacation pictures on Facebook early next week.

 

RAY TURNS 50 NEXT WEEK!

He turns how old?  I’m just giving him a hard time.  Age is just a number.

For his golden, milestone birthday, he chose a cruise on the Danube River, which is coming up in mid-October, with stops in several European cities for his present.  While a little pricey, you only turn 50 once!

I recently blogged about it and if you missed it, here’s the link:  https://anthonypeoples.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/plans-for-a-milestone-birthday/

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY WEATHER IDOL

While my fascination with weather started when I was a four-year-old cutting weather maps out of the “Mayfield Messenger” and “The Paducah Sun-Democrat” in the late-1960s, I knew that I wanted to be a television meteorologist after seeing Tom Skilling on WGN.

61-year-old Skilling joined WGN back in 1978.  Tom is the chief meteorologist covering the weather weekdays for the two-hour midday news from 11 am – 1 pm, the 5 pm, and the 9 pm shows.  In addition to the long hours he puts in on television, he also writes a weather page for the Chicago Tribune and a weather blog.  It’s reported that Tom has a weather staff of twelve.

Just last year, Tom signed a multi-million dollar, ten-year contract that will keep him on the air until 2022.

When Tom signed the contract, he told Robert Feder of “Time Out Chicago”, “I have marveled at the support I’ve received from my viewers all these years — at their loyalty and kindness. We are nothing in our line of work without those who offer us the gift of taking time out of their busy days to grace us with the honor of checking out what we do and what we have to say. I’m beyond words over the whole thing.”

While I’ve never met him, from a meteorologist standpoint, I’ve never seen anyone with the commitment to weather that I see in Tom.  His lengthy weathercasts are incredible and you can just feel the passion when he talks about the weather, whether there’s a snowstorm on the way or just more tranquil weather — he sells it and he owns it.

As I said earlier, I’ve never met Tom, but I’ve celebrated Chicago Pride with him and his colleagues at WGN on their Pride float.  He’s always happy and you can tell he loves weather and he loves people.  (This is from the 2010 Chicago Pride parade.)

While some people have bobbleheads (no thank you), I cherish this autographed publicity photo from Tom in 2003.

Tom, my colleague and my weather idol, congratulations on 35 years and here’s to next nine (or more) at WGN.  Thank you for inspiring me to follow my weather dreams.

And, I have to feature these hilarious videoes of Tom to show he’s not all weather maps and computer models.

“Tom Freakin’ Skilling!”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

PATHETIC, ANGRY IOWA WOMAN

A Des Moines, Iowa, woman is getting off easy for a disgusting act of violence she committed last spring.

Police say that 28-year-old Sheena Ann Cornwell showed no remorse when she was arrested for hanging her boyfriend’s senior dog, Lillie, in an intoxicated rage because the dog was barking.

While he believes what Cornwell did was cruel, Judge Joe Smith doesn’t think she is a danger to society.  The Des Moines Register reports that Cornwell is now on probation for two years and she cannot own a pet during that same period of time.

But, the judge’s decision is raising concern and some think it sends out the wrong message.  Tom Colvin of the Animal Rights League says,  “I’m very afraid that that’s what it’s saying – is that someone can torture an animal with no consequences.  So, what are the consequences here for Lillie? For Lillie’s death?”

So sad!

WAS IT HOMOPHOBIC, A MISUNDERSTANDING, OR DAMAGE CONTROL?

In my quest to keep the anti-gay laws of Russia front and center until people realize the antics and hate the government there is spewing, here’s someone who agrees with the way things are headed there.  Or, does she?

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time Olympic champion, is strongly anti-gay (or is she?).

Last week, after winning the World Championship title in Russia, “USA Today” reports that she said, “If we allow to promote and do all this stuff on the street, we are very afraid about our nation because we consider ourselves like normal, standard people.”

She added, “We just live with boys with woman, woman with boys.  Everything must be fine. It comes from history. We never had any problems, these problems in Russia, and we don’t want to have any in the future.”

After widespread criticism, Isinbayeva “clarified” her comments, “English is not my first language and I think I may have been misunderstood when I spoke yesterday.”

She added, “But let me make it clear I respect the views of my fellow athletes and let me state in the strongest terms that I am opposed to any discrimination against gay people on the grounds of their sexuality [which is against the Olympic charter].”

Isinbayeva, I really don’t know what your views are or if this clarification is just damage control?  However, let this American offer you some advice.  I don’t speak Russian and if I’m going to criticize your country’s pathetic views toward the LGBT community (and I will), I’ll do it in English, a language I can fluently speak.  I won’t condemn your leaders in a poor attempt by speaking Russian because there may be some misunderstanding!

MILLER COMES OUT AND COMES OUT AGAINST RUSSIA

Two days ago, while I was away, 41-year-old “Prison Break” actor Wentworth Miller officially came out as a gay man.

Miller came out in a letter to the St. Petersburg International Film Fest.  The actor refused to take part in the festival because of Russia’s anti-LGBT laws.

Miller writes, “I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government.  The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.”

For years, there’s been speculation about Miller being gay with Perez Hilton reporting that Miller was dating former “Brothers & Sisters” actor Luke MacFarlane.

Congratulations Wentworth on standing up to the bullies in Russia and I hope by coming out that you can live your life openly and happily.  And, if you’re dating Luke, you two make a beautiful couple!

PEEPS’ ’80s FRIDAY FLASHBACK

While it’s not Ray’s birthday present, we’re heading to Chicago Saturday night to see the 1980s English band, Depeche Mode, in concert.  The band is still putting out amazing music thirty years later.  As you might remember, their first American hit on radio was “People Are People”, which reached #13 in 1984 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The band went to score five more Top 40 hits on the Hot 100:  “Personal Jesus” (#28, 1989), “Enjoy The Silence” (#8, 1990), “Policy of Truth” (#15, 1990), “I Feel You” (#37, 1993), and “It’s No Good” (#38, 1997).

And, just this year, they hit #1 on the Billboard Dance chart with “Heaven” and #10 with “Soothe My Soul”, both from their latest album, “Delta Machine”.

