So McCain and his strategists clearly understand the incredible impact of women in the upcoming election. They also want to grab and keep the avid Hillary followers who are still refusing to vote for Obama. What better way to do both by putting a highly conservative woman on the McCain ticket? In what should be a quiet morning following a stunningly powerful speech by Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, the country is buzzing with Fox News' confirmation of Sarah Palin as the GOP vice presidential candadate. As a 44 year old woman with only one gubernatorial term under her belt, she instantly brings life to what was beginning to look like a stale, old McCain ticket. However, her lack of experience certainly hampers the Republican strategy of projecting Obama as inexperienced and "not ready" (notready08.com). Political pundants across the nation are debating the GOP's historical move as the Republican National Convention creeps closer.


Or does it?


Far away in the tropics, something is brewing. Tropical Storm Gustav, currently located below Cuba, is gaining strength and picking up speed. Forcast models show Gustav becoming a category 3 hurricane (or higher) and making landfall in Louisianna, slightly west of New Orleans.

So what does the mean for the Republicans?



Katrina part 2? Perhaps. But more importantly, the GOP is worried that a major hurricane will take away from the Convention, distracting US citizens from the riveting schedule of speakers that includes George Bush, Dick Cheney, Rudy Gullianni, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.


We certainly wouldn't want a devastating natural disaster to take away the Republican spotlight. So, FoxNews.com reports that the Republicans are ready to postpone the Convention if Gustav lives up to its badass name.


Good thing. I know I don't want to miss a second of the 2008 presidential election's Republican National Convention. I wouldn't want Hurricane Gustav getting in the way of seeing my anti-human rights good old boys. Whew.

So City Girl

After countless resumes, cover letters, emails and interviews I finally found an internship willing to pay me AND give me college credit! Truthfully I didn't even want to go on this interview yesterday. I was having a mild panic attack and screaming about my cat hair covered trousers all morning. But I managed to pull it together and I made the woman intervewing me laugh several times. Now I'll be commuting into New York City twice a week for the next four months. The office is very small and the buisness ittself isn't too big either but I actually perfer it. I'd rather not be just another drone sitting at a computer in some huge corporate office. If the work is rewarding and I like the people then I'm set. I just wish I could bring my little office buddy with me. Although leaving the Financial Aid Office high and dry isn't one of my goals. Perhaps I'll just do both jobs. All I know is that I'm dropping photography in order to do this internship so it better be a rewarding experience.




[cosimo books/my internship]

Things Are Getting Fatter.

According to an article on WebMD, Americans are getting fatter. Obesity rates have been on the rise since officials began investigating the growing problem years ago, and despite efforts across the country to slim down the obesity epidemic, the number of obese adults rose in 37 states. Of course, you don't really need to consult an online medical directory to figure that out for yourself. Just drive by your local Applebee's.

It's not really that hard to eat healthy. It does, however, require a level of commitment and food common sense that seems to be too challenging for a third of the country. But the most interesting thing happens when you break the statistics down:

Mississippi: Rank, 1 -- 31.7% of adults obese
West Virginia: Rank, 2 -- 30.6% of adults obese
Alabama: Rank, 3 -- 30.1% of adults obese
Louisiana: Rank, 4 -- 29.5% of adults obese
South Carolina: Rank, 5 -- 29.2% of adults obese
Tennessee: Rank, 6 -- 29.0% of adults obese
Kentucky: Rank, 7 -- 28.4% of adults obese
Arkansas: Rank, 8 -- 28.1% of adults obese
Oklahoma: Rank, 8 -- 28.1% of adults obese
Michigan: Rank, 10 -- 27.7% of adults obese

Hey, I didn't say the article could count. But look at a map I made with the data from the article. Red states are the fattest, blue and purple are not. See the pattern? The bible belt seems to be swimming in its own glutinous lard, while the Northeast and the West Coast have their waist lines under control. With simple deductive logic, one could reasonably imply that the only "cure" for obesity is intelligence. Or surfing and snowboaring in Colorado and Hawaii. Peace, man.

Marriage?!

Congrats Ellen and Portia!
Yay for lesbian weddings! Nice job snagging a hot lady who is fifteen years younger than you, Ellen. I'm very impressed. And Tila Tequila...there was no way in hell your trashy ass was going to get an invite. pfft.

"I love Ellen (DeGeneres) I watch her show all the time," Tequila told AP Television. "I just want to say congratulations and I am really sorry you didn't invite me to your wedding."

(Ellen Wedding Article)

I NEED A COACH BAG

For lack of anything better to do I was on gorillavsbear the other day and I noticed the Santogold Diplo creation Top Ranking. Thankfully it was available free at Discobelle. The new album has not left my cd player in days. I just can't seem to stop listening to it. It makes me especially happy when I have to drive through towns like Madison and Chatam. Although it may be seventeen year old behavior to blast music from your car like a tool I enjoy stirring things up a bit. If I have to wait in traffic in Chatham for thirty minutes because some douche bag has stationed a cop at the Kings shopping center so that spoiled white people can exit easier then I'm definetly cranking up my mildly offensive music. Not like those old people can even hear it anyway...
Basically what I'm saying is two things:
1. I need to get the fuck out of the suburbs. 2. Top Ranking is good times.

