"RISE" 07.28.07 @ TALBOTT STREET

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SATURDAY EVENING
07.28.07

Marco's - Saturday, July 21st

HAIRSPRAY

Hairspray, which is being directed by Adam Shankman and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the producers of the Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning Best Picture Chicago, is originally based on John Waters' 1988 comedy about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show. The new version of the film is based on New Line's hit Broadway adaptation of the film which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director. I am actually checking this out tomorrow night. Yet, it is hard to imagine seeing Vincent Vega (John Travolta's character from Pulp Fiction) playing a character who is stepping into the platform heels of Divine, wearing a dress with a fat suit. :)

Chicago Day Trip Sunday, July 15th

95th Floor View From Signature Lounge in the John Hancock Building State St & Wacker Dr The Beach & The Pier

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN FIRST EVER GAY DEBATE, AUGUST 9TH

For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues. The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET (6:00 pm ET) and through live streaming video at LOGOonline.com. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have confirmed they will participate. Several other Democratic candidates also may join the debate. The debate will be conducted with a live audience in Los Angeles. On the panel questioning the two Democrats will be Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese and singer Melissa Etheridge. The debate was put together by LOGO and HRC. "In the 2008 presidential election, issues of concern to the LGBT community have already been at the forefront of the national conversation,” said Solmonese. "From the repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell” to the recent signing of a civil unions bill in New Hampshire, there is no doubt that voters will demand answers to important questions affecting our community." The panelists in a statement said they plan to cover a range of issues including relationship recognition, marriage equality, workplace fairness, the military, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS and other important issues. The LGBT vote is considered a decisive electoral force and according to exit poll data make up approximately 4 percent of the voting population. Los Angeles was chosen as the site for the event because of the state’s early primary election, on February 5th, 2008. "We're honored to give the presidential candidates an historic opportunity to share their views directly with the LGBT audience," Brian Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group, and President, LOGO said in a statement. "This forum continues MTV Networks’ tradition of engaging vital niche audiences with voting and the electoral process." In addition to questioning by Solmonese and Etheridge people will be able to pose their own questions through LOGOonline.com and HRC.org. ---source (365Gay.com)---

PAZO, Club Hippo, & Junior Vasquez (Baltimore, MD)

This past weekend I actually flew out to Baltimore, MD to meet up with my friend Stuart who had been out there since earlier in the week. It was a pretty quick flight, about 1 hour in the air, 30 minutes taxi time. My flight actually arrived fifteen minutes early, however it did take almost 30 minutes for the baggage claim from the flight to even start it's circulation. After retrieving my bag, Stuart showed me around the city of Baltimore and then we met his friends Charles and Eric at PAZO Restaurant (A Tapas Restaurant). Until this point, I was a "tapas virgin". This place was magnificent. Imagine an old vast revamped factory warehouse, restored on the inside with very modern, yet nostalgic design that feels like an old Spanish cathedral . Pazo is located in a rustic yet chic two-floor venue with an open kitchen, plush booths, mezzanine dining and a posh-meets-earthy bar/lounge. After Dinner and a quick tour through the downtown Baltimore area, we entered Club Hippo for the owner's 35th Anniversary party for it's patrons. Free drinks and Hors D'oeuvres, Hell Yeah, you can't beat that. Needless to say, I was pretty lit by 10:00PM. After a break and 2 bottles of water, I was ready to see the other side of the club and to experience what would be the best night out that I've had in quite some time. I practically danced the entire evening. www.clubhippo.com

Junior Vasquez @ CLUB HIPPO (Baltimore, MD)

On Saturday afternoon I will be flying out of Indy to Baltimore, MD to meet up with my friend Stuart and join him at Club Hippo for their 35th Anniversary VIP Party, prior to the club opening later that night. I figured this is as close to New York that I'll probably get, at least so far this year, anyway, and my first and probably only opportunity to hear one of the great DJ pioneers of east coast club music, Junior Vasquez. Me, Excited? Hell Yes.....

http://www.clubhippo.com/HippoClub/hippo.html

SiCKO

Synopsis: 'SiCKO'

The words "health care" and "comedy" aren't usually found in the same sentence, but in Academy Award winning filmmaker Michael Moore's new movie 'SiCKO,' they go together hand in (rubber) glove. Opening with profiles of several ordinary Americans whose lives have been disrupted, shattered, and—in some cases—ended by health care catastrophe, the film makes clear that the crisis doesn't only affect the 47 million uninsured citizens—millions of others who dutifully pay their premiums often get strangled by bureaucratic red tape as well. After detailing just how the system got into such a mess (the short answer: profits and Nixon), we are whisked around the world, visiting countries including Canada, Great Britain and France, where all citizens receive free medical benefits. Finally, Moore gathers a group of 9/11 heroes – rescue workers now suffering from debilitating illnesses who have been denied medical attention in the US. He takes them to a most unexpected place, and in addition to finally receiving care, they also engage in some unexpected diplomacy. While Moore's 'SiCKO' follows the trailblazing path of previous hit films, the Oscar-winning BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and all-time box-office documentary champ FAHRENHEIT 9/11, it is also something very different for Michael Moore. 'SiCKO' is a straight-from-the-heart portrait of the crazy and sometimes cruel U.S. health care system, told from the vantage of everyday people faced with extraordinary and bizarre challenges in their quest for basic health coverage. In the tradition of Mark Twain or Will Rogers, 'SiCKO' uses humor to tell these compelling stories, leading the audience conclude that an alternative system is the only possible answer.

From:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/about/synopsis/

07.04.07

In an E-Mail Forwarded (By Me) to the United Flight 93 National Memorial Website:





http://www.flight93memorialproject.org/

I have witnessed this memorial site for the past year, and have seen great progress in the support for this memorial, so as a citizen of the midwest I still wonder why, why has something of this magnitude, not even been recognized by the federal or even state government to help support or fund such a pertinent cause and establishment of history? Concerned? Yes, I am. If I had the money to give, I would, but it saddens me that this country is so disconnected and focused, even this July 4th, on this so-called war, and election, that this memorial, as well as the ground zero memorial project, have been all but, forgotten about, and it just doesn't seem right. Have we forgotten what July 4th really means? Fireworks? Yeah, there will always be fireworks, all you need is a fuse and some gunpowder. Have we forgotten what July 4th actually represents? So, as a citizen here from the midwest, I commend you, and acknowledge you for this effort, it "WILL" move forward, and I will live to see the day that I walk the grounds in Shanksville, PA, as well as New York. Stand your ground, as we always have. Peace & Love, -Jared S. Curry- Indianapolis, IN, USA