And, speaking of Depeche Mode, here’s the blog I wrote about the band and how excited I was to get tickets for their concert:  https://anthonypeoples.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/finding-my-own-personal-jesus-in-chicago-this-summer/

THAT’S IT FOR THIS WEEK

While it’s shorter today week because I was away until last night, I hope you enjoyed or learning something from my random thoughts.  Have a great weekend!

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — August 16, 2013

Another weekend is upon us and I hope you’re excited about whatever you have planned to do.  I know some of my friends are going to take it easy this weekend after partying at Market Days last weekend.  Since I worked 11 of past 12 days, I think I deserve a break today and I’m not talking McDonald’s.  🙂

Have a great weekend and enjoy my random thoughts this Friday!  And, please know that I always welcome your feedback on my thoughts, whether you agree or disagree, and I’d like to know what you’re thinking about whatever.

VACATION

In less than 24 hours from now, we’ll be boarding a plane from the Quad Cities to Dallas and then to Cancun and by tomorrow afternoon, God-willing, we’ll have our feet buried in the sand sipping on a cold potent drink.

It’s been an interesting week of watching the tropics.  If you recall last week, the Caribbean was quiet.  And, then by Wednesday, there was a 60-70% chance of a tropical storm forming and bringing heavy rain and wind to the Yucatan Peninsula, e.g. Cancun!

Fun times!  Luckily, for us, development into a tropical storm (if it happens) will not occur until it gets into the Gulf of Mexico and the rainy, wet weather should be gone by Saturday!

Here’s to margaritas, tequila, beautiful sunsets, and hot bodies!  So, here’s my favorite Latina hottie, Pauline Rubio.  (Don’t worry, Enrique (Iglesias), you’re my favorite Latin hottie!)

PAULA DEEN GETS VINDICATION, BUT…

The lawsuit against celebrity chef Paula Deen that caused her to lose her Food Network television show and many sponsorships has been thrown of out of court.

Lisa Jackson, a former manager at one of Deen’s Savannah restaurants, is suing her former bosses, Deen and her brother, Bubba Hiers, for millions of dollars for racial and sexual discrimination.

However, earlier this week, U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. ruled that Jackson, who is white, cannot sue them for race discrimination because she was not one of the victims — even though others may have allegedly faced discrimination.

A spokesperson for Paula Deen says, “We are pleased with the court’s ruling today that Lisa Jackson’s claims of race discrimination have been dismissed.  As Ms. Deen has stated before, she is confident that those who truly know how she lives her life know that she believes in equal opportunity, kindness and fairness for everyone.”

There is still the issue of sexual harassment that Jackson is alleging.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*
¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday Dear Madonna!!!!! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥

Today, the “Material Girl” turns 55!

In honor of the woman who had the most successful tour of 2012 (the “MDNA Tour” made $305.2 million), has had more Hot 100 Top Ten Billboard hits than the Beatles (38), and leads with the most #1 Billboard Dance chart hits (43), here’s my favorite Madonna song.

“Borderline” became her first Top Ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.

And, here’s my favorite Madonna video.

“Open Your Heart” became Madonna’s 11th Top Ten hit and fifth #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1987.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FINALLY, I GET TO READ A BOOK!

I just finished the April 28, 2011 “Rolling Stone”, the last of my stockpiled magazines that also included “Time”, “Details”, “Men’s Fitness”, and “Boston”.  Now that all of those subscriptions have expired, I only get “Entertainment Weekly”, “Out”, “Instinct”, and “The Advocate”.

This means that I’ll be able to keep up with the new magazines as they arrive and I can finally read a book!  I haven’t read a book in about five years — right before Ray and I met.

I already have the first four picked out, “Golden Days:  Memories of a Golden Retriever” by Arthur Vanderbilt, “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein (yes, Vickie, I’m finally going to read it and get it back to you), “The Meaning of Matthew:  My Son’s Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed” by Judy Shepard, and “Christmas in Plains” by Jimmy Carter.

Those four should take me up to the end of the year.  The Matthew Shepard book will be timely since the 15th anniversary of his death is October 12th and the book by President Carter should coincide with Christmas this year!

WHAT I LEARNED FROM “ROLLING STONE” MAGAZINE

I always thought of “Rolling Stone” as a rock music magazine.  However, I was pleasantly surprised at how it excels in hard news and investigative reporting.  It expands on stories that mainstream news media outlets shy away from by playing it safe.  “Rolling Stone” doesn’t hold back!

Here are some of the highlights from the last few issues that I just finished reading from 2011 as my subscription expired.  I told you I was behind on reading!

Witty TV commentator Bill Maher was profiled in the March 17, 2011 issue and the article quoted the comedian talking about a shamed Texas politician, “Tom DeLay has done only two things since leaving politics, “Dancing With The Stars” and now prison — somebody must tell him there are easier ways to have sex with men.”  Good stuff!

It also had an interesting cover story on talk show host Howard Stern, who still like to shock people.

In the March 31, 2011 issue, it basically made Stern seem much more human and flawed.  The article touched on the fact that Stern currently makes $80 million dollars a year for his SiriusXM talk show, but he’s still very unhappy in his life and fighting demons.  However, it stated that he is now happily remarried.

Since the article is over two years old, Stern now makes another $15 million for being a judge on “America’s Got Talent”!

And, while she went though hell at the hands of ex-boyfriend/singer Chris Brown and she gets some bad press because of her actions, I really enjoyed learning more about Rihanna in the April 14, 2011 issue.

For the record, she’s already scored 39 Top 40 hits in America on the Billboard Hot 100 since her first hit in 2005 and twelve of those songs topped that chart.  She became only the seventh artist in music history to accomplish that.

Her longest charting #1 song on the Hot 100 (ten weeks) was “We Found Love” with Calvin Harris.  And, her latest single with David Guetta, “Right Now” just became her 20th number one song on the Billboard dance chart.  She’s now in second place as the artist with the most #1 dance hits behind Queen Madonna, with 43 chart toppers.

However, I didn’t learn any of that from the “Rolling Stone” article.  Here’s what I learned from the magazine that made RiRi so much more down to earth:  She doesn’t like vegetables because they taste “like bush”, but she loves french fries, Cheetos, and KFC.  She loves going to grocery store and cooking for herself and enjoys a nice chardonnay at the end of the day.

Rihanna loves true-crime reality, she’s chronically late and she’s also a compulsive boob-grabber!

