BLOGBLIGHT ALERT!

This blog is infested with blogblight: n. Malicious lies, half-truths, distortions and insinuations perpetuated mindlessly by bloggers publishing misinformation, photos or video from each others blogs, or the tabloids, with no thought to the veracity, authenticity or libelous nature of the content.

The blight bloggers range from professional journalists (who should know better) down to the celebrity gossip hacks. Similar blight occurs in the other news media (tabloids) as well, but is more pervasive on the internet because of the anonymity accorded many of those who perpetuate it.

Blogblight undermines one of the basic values of the internet, information sharing. Rather than seeing legitimate and accurate information, internet users see blogblight instead.

This blog also has a bad case of DumBlight.

Said by: Marin at April 6, 2007 10:18 AM

I have a good hunch that Reuben heard a lot of 'boleros' in his youth, because his music reminds me of those wonderful, romantic balads in Spanish of the 30s, 40s and 50s, which I heard growing up in Mexico and which I still love! His songs and his voice are very lyrical. Greg Shapiro's poem was lovely too! It's interesting that American Easter celebration focuses on Springtime and rebirth, whereas Church litany focuses on the dark part - death, which Latin countries love to waddle in over Easter Week. As a child in Puerto Rico poor Fausto always had a problem having birthday parties on his actual birth day because if it fell before Easter Sunday, parents wouldn't send their children to parties, unless they were Gringos...

Said by: Patricia Fernós at April 6, 2007 10:37 AM

Oh, I checked online for the origins of 'Butchart' on the "Free Surname Database" and it says it's Anglo Saxon, means 'Strong Fort' and was first registered as a surname in 1207.

Said by: Patricia Fernós at April 6, 2007 10:47 AM

While we would have been able to go to parties during Lent, Holy Week was sheer hell. From Palm Sunday to Good Friday, we had to go to Mass everyday. We had to pray the Rosary-do you know how long that is? It seemd like infinity as a child.
And then of course there was the "Sations of the Cross" or as it's sometimes called in Latin "Via Dolorosa"; that took forever as you said a individual prayer in front of each of the 14 stain glass windows that illustrated the 14 steps of Jesus' suffering, death and ressurection. Talk about fun for a kid.
We always got new clothes at Easter so that was nice and of course, the candy as payment for your contrition was an excellent bonus.

Said by: Marc at April 6, 2007 12:11 PM

The Blogblight alert is from the Claymate camp. I googled it and it only appears when Clay's sexuality is in question.

What do you think would happen to these devoted fans if Clay did come out? I'd be scared to come out too if I was him.

Said by: Marc at April 6, 2007 12:22 PM

When it comes to gay media and gay culture, there is no source to compair with the FoF. Granted, the FoF is a comedy podcast, but the issues that are discussed and the people that are recognized are actually worth supporting in the gay community. I have just finished reading the "OUT" article and I found myself asking "who the hell are these people?". I just have one thing to say, out with OUT... in with FoF!!

Said by: Ben Franks at April 6, 2007 12:38 PM

And another thing Marin, here is our interview with John, the man who says he had sex with Clay, who's sexuality is the object of your obsession:
http://feastoffools.net/archives/2006/08/fof_365_-_quart.php

Said by: Marc at April 6, 2007 12:42 PM

This is why I love you guys -- you walk both sides of the catwalk: glamofabulous, AND grassroots activists. I agree, a list of top 50 influential queers written by lesbians would read a lot differently, but so would a list written by FOF! (Well, FOF would be #1, but aside from that!) Thanks for being the real thing.

One of my top 50 would be Virginia Woolf. (And for those who wonder about her sexuality, let me just put it out there: two of her novels are named To the Lighthouse, and The Waves... Do we see a recurring theme here?)

I really enjoyed Leonard Woolf (her husband)'s memoirs... He would describe Virginia showing up late for dinner parties, her hair all astray and with printing ink smeared on the front of her dress, making awkward comments and startling everyone with the intensity of her gaze. She seems like such an intriguing figure. A role model for anyone who aspires to creative eccentricity!

Loved Rueben's lyrics today, and Greg Shapiro's poem! "Blink, bleat, blood" will be in my head all day... aieee...

p.s. Virginia writing about her lover Vita:
“She shines with a candle-lit radiance, pink glowing, grape clustered, pearl hung.”
Yow.

Said by: Maia at April 6, 2007 03:19 PM

Great music, lousy musician. Was this guy high?

I personally dislike how New Yorkers fluff themselves up so much only to dissapoint time and time again.

Said by: Carl at April 6, 2007 04:09 PM

The violence and harshness that people display when it comes to honestly discussing Clay Aiken's sexual ambiguity show just how these fanatics will do anything to preserve their fragile imaginary world they live in.

I think Clay Aiken has a lovely voice. I think he might be a great musician someday. But I wouldn't wish his exsistence on my worst enemy. To be surrounded by people like this must be hell.

Said by: Fausto at April 6, 2007 04:17 PM

Great! Both the interview and the fact that a Claymate posted a critical comment on FOF's comments. Better late than never Marin! The John Paulis interview was what? Sometime last year. Oh, and thank Patricia for the surname website info.

Said by: Andy in Brookville at April 6, 2007 05:33 PM

I don't know exactly what nonsense is running through the editor of Out magazine's mind, but it's the kind of nonsense that is going to let my subscribtion expire.

