Madonna's New Album Cover

This is the a peek into Madonna's new album cover for MDNA, which is due March 26. Needless to say it's pretty colorful and sleekest to date, not to mention how apropos it is: Madonna has always been a multifaceted artist. It's only natural that we get to see a stylized image of her through the eye of what seems to be a jewel. And wouldn't you know, this year she celebrates thirty years in the music business - and our consciousness.

Calling Out the Lesbian Within

Quote from Martina Navratilova, re: Margaret Court, retired tennis player, who has turned virulently anti-gay Christian pastor:

"You say it is a choice to be gay; do you mean to say you had feelings for women as well as men and chose men? That might explain your certainty on the issue."

It's no secret that people who cannot accept what they cannot understand is because they themselves are in deep denial of themselves. Many homophobes have walked and continue to walk the Earth in positions where their words can be heard, where they can continue an outdated lineage of furthering the ignorance brought upon by their own damaged upbringing. Just look at the religious right or any extremist with a narrow view. Look at politicians who have gone after LGBT people for the sake of it, and with the almost lurid fascination that they address just how 'damaging' LGBT individuals are for society. I can bet my bottom dollar that if they could stand in front of a mirror, naked, and look underneath the skin . . . they'd find something pretty ugly staring right back at them.

The Sanctity of Marriage

Self explanatory.

Balian Buschbaum

This is Balian Buschbaum. Prior to becoming male, he went by the name of Yvonne and between 1998 and 2003 represented Germany in pole-vaulting competitions to include the Olympic Games in 2000. In 2007 he announced his retirement from the sport due to an injury and to begin his transition. The results are nothing less than striking, and this is what to me proves that human sexuality - who we are attracted to, what gets us going - is a much larger arena than what we've been brought up to experience. When I look at Balian's pictures I don't for one moment see a woman who looks male, or get any feminine energy. Instead I see a handsome, buff guy who I would go out with in a hot second if I had the chance. Does this affect my sexuality? Nope. It enriches it. I'm still attracted to masculine energy, whether cisgender or transgender. And on this, I have to admit: I've come a long way.

What Lies Beneath

The problem will not go away if you sweep it under the rug.

[ source: What Lies Beneath  - Ferdi Rizkiyanto]

Fire in the Sky

The solar storm from January 24 proves that you don't have to get high to experience a dance of lights, courtesy from the Sun - who is seems is getting pretty darn active and is not about to slow down anytime soon. I only wish I could be in Stockholm, where this dance of northern lights happened. Hell even Wales. Those people are so damn lucky. All I see around me is deer, staring stupidly at me and NOT moving even when it's clear that they're in the middle of the fucking road - a right of way that was made for cars and trucks, not quadrupeds. At least they're not the creeped out beasts of Ring 2. Not that anyone remembers that movie. Um, okay, where was I again? Damn that Jacob's Creek.

Screaming Pug

This is EXACTLY how I sound early in the morning when I wake up, crap caked to my eyes, aching and wishing for darkness. Ugh. I've never been a morning person. Neither have the demons living inside me, rent-free. Who -- if they insist on leaving a mess as they always do when putting up the ongoing party inside my head -- shall be evicted, with or without a boy-touching exorcist.

New Music - Lana Del Rey: Born to Die

Her haunting torch song Video Games went completely ignored this side of the globe while it hovered its way into the top ten of most European countries and made her a chanteuse to be reckoned with. With Born to Die, which comes with a stunning David Lynch circa Lost Highway-styled video, she outdoes herself and brings forth a frosty yet smoldering tragic love song that recalls the slowburn of downtempo acts like Mono and Portishead. The violins frame her voice to perfection, and while they are being compared to the compositions of John Barry, this is a chill song through and through and it's not the first one to use a wall of string arrangements for an epic feel. If not, check the absolutely sublime "Slip into Something More Comfortable" by Kinobe for a close comparison to "Born to Die". All in all, this is a gorgeous song - and one that should bring her to a head in pop music this side of the globe. Pay attention.

Presenting: Shit Homophobic People Say

And here it is: the best of what bigots, racists, theocrats - in essence, what people otherwise known as homophobes have in mind about anyone who isn't like them. This is the joke that writes itself. And a clear as fuck reminder of why we still need to punch down Berlin Walls that divide our country and pit man against man, just because of who he chooses to be attracted to.

Dude Looks Like A. . .