And, finally, her name is Arabic for “sweet basil”.

ALBUM SALES IN DISTRESS…

Earlier this month, Billboard magazine reported “U.S. album sales have hit new historic lows over the last five weeks marking the longest consecutive stretch in the SoundScan era that the industry has gone without scanning more than 5 million units.  And, over the last two weeks, album sales hit consecutive record lows.”

4.68 million albums were sold for the week ending July 28, 2013.   That’s the lowest weekly total since Nielsen SoundScan started in May 1991.

The top-selling album for the first half of this year, through June 30th, is “The 20/20 Experience” by Justin Timberlake.  Sales are right around two million.

And, the top-selling single during that same time period is “Thrift Store” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, with U.S. sales of 5.6 million.  The song sold an additional 1.2 million copies in the U.S. in late 2012 when it was released.

However, by the end of 2013, I expect that “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke (with Pharrell and T.I.) will be the biggest selling single of the year.  As of August 7th, it was up to 4.27 million in U.S. sales!

But, we can’t forget “Applause” by Lady Gaga and “Roar” from Katy Perry.  Both were rush-released this week because the songs were leaked on the internet.

“Applause” is the first single from the “ARTPOP” album due November 11th.  Gaga will be performing the song live on the MTV VMA show August 25th marking her first real performance since a hip injury and surgery caused her to cancel the remainder of her “Born This Way Ball” tour earlier this year.

This is the lyric video for “Applause”.  The “official” video for the song debuts Monday, August 19th.

And, “Roar” is the first single from Katy Perry’s album “Prism”, which comes out October 22th.

Gretel, my 12-year-old daughter, likes “Roar” more than “Applause”, which she thinks is “weird”.

As for me:

Katy Perry — “Roar” —  I love the catchy chorus of “Roar”, but the rest of the sound is too slow of a build for me.   GRADE:  B

Lady Gaga — “Applause” —  The energy is incredible, the vocals are captivating, and it sounds a little rougher than her previous club hits, but it’ll still make you gravitate to the dance floor.  GRADE:  A

The winner!

YET, VINYL IS HOT AGAIN

While album sales are suffering, vinyl record albums are making a comeback.  In 2012, 4.55 million were sold in the U.S. compared to just less than a million (990,000) five years ago.  Many record companies are beginning to offer free downloads of an album when vinyl is purchased.

Last Christmas, I asked Santa Ray & Santa Tammy for a turntable because I missed vinyl records.  Since Santa delivered, I’ve been hitting a few yard sales and my neighbor’s store, Readmore Book World & Rock Shop, in Moline, for albums and Tammy has picked up a few for me at Goodwill.

PEEPS’ ’80s FRIDAY FLASHBACK

The Go-Go’s first album, “Beauty and the Beat”, in 1981,  hit #1 and sold more than two million copies.  It also gave the group its first two hits and its biggest hit, “Our Lips Are Sealed” (#20) and “We Got The Beat” (#2).

They followed that album up the next year with “Vacation”.  The biggest hit off that release was the #8 title track (the album also peaked at #8).  The group did have two other smaller hits from that album and that was it for them.  A total of five Top 40 Hot 100 hits.

Since we’re heading to Cancun tomorrow, this song is very fitting.

“ELYSIUM”

We saw “Elysium” last weekend.  Matt Damon was incredible (and majorly buff) and Jodie Foster, who wasn’t in the movie as much as Damon, was icily perfect.

Also, Sharlto Copely, who starred in director Neill Blomkamp’s more superior, Oscar-nominated film, “District 9”, was scary and fantastic as the villain, Kruger.

The premise of the movie is that it’s 2154 and Earth (especially Los Angeles) is in ruins.  The wealthy 1% live above the Earth, literally, in space looking down on the ravaged world, the 99%.  On “Elysium”, where the rich live, there is no poverty and no disease.  Life is perfect.

Damon, plays Max, a former car thief, who has a work place accident that exposes him to high levels of radiation.  He’s informed that he only has five days to live and his only chance for survival is to get to Elysium and be treated for the disease.

The movie was action filled and fun.  However, if you saw “District 9”, which was amazing, this movie may not thrill you as much.  It’s still an exciting two hours.

GRADE: B

MY THOUGHTS THIS WEEK ON RUSSIA’S HOMOPHOBIA

THAT’S IT FOR A FEW DAYS

While I might post something on Facebook while in Mexico, my next blog will be next Friday’s random thoughts.

Have a great weekend.

Anthony

Glad I’m Not In Cancun Yet… Well, Sorta

My work day is almost over for today and I have eight hours to go tomorrow before I head to the sunny beaches of Cancun, Mexico Saturday.

Wait, did I say “sunny” beaches?  Okay, that’s the travel industry description because it’s a different story there today.

That’s a webcam shot of Cancun Thursday morning as the Yucatan Peninsula waits for a disorganized tropical system to move through today and tomorrow on its way to the Gulf of Mexico bringing heavy rain and wind.

Notice that cluster of yellows, reds, and dark purples toward the left side of that satellite photo.  That’s the Yucatan Peninsula where Cancun is located.

All week, I’ve been watching the National Hurricane Center’s forecast with the possibility of a tropical system developing increasing.  Would that cluster become Tropical Storm Erin?

It didn’t because Erin developed around the Cape Verde Islands, just off the western coast of Africa.

While it’ll be a stormy day around Cancun today (and possibly tomorrow), the chances of it becoming a named storm is not likely before it makes landfall in that part of Mexico.

However, it has a decent chance to become Tropical Storm Fernand over the Gulf of Mexico over the next five days.

By that time, I should be safely in Cancun.

Anthony

P.S.  I have to admit that, as a meteorologist, the thought of a minor tropical system passing over the Yucatan Peninsula while on I’m vacation would be a little exciting!

Plans For A Milestone Birthday

When it comes to birthdays, turning 13, 16, 21, 25, and 30 are the birthdays that seem to get the most glory.  Once you reach a certain age, many people stop making a big deal out of them.

I remember, as a teenager, thinking people who were 30-years-old were over-the-hill.  Once I hit 30, and then 40, I began to think much differently about those ages being ancient.  While I’m one of those people who don’t make a big deal out of each successive birthday, this year, it’ll be different for Ray.  Later this month, he turns 50 and we’re planning on celebrating it in style this fall.

