May 25, 2012
CELEBRATING MEMORIAL DAY IS CELEBRATING DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
MEMORIAL DAY: HONOR THE DEAD, HEAL THE WOUNDED, STOP THE WARS by Amy Goodman
AN EXCERPT:
On stage, Lance Cpl. Scott Olsen declared: “Today I have with me my Global War on Terror Medal, Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal, National Defense Medal and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. These medals, once upon a time, made me feel good about what I was doing. ... I came back to reality, and I don’t want these anymore.” Like the riot police flanking the stage, many on horseback, Olsen also wore a helmet. He is recovering from a fractured skull after being shot in the head at close range by a beanbag projectile. He wasn’t shot in Iraq, but by Oakland, Calif., police at Occupy Oakland last fall, where he was protesting. On stage with the veterans were three Afghan women, holding the flag of Afghanistan. Just before they marched, I asked one of them, Suraia Sahar, why she was there: “I’m representing Afghans for Peace. And we’re here to protest NATO and call on all NATO representatives to end this inhumane, illegal, barbaric war against our home country and our people.
MORE: NATIONOFCHANGE
SHOCKER: BRITNEY'S STILL CRAZY!
It walks off of X Factor because a contestant butchered it's song? At least the contestant sang it live!
May 24, 2012
May 23, 2012
PLEASE SIGN IF YOU AGREE!
America is not broke — we're the richest country in the history of the world.
But you wouldn't know that if you just listened to House Speaker John Boehner and other Republicans in Congress, who are already openly talking about forcing another debt ceiling crisis unless Democrats agree to brutal spending cuts.
The very same politicians who are pleading poverty and yelling the loudest about the need to slash the social safety net are also the ones trying the hardest to preserve the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
Very little so clearly demonstrates the callous venality of some members of Congress as their demand to give the Koch brothers a tax cut while simultaneously pushing benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
While there are certainly Democrats who are bad on this issue, the bigger threat is the response of Democrats as a whole to Republican hostage-taking. Based on past performance, we have reason to be worried.
During last year's debt ceiling crisis, extremist Republicans — many of whom voted for the very tax giveaways to the wealthiest Americans and the unfunded wars that caused our budget deficit to explode — were able to use the threat of a government default to hold the entire American economy hostage.
This despite the fact that raising the debt ceiling, while sometimes prompting grandstanding by politicians, had previously been a routine matter.
In addition, the ensuing farce that was the Super Committee negotiations was very telling. Democrats offered up massive concessions, including offering up brutal cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits. But Republicans simply would not raise taxes on the wealthy and the ultra-wealthy.
Fortunately, we do not need any affirmative vote to do away with the Bush tax cuts because they were only extended until the end of the year. We just need the Democrats to stand strong.
HOT MESS IN THE EDGE!
Bunny & Bianca...Wednesday Night’s "Hot Mess"!
It’s a time-testing, infallible formula - give a drag queen a mic and a stage, mix in a few flavored cosmos, add a dash of lip-syncable pop hits and you’ve got a night to remember. Living up to its motto, New York City - "The city that never sleeps." - must consistently provide a nightlife experience that exceeds expectations, and the newly minted XL Cabaret is quickly working to fill every night of the week with something to delight every palette.
Wednesday nights are no longer just for getting over the hump. That’s the night to get your "Hot Mess"on, courtesy of two of the biggest names in the mythological drag pantheon. Lady Bunny andBianca Del Rio are more than holding court with their weekly residency on the XL Cabaret stage - they’ve turned it into a comedy chemistry experiment unlike any variety show seen on the club circuit.
"Bunny and I are both from the south," begins Bianca Del Rio, "and this is kinda like what we knew [drag] to be." Certainly Lady Bunny has had a great influence on defining the drag culture. "Some people want to see a full-scale drag review," the multi-talented Bunny reveals. "There’s a wider variety to our show.
Wednesday nights are no longer just for getting over the hump. That’s the night to get your "Hot Mess"on, courtesy of two of the biggest names in the mythological drag pantheon. Lady Bunny andBianca Del Rio are more than holding court with their weekly residency on the XL Cabaret stage - they’ve turned it into a comedy chemistry experiment unlike any variety show seen on the club circuit.
"Bunny and I are both from the south," begins Bianca Del Rio, "and this is kinda like what we knew [drag] to be." Certainly Lady Bunny has had a great influence on defining the drag culture. "Some people want to see a full-scale drag review," the multi-talented Bunny reveals. "There’s a wider variety to our show.