Well, it is a song, and it probably wouldn't be able to be recorded today since 1987 seems like a thousand years ago. But you know, seriously -- men shouldn't be sporting these. Ever. I don't care who you are, how much money you have. If a man's gonna have moobs, they should be full, large and round. They should be luscious and a delight to nibble and pull. His . . . well, this is old man-flap. If you grab the nipple and pull, there's no telling when you'll stop. You might, as a matter of fact, circle the world and wind up right where you started. And when a chest can become rope, it's basically time to call it quits.

Madonna on Graham Norton

Madonna goes on Graham Norton and discusses 2012, her new album, her tour, and hackers leaking her music too early. She seems to be having fun . . . and that faux British accent is gone. In their place, however, are two large cheek implants rounding her face out, but then again, as she herself said, she's got to pay the rent. Wrinkles and hollow cheeks do not sell records.

When is a Be-Bop Not a Be-Bop?

When it happens to be a name of a certain Beezow-Doo-Doo-Zopitty-Bop-Bop-Bop. He got himself arrested in Madison, Wisconsin, for deciding that it would be "cool, man, cool" to violate his probation, carry drugs and a concealed weapon into a park. I wonder what tunes play around in his head when he's ten degrees South of sober. What a legend.

Jimmey Kimmel on Gay Marriage

According to Jimmy Kimmel, this is what will happen to the planet if gay marriage (or same-sex marriage, if you will) comes to pass. It's pretty disturbing.



So whatever you do . . . please don't paint your house fuschia!

Shit People Say

So for the past couple of months there's been this meme floating around the net - namely, on YouTube - about "shit ___ say". Right now the ramifications and combinations are spiraling out of control, but here are my favorites:

Shit Girls Say to Gay Guys


Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls



Shit Black Girls Say

To Protect and Serve?: Bellflower, CA

Police brutality at its worst: on Monday night in Bellflower, CA, Jermaine Green, a veteran of war, was on the bus when two deputies boarded the bus and confronted a woman who allegedly was minding her own business. The woman, who later revealed herself to be mentally unstable, cussed back at the officers who then tried to restrain her. Things got hairy when the male deputy punched the young woman in the face, momentarily throwing her off-balance.

It doesn't end there. The male deputy then decided to confront Jermaine Green and ask him to hand over his phone. Green refused to and was threatened with jail (despite that he has no prior arrests, no criminal history, and, well, did a little thing called serving the country).

Don't you love it when those who should protect and serve threaten and harass?

Building the Body Impossible

And now for something completely rotten -- something that has existed in our consciousness for the past thirty years if not more. It's no secret that anyone who gets into bodybuilding has some degree of self-image that needs compensation and I am the first to acknowledge it. An 'ideal' physical look for me is muscular, thick, and not only looks but is healthy and esthetically pleasing. However, leave it to magazines and the industry to fuel insecurities by doing to men what fashion magazines do to women: go airbrush happy and present a nearly impossible look that not even a regular cocktail of performance enhancers can grant. Recently, Muscle Insider posted the before and after shots of the same bodybuilder. Evidently you wouldn't want to look like the one on the left -- head's too big, arms somewhat too small, and the chest looks oddly flat. The solution? Give it a little airbrush, and voila -- problem solved. So thank you again, bodybuilding industry, for perpetuating the bigger is better myth. We should be so indebted to you.

New Music: Justin Utley - Nothing this Real

While Justin Utley's previous effort Runaway (2005) presented a strong, honest debut filled with raw promise, his sophomore Nothing this Real, recently released, is anything but. This is a muscular, polished collection of ten songs that demand attention. Utley confesses his inner struggles in his standout opening title track as if his very life depended on it, seeming at times on the verge of shredding his vocals from the power of his conflict. Instead of remaining in torment, however, he closes that book and dives headlong into optimism in the life-affirming The Great Escape. More modulated, State of Loneliness and Behind My Eyes paint pictures of the storm underneath the calm in stories of relationships that may or may not survive the long-haul. Swinging into pure country, Utley sings again about a bad relationship in It Is What It Is with a biting sense of acid humor that makes the song simply fun to listen to over and over. In short, all of the songs demand multiple listens and showcase a singer that is growing more comfortable in telling his stories and sharing his journey of self-discovery through love and loss. Also featured is his award-winning 2010 single "Stand for Something" which won the Best Country/Folk Song of the year by the LGBT Academy of Recording Arts a the OUTMusic Awards. Buy it -- you won't regret it.