Turning 50 is a big deal to me.  Think of all of the great people who never made it to 50:  my mother and her mother (47 and 48, respectively), Whitney Houston (48), Judy Garland (47), President John F. Kennedy (46), Elvis Presley (42), John Lennon (40), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (39), Princess Diana (36), Marilyn Monroe (36), Jim Morrison (of the Doors) (27), Janis Joplin (27), Jimi Hendrix (27), James Dean (24), and Ryan White (18).

Ray was born at Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on August 25, 1963.

While I always wanted dirty blonde hair when I was younger, these days I wish I was a ginger.  But, then again, I’m just thankful that I’m in my 40s and I still have hair!

So, when thinking of his upcoming 50th birthday, I thought about a surprise trip to Cancun, Mexico.  I was there in 1993 and I loved it.   I’ve been wanting to go back and I know that Ray’s never been there.  It’s a good thing I asked him before buying the package.  While he said it would be fun, he had other ideas and he’s the one turning 50!!!

However, I didn’t give up on Cancun.  Since I had some vacation time left over, we got a great deal and we’re going to Cancun for five days this weekend.  This is a picture I took of Cancun 20 years ago.

So, Ray thought about it, did his research, and he made a decision.  While both of us have been to Mexico and Canada (before passports were required), this trip was international and it required a passport.  This map is from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and luckily, the trip he planned is “green”, which stands for “take normal safety precautions”!  Red is danger!

So, obviously since the green locations on this map are in Europe, that must be the destination for his golden birthday celebration.  If you guessed that, you’d be correct.  Ray decided he wanted to take a cruise on the Danube River!  However, the timing for the trip didn’t work out for his birthday.  So, we’ll be taking it in October.

The cruise on the Danube River is on the “MS Sound of Music”.  Could the name be any gayer? 🙂

In October, we’ll drive from the Quad Cities and take an overnight flight from Chicago to Europe.  The original trip itinerary had us on an overnight flight from Chicago to Budapest, Hungary, and boarding the cruise.  However, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the U.S. and arriving in Budapest to board the cruise on the same day.

While this is Ray’s trip, I’ve always been fascinated by Switzerland and it didn’t cost us anything extra for the flight changes to make it part of our vacation.  For the same price, we now fly from Chicago to Zurich, Switzerland, a global city and one of the world’s largest financial centers, and arrive Saturday morning!

We get to spend almost 24 hours there!   We then fly from Zurich to Budapest and board the “Sound of Music Cruise Tour” on Sunday, where we’ll travel the Danube River from Hungary to Germany with several stops in between in Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.

The cruise departs Budapest Sunday night and after sailing all night and in the morning, we’ll arrive in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, for an afternoon tour.  It’s one of the youngest capital cities of Europe, yet its history dates back more than 2,000 years.

From there, another night of sailing will be followed by an all day visit to Vienna, Austria, known for musicians Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Falco (“Rock Me Amadeus”).

After another night of cruising the Danube, we arrive in Durnstein (wine country in lower Austria) and another short cruise will take us to Melk (in lower Austria), where the historic Benedictine Abbey is located.

The next day, we arrive in Passau, Germany, which is also known as Dreiflüssestadt, the “City of Three Rivers”.  And, being a city of so many rivers posed a major problem earlier this summer when central Europe experienced some of the worst flooding in decades.  These pictures are from Passau in early June.

Since our cruise is more than four months after the flooding, it’ll be interesting to see how fast Germany responds to a natural disaster and how much of the city is flood ravaged and damaged.

The next two days will feature stops in Regensburg and Nuremberg, Germany.

When we awake after the last night of  the cruise, we’re driven two hours to the Munich (Germany) airport for our flight back to Chicago.  Once we get through customs, we’ll drive the three hours back to Moline just in time for me to go back to work — jet lag and all.  Crazy!!!!!!!

While Ray’s milestone birthday trip of a lifetime is still two months away, I’m already planning the trip for my 50th birthday in the fall of 2014!!!!

Happy Birthday early Ray!

Anthony

They Said What??? President Obama, Pink, & Billie Jean King

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

(talking about the anti-gay laws Russia recently adopted):  “I have no patience for countries that try to treat gays, or lesbians, or transgender persons in ways that intimidate them or are harmful to them.”

AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION’S BRYAN FISHER

(about Russia’s anti-gay laws):  “Isn’t this wonderful what Russia is doing? Let’s celebrate diversity and let’s support this tradition in the nation of Russia.”

SINGER PINK

(tweeting after negative Twitter comments attacking her for performing with a rainbow flag in Melbourne, Australia):  “Fun fact: when you twitter me and say ‘you’re a lesbian’ it really doesn’t bother me at all,” P!nk tweeted. “It’s a compliment. Most of my fav ppl are, so…I’m sure all of you hate filled humans can come up with something a little worse than that?!? Come on – be creative. You have 140 characters!”

ACTOR & FORMER POP STAR MARK WAHLBERG

(to troubled pop star Justin Bieber):  “Justin, are you listening? Don’t be so naughty.  Be a nice boy, pull your trousers up, make your mom proud and stop smoking weed, you little bastard.”

TENNIS LEGEND & CHAMP BILLIE JEAN KING

“It’s very, very difficult to come out when you’re still actively participating in a sport. It’s starting to get better, and it depends on the sport, too. In tennis we’ve been pretty lucky, but we still don’t have a gay guy coming out.”

MORE KING

(who was outed in 1981 when the media found out about the “galimony” suit filed by her former girlfriend Marilyn Barnett):  “They seem to think that [for] women, it’s been easier.  It was a long, arduous, very difficult process for me.”

FORMER TALK SHOW HOST SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL

“I wasn’t smart like Oprah. I didn’t at the very beginning tell them I wanted to own [the talk show]. That’s my stupidity and it’s stupid because I had to do what they called me in and told me to do.”

“DEXTER” STAR MICHAEL C. HALL

(about the series finale coming up in September, after eight seasons):  “I think the ‘Dexter’ finale will probably land somewhere in between. There will definitely be some grey areas — the show has always operated in that way. I don’t think it will be neat and tidy and wrapped up in a bow, but at the same time, there are some pretty decisive and bold storytelling choices that have been made, and hopefully, [they] will give people a dynamic experience. Whether all questions will be answered, I don’t know if this is a show that ever intended to do that.”