Bianca agrees. "It’s a lot of our sense of humor...Bunny and I just set things up to make things more entertaining." Even the high-flying comedian Pam Ann admittedly had to pop in to see the show for herself. "Bunny and Bianca are one...hot...mess!" And that’s a complement.
"Hot Mess" features the city’s only full-on weekly drag revue.
What a Mess!
You can expect a little of that old-school glamour and salacious scandal galore! What you’ve come to expect from the two drag legends. "Does that mean that we’re old?" Bunny interjects. No...it means that "Hot Mess" is an outrageously good time, and lives up to its name. We’re not suggesting that the ladies are out of it, or mentally insane.
"We mostly wanted it to be fun," Bunny insists. "We don’t take ourselves very seriously." And you can’t fake the camaraderie between the evening’s two lead queens. "Bianca’s great," Bunny insists, "when she shows up on time." To which Bianca quips: "I lose track of time making your tent of a dress."
It’s all in good fun and Bunny and Bianca make excellent foils for each other’s punchlines. "I grew up knowing all about Bunny," Bianca says, very much in reverence of Lady Bunny’s fame and popularity. To which Bunny responds: "I want more!" Certainly being a part of the "RuPaul’s Drag U" franchise has opened doors. "To fast food restaurants at least," Bunny admits.
"Hot Mess" takes full advantage and features alumni from "RuPaul’s Drag Race."New York nightlife staple and Season 4 contestant Milan joins the girls, alongside her cast mate and competitor Jiggly Caliente. Not that the Logo Network franchise’s instant notoriety grants any of those rising drag names billing on the "Hot Mess" line-up. "They may be great on camera, but they may not be great performers," says Lady Bunny. "If you’re coming onto the stage you have to deliver!"
And every Wednesday night on the XL Cabaret stage "Hot Mess" delivers. Lady Bunny and Bianca Del Rio successfully translate their unique brand of calamity and comedy on the most sophisticated stage in the city. "The space at XL works well. It is a beautiful room," Bianca adds and Bunny agrees that it only enhances their weekly Wednesday night get together. "Life should be fun and lively," Bunny says...and at least a little messy.
"Hot Mess" starring Lady Bunny and Bianca Del Rio takes over the XL Cabaret stage every Wednesday night @ 9pm. XL is located 512 West 42nd Street, New York City. For tickets go to www.xlcabaret.com.
"We mostly wanted it to be fun," Bunny insists. "We don’t take ourselves very seriously." And you can’t fake the camaraderie between the evening’s two lead queens. "Bianca’s great," Bunny insists, "when she shows up on time." To which Bianca quips: "I lose track of time making your tent of a dress."
It’s all in good fun and Bunny and Bianca make excellent foils for each other’s punchlines. "I grew up knowing all about Bunny," Bianca says, very much in reverence of Lady Bunny’s fame and popularity. To which Bunny responds: "I want more!" Certainly being a part of the "RuPaul’s Drag U" franchise has opened doors. "To fast food restaurants at least," Bunny admits.
"Hot Mess" takes full advantage and features alumni from "RuPaul’s Drag Race."New York nightlife staple and Season 4 contestant Milan joins the girls, alongside her cast mate and competitor Jiggly Caliente. Not that the Logo Network franchise’s instant notoriety grants any of those rising drag names billing on the "Hot Mess" line-up. "They may be great on camera, but they may not be great performers," says Lady Bunny. "If you’re coming onto the stage you have to deliver!"
And every Wednesday night on the XL Cabaret stage "Hot Mess" delivers. Lady Bunny and Bianca Del Rio successfully translate their unique brand of calamity and comedy on the most sophisticated stage in the city. "The space at XL works well. It is a beautiful room," Bianca adds and Bunny agrees that it only enhances their weekly Wednesday night get together. "Life should be fun and lively," Bunny says...and at least a little messy.
"Hot Mess" starring Lady Bunny and Bianca Del Rio takes over the XL Cabaret stage every Wednesday night @ 9pm. XL is located 512 West 42nd Street, New York City. For tickets go to www.xlcabaret.com.
MORE: EDGEONTHENET
TONIGHT AT HOT MESS: DONNA SUMMER TRIBUTE!
May 22, 2012
D'ANGELO ON MCDONNA
When Madonna turned 39, she asked him to sing “Happy Birthday” at her party. One press report had her sitting on his lap and French-kissing him. In fact, two sources say that ultimately D rebuffed her advances at another gathering not long after. At that event, the sources say, Madonna walked over and told a woman sitting next to D, “I think you’re in my seat.” The woman got up. Madonna sat down and told him, “I’d like to know what you’re thinking.” To which D replied, “I’m thinking you’re rude.”