The magazine's name is "Out." Picking two closeted celebrities for your most influential gay people list is counter intuitive and is an insult to out activists everywhere.

I think they really just did it for shock value and to get press. Jodie Foster hasn't been in a movie since Flightplan and while Anderson Cooper is a good reporter, what exactly is he doing to help the gay cause?

And don't get me started on the fact that they routinely place straight actors/celebrities on the cover instead of their gay counterparts.

Reuben was great too! I know if I want to learn more about gay artists I should turn to the FOF and not to my current issue of Out.

Said by: Corey at April 6, 2007 06:45 PM

Great show guys. Ruben is such a hotie. Wish you would have played more of his music.

As for the Out 50 - I saw we start our own list of 50 most powerful queers. What do you say, why not have a section for folks to post their top choices and then we'll see who gets the most votes. Power to the People!

Drew

P.S. Boy those claymates sure are slow. That interview was so last year. And Clay is so has been last year anyway. Does anyone care if he's gay anyway?

Said by: PoloDrew at April 7, 2007 12:23 AM

John Aravosis who led the charges against Dr. Laura, called Mary Cheney on her crap, and many other laudable actions for the community is the independent blogger leading Americablog and was included in the Out list. (btw, i have nothing to do with the mag these days.) I thought the cover was great and made the same point many are making in these comments. The cover is quite clearly making a comment. It's not holding them up as role models. They are showing for what they are, powerful people who come off a bunch less powerful for having not dealt with this. A friend compared it to knowing someone is wearing a toupee in a business deal. You have something on them and they know it.
I think the cover is one of the best in a long while. Shows the closet to be a reality -- even for famous people. And represented with just some cardboard faces that have been hyped up....ie. they could be anyone. (That said, i found the list a bit heavy on the fashion front. Ok extraordinarily heavy.) And i'd just suggest to you and others with GLAAD not even allowing gay journalists to be nominated for awards--as they have refused to even allow the nomination of the hardest working, most dedicated, self sacrificing folks who write, cast, shoot and make the queer media outlets--dont' be shocked by any of it. Who's to be honored by our leading organization against defamation? Jennifer Anniston. A fine entertainer and i'm sure a fine supporter of the gays...but with zero chance of Brad showing up, i'm not sure what's in it for us or what she's done that's so special.
She will sell out their tables and will look great on Logo's coverage of it. (But don't try to run a gay ad like the "we take all religious types" on that channel. Logo rejected along with the others for the controversial inclusion of a churchgoing gay couple.)
Well, there you have it at the end of a long week. And i'm sure i'll get some of my own inconsistencies back at me for this, so don't count mine as a big stone i'm casting. We all need to rent celebs and use them to get the important stuff out there.
All i wanted to do was point out the inclusion of the very important and powerful Mr. Aravosis.
Oh yeah, love your cast and your blog. Talk more soon.
Look forward to speaking with you all soon.

Said by: mike at April 7, 2007 01:08 AM

Not a fan of this guy. I too found him to be quite arrogant. Probably b/c he didn't get any of your jokes. The show was really great (as usual) untill this guy opened his mouth. Not a fan of this sandwich.

Said by: cristy at April 7, 2007 08:58 AM

This is the most diverse commentary on a program I've seen in a while! Ain't it fun to read?! Cristy, you're absolutely right! I hadn't picked up on that, but now that you say it...

Said by: Patricia Fernós at April 7, 2007 10:57 AM

Lol! I agree with Cristy! He took the interview perhaps a bit too seriously...?

Said by: meshaped at April 7, 2007 12:35 PM

As far as Reuben being arrogant, I didn't get that at all. Hmm...I'll take another listen, but I think just the fact that he was on a cell phone made the conversation a little tougher. I enjoyed this show. I think he's really cute too.

Said by: kyle at April 7, 2007 02:34 PM

I gave the Out list about as much credibility as I give People's "50 Most Beautiful" and "50 Most Intriguing" lists. The editor in charge of the "Beautiful" list admitted that physical beauty was not the only criterion for making the list; the people on the list also had to have a major project released or in the works, or--horrors--be the First Lady (yeah, Laura Bush made the issue one year).

In the same fashion, Out is heading toward being the "People" of gay media--celebrity news/gossip and just north of tabloids as far as credibility goes.

My personal list would include:
Melissa Etheridge
Fausto Fernos
Marc Felion
kd lang
Barney Frank
Bryan Singer

Said by: David at April 8, 2007 01:23 AM

I just wanna say Reuben is soooo HOT! lol

Said by: Nelson at April 9, 2007 10:11 PM

Hey there Marc and Fausto,

Personally we think you're considerably influential. Thank you for another interesting show.

Reuben Butchart has a beautiful voice and we're off to download some of his work from iTunes through your link. Thanks for another wonderful introduction.

Cheers from Brisbane Australia
Shaun and Mel

Said by: Mel and Shaun at April 11, 2007 01:34 AM

While Reuben Butchart's music you showcased on this show isn't my cup of tea, I always appreciate your showcasing gay artists. I've bought several songs off the iTunes music store that I've heard on the show (by clicking the links in the show notes) that I have enjoyed from the show. I wanted to get "astroglide" but the iTunes preview doesn't sound anything like the song. I hate it when iTunes does that and your not sure if a mistake has been made or if they are just sampling a portion of the song you haven't heard.

Keep up the great work

Love and Hugs
Phoenix

Said by: Phoenix at April 11, 2007 11:05 AM