Anthony

Random Friday Thoughts — August 9, 2013

Another weekend is here and I hope you have a fantastic one.  The weather is going to be perfect.  It’s a short weekend for me since I’m working Saturday evening for our weekend meteorologist, Kyle, who’s on vacation.  While it’s a longer work week for me, it all works out because I go on vacation next weekend!

ONE WEEK TO CANCUN 

I was in Cancun twenty years ago and this is Ray’s first visit.  God willing, next Saturday afternoon we’ll be lying on the sandy beaches of Mexico with a margarita or some low-calorie cocktail in hand a million miles (figuratively) from home.

And, while the Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1st, there’s good news out in the tropics.  Here are the forecasts from the National Hurricane Center for the next five days.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.

SAD FOLLOW-UP

The Spectrum Human Rights Alliance in eastern Europe is reporting that Dr. Valentin Degtyarev,  a medical doctor and a human right activist, claims that a Uzbek teenager is now dead of torture from the Russian anti-gay neo-Nazi group, Occupy Pedofilyaj.

In last week’s blog, I wrote about the injustices being brought upon the LGBT community in Russia and I posted this edited picture of the teenager that is reportedly dead from excessive torture.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, the hate you’re encouraging is disgusting!

If you didn’t get a chance to read about it last week, here’s the link:   https://anthonypeoples.wordpress.com/2013/08/02/random-friday-thoughts-august-2/

MY HEART IS BREAKING

Animal abuse stories usually get to me more than stories about human tragedies.  Even when watching movies or television shows that I know are not real, it’s harder for me to watch something that involves an animal in pain or dying than a human.

However, earlier this week, I saw a story on “CBS This Morning” that broke my heart.  It was about little 2-year-old Logan Stevenson, who was dying of a rare genetic disease, serving as the best man at his parent’s wedding last weekend.

Sadly, the toddler died Monday evening.  Here is what his mother, Christine Swidorsky, posted on Facebook that evening, “At 8:18 my son took his last breath in my arms.  I’m so sad, upset and I’m in disbelief. He is with angels, and he’s in no more pain. No more sickness, no more hospitals. We love all of [you] for all your prayers.”

Christine and Sean Stevenson, Logan’s dad, were planning on getting married in the summer of 2014.  However, after learning that the baby only had weeks to live from lukemia and cancerous tumors on his kidneys, the couple moved up the wedding date for Logan to take part in the event.

I know that God has a plan for all of his creatures, young and old, but I guess it’s not for me to fully understand.  After seeing Logan’s story, I’m going to work harder and remember that whatever dramas we face in our lives, most are usually small.  There is always someone facing something worse.

In memory of little Logan, I want to share “God’s Will” by Martina McBride.  It’s one of the most heartfelt music videos I’ve seen in years.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING ITEMS WHILE SHOPPING

Last weekend, Ray and I did something we rarely do –  we went shopping at the mall and a few other stores.  Typically, we go where we need to go, grab what we need, and then head home.  I despise shopping!  However, here are a few things I saw that piqued my interest or made me smile.

 

That “Pinnacle Pumpkin Pie” vodka brings our vodka flavors and brands total up to 42!  It’s definitely getting me in the mood for fall and if the bottle looks a little interesting, it has frost on it since I put it in the freezer when we got home in case I make a pumpkin pie martini one of these days soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Birthday wishes go out this week to two of my favorite, sexy people.

Today, “The X-Files” star Gillian Anderson (Dana Scully) turns 45 and two days ago, David Duchovny (Fox Mulder) turned 53.

FINALLY WALKED OUT WITH A LITTLE MONEY!

Ray and I have gone to the casinos in the past and never invested much money.   However, lately, we’ve been going and we usually come home empty-handed.  While I don’t like losing at all, it’s a good thing we’re not hard-core gamblers that bet the house!

Last Sunday night, down to my last few dollars I took to gamble on, I finally hit a good one!

While I’m very happy with the pay-off, I still have to think, “how much would it have been if I had bet the max of $1.50 and what if that “7” and “blue star” had been a “WILD, too?”  Oh well, once I played on that money a while longer and took out what I started with, I still left with $50 more than I started with.

It’s a good thing because dinner there (and the last time we visited this casino) was not good, which is surprising because this place is usually pretty tasty!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

SEXIST, RACIST, OR NEITHER?

“The Sapphires”, a musical dramedy, is new to DVD this week.  Since its release last year (March 2013 in the United States), the movie made slightly over $20 million.  It stars “Bridesmaids” cutie Chris O’Dowd.

The movie is inspired by a true story of four young, talented Australian Aboriginal singers learning “about love, friendship and war” (Redbox) when their all-girl group, “The Sapphires”, are discovered by Dave (O’Dowd), a kind-hearted talent scout who knows soul music.  He works as their manager and gives the ladies a chance for stardom entertaining American troops in Vietnam in 1968.

Sounds innocent so far, huh?  It was until the packaging for the DVD in the United States was revealed.  In the American release, O’Dowd is front and center and the singers are in the background (below left), compared to the Australian release (below right) which has the girl group more prominently featured.

The original band members of the 1960s group wrote a letter to the National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People saying,  “As I’m sure you can appreciate, the treatment of people of colour in Australia mirrored much of the trauma to which people in the United States were subjected. That trauma – and much of that treatment – remains alive and well in Australia today, as I know it does in the United States.”

Anchor Bay Entertainment released a statement Monday apologizing and “regrets any unintentional upset” and is considering new cover art for future orders of the DVD.

I firmly believe that women should never settle for anything less than what men get in life.  It was always unfair to me that David Duchovny made more money than Gillian Anderson on “The X-Files”.  And, I don’t think that race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. should be a deciding factor in job placement.  The best and most qualified person should get the job or promotion!

In this matter, I don’t know if race or gender came up in the discussions at Anchor Bay when the artwork was being created for the U.S. release.  But, I can fully understand why the biggest star in the movie would be prominently featured in the promotions.  After all, American audiences know him from “Bridesmaids”, which made $288 million dollars two years ago.

“The Sapphires” was the biggest movie of 2012 in Australia and is one of the top 20 of grossing films of all time there.

