Punk Smurf pens a bilingual blog

Firstly, I’m going to post about this truly horrible event. When I first saw the footage I could not believe wat I was seeing. So a warning beforehand; it’s not for the faint hearted, and possibly NSFW. What I’m talking about? A vicious attack that happened earlier where a guide dog was attacked by a pitbull type dog. The owner of the attacking dog fled the scene after he managed to get his dog off the guide dog, leaving the visually impaired owner in great distress. Anyone in the London area: keep an eye out!

Staying in the UK for more news: rock band Skunk Anansie is the latest in a line of many public faces to join the “Some people are gay - get over it” campaign.

Hopefully, Danish filmmakers Iben Haahr Andersen and Minna Grooss are taking their documentary “Hello my name is Lesbian” to film festivals around the world. It’s released on DVD. Judging from the trailer (it has English subs!) it looks like an interesting documentary. Watch it here.

In response to “Humpday”, in which two heterosexual guys (played by Joshua Leonard and Mark Duplass) take their relationship to an entirely different level when they decide to participate in an art film project that involves the two of them having sex, Lynn Shelton made a “sequel” called “Beyond gay“. I watched the short and found it disturbing (in a good way) and very amusing. Warning: even though it isn’t graphic, it’s definitely NSFW.

Earlier this week another episode of Cherry Bomb was posted, and I was delighted to see actor/comedian Jason Stuart amidst the ladies. Showcasing a good sense of humor, Stuart also made several very sensible remarks. This week’s episode was about “The gay and lesbian divide” - a discussion I’ve had with several of my gay friends. I found it interesting to hear what they had to say about it.

Photographer Spencer Tunick has started preparing for another one his famous shoots. In March next year he’ll be one the headliners for the 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Read more about it here.

John’s currently starring in London’s West End production of La Cage Aux Folles, but he cleared some of his agenda to be able to contribute to BBC’s Children in Need - an annual British charity. Watch last night’s performance here.

Dutch skater Ireen Wüst won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2006. Even then there were rumors and people wondering, but the then 19-year-old wisely concentrated on her skating carreer.

Apparently, Wüst came out the closet in an interview the other day saying she’s very happy and has a wonderful girlfriend since May. Good for her.

The past week or so I’ve been reading about a movie called “Precious” (so far it sounds like a movie I’d like to see), including an interview with actress Paula Patton - who is pretty attractive:

Apparently, according to AfterEllen, reporters keep asking Precious director Lee Daniels why the lesbian teacher in the film is “so pretty.” His response: “I have no problem with pretty lesbians, and besides, I thought it would be nice to have one glamorous character in the mix after all we go through with the mother. Why not the lesbian teacher who turns out to be the real hero and the one friend to Precious? When you have beauty on screen, you can breathe. Who cares if she’s queer?” Mr. Daniels, your casting was very effective.

Read an interview with Paula Patton and why she thinks playing a lesbian is important in “Precious” here.

I was reading Bif Naked’s blog when I was reminded of International Transgender Day of Rememberance; today’s the 11th International Transgender Day of Rememberance. The yearly event is held to recognize and remember trans people who have been killed through hatred or prejudice. (How awesome is that “free hugs” video she posted along?)

Did you know there’s a publication that caters to FTMs? Check out “Original plumbing“.

Watch an interview with Chaz Bono on Good Morning America here, a British Judge shows sympathy for an FTM, and Indian voters are allowed to check an “other” box when voting. Even though the latter case sounds very progressive, so-called hijiras are still looked down on, often treated without the same respect and courtesy Indian men and women get, and there don’t seem any laws to protect them properly. But that’s just my opinion.

My latest article for EurOut.org - this one is about queer women with disabilities and features an interview with my friend Wendy - is up. Check it out here.

I wrote previously about Shirley Tan’s plight of possible deportation and separation from her family, and followed up later with a post on the act of Congress that let her stay with her family in the United States. Tan has been busy testifying before Congress, meeting with White House officials, and speaking to the media about the need for immigration reform to make sure what happened to her family doesn’t happen to any other LGBT families.

Tan’s hard work has earned her the award for 2009 Activist by The Advocate magazine. To read the full write-up about Shirley and the 2009 People of the Year, pick up a copy of the December/January issue of The Advocate, on newsstands now. If you’re interested in helping pass the UAFA in Congress, you can visit the Immigration Equality page that lists ideas including writing and calling Congress, writing to editors, and signing a petition among other activities.

Last week I blogged (briefly) about a 10-year-old called Will Phillips. My friend Stacey alerted me to this clip. (Thank you!)

A, lastly, it’s been a while since I posted some eye candy, so here goes:

Beautiful eyes, dig the hair! (Too bad you can’t see all of her tattoos - heh.)

First off I have to say I haven’t been online as much lately (you may have noticed) and apart from busy weekends away from home, it’s also thanks to my new toy:

When a British friend of mine posted this article earlier this week, I could not help but be reminded of my upstairs neighbors. I don’t have a problem with people having sex. I just don’t understand why they have to be so frickin LOUD. It’s like listening to cheap porn. (I was about to say “bad porn”, but isn’t all porn poorly written - if there is a script at all?)