What are your thoughts?

THE TURNING TIDE

A recent Gallup poll found that if Election Day was held now, 52% of Americas would make marriage equality legal in all 50 states, while 43% of those surveyed said “no”.

Breaking down that survey, the sub-groups that ranked highest for approving marriage equality were liberals (77%), those with no chosen religion (76%), Democrats (70%), and those ages 18-34 years (69%).

Those that were most opposed to legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states were:  weekly church attendees (73% against), conservatives (67%), Republicans (66%), and Protestants and those 55 years or older (58% opposed).

Women more than men were for making marriage equality a reality in all fifty states.

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER

British actor Ben Whishaw who played “Q” in last year’s James Bond flick, “Skyfall” recently came out as a gay man and he also announced that he’s been in a civil partnership with his boyfriend, Australian composer Mark Bradshaw, since August 2012.

Ben told “Out” magazine in March 2011, “[A]s an actor you have total rights to privacy and mystery, whatever your sexuality, whatever you do.  I don’t see why that has to be something you discuss openly because you do something in the public eye. I have no understanding of why we turn actors into celebrities. It’s difficult talking about it. That’s why I didn’t want to go there, but at the same time I know this is a gay magazine and that means there’s a conflict there.”

The couple met in 2009 while working on the movie, “Bright Star”.

DON’T PUT AWAY THE CHAMPAGNE YET!

Well wishes also go out to “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

He tied the knot with lawyer Justin Mikita on July 20, 2013, in New York City.  The couple have been together almost two years.

WAS “THE $64,000 QUESTION” ANSWERED?

Actress Raven-Symone has always avoided questions about her sexuality, but this tweet last Friday may have answered the question.

The 27-year-old actress who got her start on “The Cosby Show” in 1989 and had her own show, “That’s So Raven” on the Disney Channel from 2003-2007, tells E! News, “I am very happy that gay marriage is opening up around the country and is being accepted. I was excited to hear today that more states legalized gay marriage. I, however am not currently getting married, but it is great to know I can now, should I wish to.”

Congratulations to Ben, Mark, Jesse Tyler, Justin, and Raven-Symone for being yourself, finding love, and being out and proud!

LADY GAGA TAKES ON RUSSIA’S IGNORANCE

We’re now just a little over a week away from the premiere of Lady Gaga’s new single and video, “Applause”, and that isn’t the only thing that Mother Monster is working on right now.  She’s fighting back to homophobes in the Russian government!

In addition to arresting and exiling people from the LGBT community, authorities are investigating Gaga and Madonna’s visas they used last year to perform concerts in Saint Petersburg.

Here’s how Gaga is responding.  In just the first half-hour, the comments were re-tweeted more than 20,000 times!

How about a little Gaga this Friday with the late, great saxophonist Clarence Clemons before we flashback to the 1980s?

PEEPS’ ’80s FRIDAY FLASHBACK

This past Tuesday we experienced a new moon that was one day too late to fit into music history.   Just think, if it had fallen a day earlier, it would have been a “New Moon on Monday”.  If you’re a ’80s music fan, that’s already ringing a bell for you.  If not, how about “Seven and the Ragged Tiger” as a second clue?

In 1978, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor formed a band that would go on to be named after a character from the movie, “Barbarella”.   Lead singer Simon Le Bon, Roger Taylor, and Andy Taylor would round out the English group Duran Duran.

While the band had some success back home and on the American dance charts in 1981, their first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100 debuted at #77 on Christmas Day 1982.  “Hungry Like The Wolf” would go on to peak at #3 in the summer of 1983.

Fourteen more songs would reach the Top 40 in America from that first hit in 1983 to their last pop radio hit in 1993.  Eleven of those songs would reach the Top Ten and two would top the Hot 100, “The Reflex” in 1984 and “A View To A Kill” from the James Bond movie of the same name in 1985.

“New Moon on Monday”, the second release from “Seven and the Ragged Tiger”, peaked at #10 in March 1984.  The “Ragged” album went double platinum in the United States with shipments of more than two million copies.

Sing along even if you have no clue what the lyrics mean, “Shake up the picture the lizard mixture/ With your dance on the eventide/ You got me coming up with answers/ All of which I deny”.

Duran Duran has sold more than 100 million records worldwide!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Here’s to a great weekend.  While I’m working Saturday, Ray and Gretel are going to see “Percy Jackson:  Sea of Monsters” and then on Sunday, Ray and I are going to see my woman, Jodie Foster, in “Elysium” (with Matt Damon).  And, we’ll spend a couple of hours in the pool working on a nice base tan for Cancun.

Whatever you do this weekend, make the most of it.  Thank you for checking out my random thoughts.  Let me know what your thoughts are about these topics or anything on your mind.

Anthony

They Said What??? Pope Francis, Pat Robertson, & Lady Gaga

POPE FRANCIS

“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

RETIRED SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU

“I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this.  I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place.”

TELEVANGELIST PAT ROBERTSON

(talking about transgendered people):  “I think there are men who are in a woman’s body.  It’s very rare. But it’s true — or women that are in men’s bodies — and that they want a sex change. That is a very permanent thing, believe me, when you have certain body parts amputated and when you have shot up with various kinds of hormones. It’s a radical procedure. I don’t think there’s any sin associated with that. I don’t condemn somebody for doing that.”

“TORCH SONG TRILOGY” STAR HARVEY FIERSTEIN

(speaking of Russia and the anti-gay law that President Vladimir Putin signed into law):  “It seemed to me a really good time for us as a community to say, ‘You know what boys? Time to stop f**ing with us.”

MORE FIERSTEIN(more about Putin and the boycott of Stolichnaya Vodka):  “It’s time for them to stop to making money. Time for churches to stop raising money by demonizing us. Time for politicians to stop making money by demonizing us. It’s time to make the gay community too dangerous to do that too. Russia happens to be a great place to do it because Putin — I call him ‘Rat Putin’ — is such a villain. I think there’s an entire movement here and an opportunity to say the gay community is no longer available to be your scapegoat.”

NBC SPORTS MARK LAZARRUS

(on NBC making a decision of how and if it’ll cover the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia due to the country’s anti-gay stance and laws):  “The IOC has addressed it with the Russian government and has assured athletes, fans and media that there won’t be any issues.  Governments across the world have different laws. I don’t know now it’s going to [affect] us. If it is still their law and it is impacting any part of the Olympic Games we will make sure we are acknowledging it and recognizing it.”

“TORCHWOOD” ACTOR JOHN BARROWMAN

(responding to anti-gay comments following his marriage to his partner Scott Gill in early July):  “I don’t get it. Some of the comments were outrageously vile. Quoting lines from the Bible. I won’t tolerate it. People like that are banned on my Twitter account. I tell them to f**k off. People have a right to their beliefs but it doesn’t mean they have to be nasty and deny other people their human rights. The world is not going to change and fall apart because a gay couple got married. It’s a way for us to celebrate our love. That’s it.”

LADY GAGA

(opening up about the hip injury that forced her to cancel the remainder of her “Born This Way Ball” Tour earlier this year):  “”When we got all the MRIs finished before I went to surgery there were giant craters, a hole in my hip the size of a quarter, and the cartilage was just hanging out the other side of my hip.  I had a tear on the inside of my joint and a huge breakage. The surgeon told me that if I had done another show I might have needed a full hip replacement. I would have been out at least a year, maybe longer.”

Random Friday Thoughts — August 2

Happy weekend!  I’m ready to enjoy it since I have a six-day work week next week and off only one day next weekend.  I hope you have fun plans since the weather is going to be closer to average for summer.  Maybe we’ll brave the recent chill and jump in the pool even if it’s cool!!!!  Here are my random thoughts for this Friday.

THERE IS HOPE!

While I’m taking this response by Pope Francis with a grain of salt, it’s encouraging.  This is huge because the Catholic Church still considers homosexuality a sin.

What a far cry from his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.  In 2005, Benedict XVI wrote that being gay was “a strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil” and that men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” should not become priests.

And, I admit that while I was writing this, I read several different accounts of what the Pope said and what commentators thought it meant, including one from Fox News!  OMG, I’m mentioning Fox News and I’m not going to make a snarky comment about it!

Father Jonathan Morris, a Fox News contributor, writes, “When Pope Francis says “who am I to judge” he is saying—and I think we need to hear more of this from religious leaders—that active homosexuals deserve the same kindness, love, and mercy that all of us sinners would hope to receive from God and from others.”

What I take away from that is that we’re all sinners and we all deserve to treated with love and respect.  It starts with you, it starts with me, and it starts with our enemies!

POLITICIAN OR JUST BUTT-HEAD’s FRIEND?

Is it just me or is there a strong resemblance between former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner and Beavis, one of the stars of the late-1990s MTV smash, “Beavis and Butt-Head”?

It seems that the disgraced politician that was forced to resign from office two years ago this summer after sending sexually suggestive pictures and tweets has more than looks in common with Beavis.

The trio (with Butt-Head) are obsessed with sex and they don’t care who knows.  It appears that Weiner is up to his old tricks and sending out explicit pictures under the alias “Carlos Danger”, which is now diminishing his chances of becoming the next mayor of New York City.

Here’s a funny flashback in honor of Weiner’s similar physical similarities with Beavis.  NSFW (not suitable/safe for work for those scratching their heads)!

RUSSIA’S ANTI-GAY STANCE IS TURNING MORE VIOLENT

The situation in Russia is getting out of hand and becoming more dangerous.

Two weeks ago, in my “Random Friday Thoughts — July 19” blog, I wrote, “The new law that was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and went into effect June 30th allows the government to arrest or detain gay or “pro-gay” foreigners for up to two weeks before expelling them from the country.”

Now, Russian extremists are creating fake profiles on social media outlets and gay personal ads to attract unsuspecting people and then brutally beating, humiliating, sexually violating them and posting the disgusting pictures online!

The new law and the violence are prompting some groups to ask for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics Games in Sochi, Russia.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been talking with the Russian government about how the new law will affect LGBT athletes and sports fans coming to Russia and it says, “To that end, the IOC has received assurances from the highest level of government in Russia that the legislation will not affect those attending or taking part in the Games.”

However, that doesn’t sound like that’s the case.

Vitaly Valentinovich Milonov, a member of the legislative assembly of the city and region around St. Petersburg, Russia, who co-authored the law that Putin signed into effect, says that the President must “refrain from selective enforcement”.

He added, “I haven’t heard any comments from the government of the Russian Federation, but I know that it is acting in accordance with Russian law.  And if a law has been approved by the federal legislature and signed by the president, then the government has no right to suspend it. It doesn’t have the authority.”

AVOIDING RUSSIAN VODKA

While no decision will be made about the Winter Olympics any time soon, several gay bars around the country, including Sidetrack in Chicago, have stopped serving the Russian vodka, Stolichnaya.   Some of London’s biggest gay bars have pulled Stoli from their shelves, too.

From West Hollywood, California, to New York City, politicians, bar owners, and bartenders are having ceremonies where they are pouring out their Stoli supply.

This isn’t making the CEO of Stoli, Val Mendeleev, very happy.    He says, “Stoli has been a friend of the LGBT community and has been an opponent of the Russian government.  Stoli was singled out by the community with which we associated in a way that we don’t believe was appropriate. If you look at our relationship with the Russian government, we’ve been boycotted by the Russian government for the past 10 years. We’ve been threatened, raided. And now we are being boycotted by the LGBT community.”

On a vodka note closer to home (my house), I checked the 40 different vodkas we have and none of them are Russian vodkas!

ACTRESS TILDA SWINTON WANTS YOUR HELP

Academy Award winning actress Tilda Swinton  wants everyone to share this picture of her holding up a rainbow flag in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia.

She risked being arrested by doing this and she says, “In solidarity. From Russia with love”.

BEST COMEDY I’VE SEEN IN YEARS!

Last Sunday, Ray and I walked to the cheap theater down the road and saw “This Is The End” and I’m so glad I didn’t wait until October 1st for it to come out on DVD.

The $32 million comedy has already grossed more than $107 million!  In the movie, many of Hollywood’s hottest stars (and some singers, Rihanna) play altered versions of themselves.  It totally skewers actors and Hollywood.

I love James Franco and I love him even more after this movie.  Just from the roles he takes, I gather he’s a very intelligent freak in real life.  And, in the movie, he plays the self-centered, often rumored to be gay, role to the max.