British rock band Skunk Anansie is currently touring Europe. I tried to get tickets, but they sold out in no time. The same goes for added dates. Queer Sighted published an interesting inteview with singer Skin. Read it here.

John Mayer for interviewed for an Australian TV show (that blonde’s kinda cute - I definitely dig her tattoo). He shares with his audience why he doesn’t mind frequenting a gay club (and he is right about drunken straight girls, by the way). He also seems to be steadily adding more ink, I see. And speaking of which, Inked Magazine - with Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington gracing this month’s cover - posted a video on 2009’s True Colors Awards (in no way affiliated with Cyndi Lauper).

Thanks, AJ, for this funny find! Mr. Phelps should stop preaching hate… Anyhoo, South Park tackled the F-word. Read what AfterElton wrote about it. (Yup, that’s AfterEllen’s gay brother.) Then, Newsweek ran an article on how gays on TV once helped promoted tolerance, but how stereotypes are now doing the opposite. One of AfterEllen’s contributors then published her point of view - read it here.

President Obama has - finally - lifted the ban on HIV-positive people entering the country.

I accidentally find out Ed Asner’s birthday’s today (80!), which is something of a funny coincidence as my brother and I went too see Up last Wednesday. For those who haven’t seen it yet: Asner’s the voice of grumpy gramps Carl Fredrickson.

My brother and I enjoyed Up; the animated dogs surely added to the gags, and it was very apparent from the beginning that Carl’s really a marshmellow.

DUG ROCKS - bwahahahaaa… (Check out the Dog Pack featurette here.) Russell’s the good kid, growing up under unfortunate circumstances, trying to do the right thing in order to get some of his dad’s attention. And rainbow colored bird Kevin? It could be a single mom or dad; I’m not sure whether it’s gender was revealed. Just the fact it has chicks

I first heard of Jully through a duet with fellow Canuck Serena Ryder (”My heart cries for you”). Now Canada’s queen of R&B has a new album, and a new single that stands for liberty and freedom. Check out the stylish video for “Running” that was directed by Marc André Debruyne. Jully Black has been nominated for multiple Juno Awards over the last few years, and won Best R&B/Soul Record of the Year in 2008.

On November 23, Jully Black will be releasing her third studio album “The Black Book.” First single “Running” is a bit of a cry for tolerance and change. “Our liberty and freedom is what we should stand for. The situation is hostile, the people need answers. Seconds away from rebellion, you gotta do something,” she proclaims.

De beroemde Wisseloord Studio’s in Hilversum zijn in zwaar weer geraakt. Voor donderdag 19 november is een executieverkoop gepland van geluids- en muziekapparatuur in opdracht van de Belastingdienst Utrecht-Gooi. De studio, waar artiesten als U2, Elton John, The Police, 50 Cent en Tina Turner opnamen, vierde begin vorig jaar nog het 30-jarig bestaan. Vandaag presenteert Peter Koelewijn er zijn nieuwe cd.

De problemen van Wisseloord lopen al een decennium. Vanaf 1999 hebben de studio’s last van ‘het download-verhaal’ en in 2005 ging Wisseloord al bijna failliet. Toen vertrok het management en nam een kleiner team de taken over. Inmiddels is volgens ingewijden het meeste personeel vertrokken, omdat ze niet betaald werden. Het is dan ook moeilijk iemand van Wisseloord aan de telefoon te krijgen, maar medewerkers schetsen een onthutsend beeld. “Het is echt een hele grote teringzooi hier. Ze zijn hier achter de boel aan het leegtrekken, ik denk dat ik zo ook maar ga vertrekken”, aldus de medewerker die anoniem wenst te blijven.

Een tweede medewerker geeft  - eveneens op anonieme basis - toe dat Wisseloord met een schuld kampt. Hij meldt dat een aandeelhouder zich teruggetrokken heeft en hoopt op een doorstart. Persvoorlichter Marcel Homan van de Belastingdienst bevestigt de geplande executieverkoop, maar mag er inhoudelijk geen mededelingen over doen. Hij geeft wel een toelichting in algemene zin: “Als een schuld oploopt, omdat bijvoorbeeld de personeelskosten doorlopen, kan een werknemer contact opnemen met ons.” Als de belastingplichtige in gebreke blijft, gaat op den duur een deurwaarder langs voor beslaglegging van spullen. “Die hangt dan een kaartje aan spullen, die voor verkoop in aanmerking komen en stelt een conceptdatum voor de executieverkoop vast.”

Een executieverkoop volgt volgens Homan meestal een week of 3 à 4 na een beslaglegging. De soep wordt in de meeste gevallen echter niet zo heet gegeten als die wordt opgediend: “De overgrote meerderheid van de beslagleggingen mondt niet uit in een executieverkoop. Tot vlak voor de executieverkoop kan er nog betaald worden en als het geld binnen is, gaat het niet door. Onze inzet is uiteraard ook om een bedrijf door te laten draaien.”

Het begin van de faam van Wisseloord: de opnames van Def Leppard’s Hysteria in 1986.