While rated “R”, I’m very surprised that the movie was not released as “unrated”.  I can’t wait until it comes out on DVD to see if there is a “Director’s Cut”.  But, then again, I can’t imagine what could have been cut out since it was so raunchy and over-the-top.

Oh, what’s it about?  James Franco is throwing a fun Hollywood party complete with stars, drugs, alcohol, and sex.  Armageddon begins and Hollywood is basically destroyed by wildfires, an earthquake, an alien invasion, and a very promiscuous and well-endowed demon!  And, in the final scene, there’s a performance in heaven that will take you back to the late-1990s.  It’ll either make you smile (I did) or cringe.

This is the movie that “Ted” could have been.  There is talk of a sequel, but I think that “This is the End” is perfect enough to watch over and over without having a part two.  However, I’d definitely see if it James Franco is in it.  If you’ve seen the movie, it’s possible.  It’s Hollywood!

I rarely laugh out loud in movie theaters, but this one had me in stitches.

GRADE:  A

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 NEW MUSIC FROM THE JONAS BROTHERS

The Jonas Brothers are back on the radio with their latest hit, “First Time”.

The youngest Jo Bro, Nick, posted this sexy snapshot on Instagram earlier this week.  The 20-year-old singer added, “I never do this, but …  Healthy living and fitness update. Post workout picture. #diabeticinshape #2.0.”

What was I saying about the Jonas Brothers?  Who cares!

THE WOMAN OF MY DREAMS

In my lifetime, only two female celebrities have made me cry because of their real-life situations.  I must have been a sensitive boy because the first occurred on July 23, 1984 when Miss America Vanessa Williams was pressured into giving up her crown because of some racy pictures that had surfaced of her.

It turned out okay because she went on to become an award-winning singer and actress.

The other tears fell on Madonna’s 27th birthday on August 16, 1985, when she married Sean Penn.

Thirty years ago this fall, yes that’s 3-0, I started my freshman year at Murray State University and became a television weather man for the first time.  It doesn’t matter that the college campus television station was only broadcast on the cable systems in Murray and Mayfield, Kentucky.   Mayfield, my hometown, is only 22 miles from Murray.

That fall, I met my first pseudo-boyfriend (“pseudo” because we never said we were dating, only hanging out), enjoyed Pagliai’s Pizza (the best pizza I had ever eaten — at the time.  Now, it’s Wise Guys Pizza in Davenport, Iowa), and I met the girl of my dreams at Sunset Boulevard Music, the local record store.

It’s hard to believe that it was 30 years ago this week that Madonna’s first album, simply titled “Madonna” came out.

She had already had two dance hits that reached #3 before her first radio hit, “Holiday” peaked #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1984.  However, I bought the album before most of mainstream America knew who she was.  And, now she’s one of the most iconic singers and entertainers on the planet!

Madonna, thank you for the 30 years of music and fun.  And, thank you for spending my last birthday with me in Las Vegas!

“UNDER THE DOME”

If you haven’t started watching this incredible show on CBS, you have to get on board.  Last Monday’s episode was the best of the six that have aired.  And, here’s a spoiler — it can rain inside the dome!

Now is the time to catch up if you’re not watching because it was just renewed for a second season!

MORE MOTHER MONSTER NEWS — ARTWORK & SINGLE REVEALED

I’m sure between now and the August 19th premiere of the new Lady Gaga single AND video from her forthcoming “ARTPOP” album in November, there will be new things revealed weekly to get Little Monsters excited.  This week Lady Gaga released the single artwork and the name of her new single — “Applause”.

Lady Gaga says it’s going to be a happy song.  However, it hasn’t been revealed whether it’s a fast or mid-tempo dance number or a slow song.  I’m thinking it’ll be mid-tempo.  This other revealing promotional picture of Gaga also came out this week!

EXCITEMENT BUILDING FOR FALL

In addition to the new music from Gaga, I’m also excited that the new Britney Spears CD comes out in the next few months, too.  Also, Madonna’s “MDNA Tour” that I saw in Las Vegas last October on my birthday comes out on DVD in early September.

And, that isn’t the only Madonna news.  She’s being very secretive about a new project with fashion photographer Steven Klein simply called “Secret Project”.  What is it about?  It sounds controversial and will likely push buttons.  But, it is Madonna!

THIS ONE COULDN’T WAIT FOR MONDAY’S “THEY SAID WHAT???”

Last week, I blogged about adorable Harry Styles of One Direction standing up to the Westboro Baptist Cult (oops, Church).  Now, in the new British “GQ”, the singer answers a question about his sexuality.

When told that there were rumours (it’s English, remember!) that he was dating British DJ Nick Grimshaw, Harry said, “Oh, really? I didn’t even know.  We’re not dating, no. We’re just friends.”

Harry was then asked if he was bisexual and he replied, “Bisexual? Me? I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure I’m not.”

Sweet!  Play it for what it’s worth.

PICK HIT

Latin heart-throb Enrique Iglesias is back and looking and sounding hotter than ever!  His latest song, “Turn The Night Up”, the first single from his upcoming November album is already a smash in the U.S.

You might not really know how big of a star the 38-year-old singer is.  I didn’t.

Since his first Latin hit in 1995, Enrique has sold more than 60 million albums and he holds the record for the most #1 singles on the Billboard Latin Tracks chart with 22 (his first eight releases all hit #1).

On the Billboard Hot 100, he’s already scored 12 Top 40 hits.  Of those, five have reached the Top 5, including his two #1 smashes, 1999’s “Bailamos” and 2000’s “Be With You”.

While an official video is expected in early August, Enrique released this fun fan video to promote the song.  I love it — the song, the video, and Enrique!

PEEPS’ ’80s FLASHBACK

Here’s something about Madonna again.  Wait, don’t stop reading!  Usually, on Friday, I feature one of my favorite ’80s songs.

However, since it is Madonna’s 30th anniversary in the music industry, here is a video countdown of her biggest hits, as ranked by Billboard magazine.  And, yes, she’s had more Top Ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100 than the Beatles!!!!!

Check out the countdown in this link of her 20 biggest hits.

https://anthonypeoples.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/whos-that-girl-thats-had-more-top-10-hits-than-the-beatles/

Anthony