Free download anyone? (http://www.discobelle.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/toprankingsantidiplo.jpg)


** I love how I post things as if someone will actually read them. I think thats my favorite part.**

Ani DiFranco at The United Palace Theater

Last night anxious Ani DiFranco fans overran the Washington Heights-Inwood area of New York City. The United Palace Theater, at Broadway and 175th, held over 2,000 “righteous” men and women all clapping, singing and dancing to the sophisticated lyrics and guitar picking of Ani.

The United Palace Theater was the last of The Loew’s Wonder Theaters built in New York City. Architect Thomas Lamb built the theater in 1930 as a place for people to enjoy vaudeville and movies. The United Palace Theater features Indo-Chinese decoration with elaborate gold leaf moldings with crowned snakes, lotus flowers and Buddhist-esque gods and goddesses. Lamb’s design also includes lush crimson carpet, a palatial staircase, marble statues and huge vaulted ceilings complete with ornate chandeliers. With the acoustics of the theater near perfection, those in the balcony received the same sound quality as those in front row seats. Dr. Fredrick “Rev. Ike” Eikerenkoetter and the Christ Community United Church purchased this historic venue in 1969. The main foyer of the theater features giant placards, which inspire churchgoers with inspirational sayings by Rev. Ike. Such artists as Modest Mouse, Bjork and the Berlin Harmonic recently performed at the theater. Van Morrison, Neil Young and Annie Lenox are scheduled to perform at the United Palace Theater in the fall.

Kimya Dawson, formerly of the Moldy Peaches, opened the show last night. Six of her solo songs were featured on the “Juno” Soundtrack, which topped Billboard Charts in December. Dawson’s set included five dancers in brightly colored leotards with matching flags, who added a carefree performance piece aspect to Dawson’s playful “anti-folk” performance. Although most in attendance were on the edge of their seats in anticipation of Ani, fans received Dawson warmly with enthusiastic applause.

At 9 p.m., the lights dimmed and Ani DiFranco stepped on stage. Dressed in green cargo pants and a t-shirt the 37-year-old musician looked as if she had just come from yoga class. Fan fiercely cheered for their Grammy-award winning feminist icon and smile lit up her face as she addressed the crowd. The hour-and-a-half-long set filled with interesting anecdotes, heartfelt dedications and free-flowing stream-of-consciousness ramblings. Ani played some of her older, timeless pieces such as the ballads “Napoleon” and “As Is.” She also surprised fans with rarer and softer songs such as “Garden of Simple” and “Imagine That.” The set included songs from her highly anticipated new album, “Red Letter Year” which will be released later in 2008. Ani’s newfound motherhood inspired both “Atom” and “Present/Infant.” While the miracle of childbirth created some songs on the new album, the single “Red Letter Year” deals with the destruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. DiFranco was in New Orleans when the levees broke in the summer of 2005. Ani has called the city her “second home” and the destruction of such a sacred place will forever leave a mark on the musician.

Despite the sometimes-somber song lyrics, the energy of the fans was palpable throughout the show. Every joke Ani made was followed by a theater full of laughter,
each poignant lyric by a loud cheer, and the end of each song with deafening applause.

The diversity of Ani fans shows the power of this singer/songwriter, whose message knows no boundaries. Married couples in their mid-60s, young single men, lesbian couples, single women of all ages, young couples on first dates, proud feminists and neo-hippies were just some of the many different groups represented at the show yesterday. All of her fans were united on two levels: their love and respect for Ani DiFranco and their excitement for the upcoming election. Ani is known as much for her political stance as she is for her exquisite lyrics. The foyer of the venue contained two tables of volunteers, registering Ani fans to vote. At one point in her set last night, Ani stopped strumming her guitar to ask the crowd, “Who is ready to vote?” This simple question threw the entire theater into an uproar. Fans jumped out of their seats to declare their readiness for a change in government. Once the crowd finally settled down, Ani quietly said, “Let the healing begin.”

The performance included nineteen songs, a sixteen song set with a three song encore. Fans seemed almost apprehensive to leave. They slowly shuffled out of the 77-year-old theater. In the muggy New York City summer night, Ani fans mingled outside the United Palace Theater, reflecting on the electric performance. Union resident Melissa Mott exited the venue and exclaimed, “Someone give me a sedative, because that show was sick!” Mara Miller from New Brunswick said, “This is one of the best Ani shows I have ever seen. I cried for the first five songs.” Emotions definitely ran high last night, leaving all who attended feeling as if they had just experienced a lyric-induced dream.

[United Palace Theater]

The Grove

When Reverend W.B. Osbourn first purchased the 6-acre grove near Sandy Hook in 1869, he never imagined that his religious oceanfront oasis would become a predominately gay community. The Methodist owned town of Ocean Grove, New Jersey has now become the home and workplace of many L.G.B.T.Q members.

Reverend W.B. Osbourn originally established Ocean Grove as a place where Methodists could congregate and enjoy a religious experience by the sea. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association still controls the town today. This organization hosts Sunday morning beach worship at the Boardwalk Pavilion as well as “Son-Rise Celebrations” which are prayer meetings held every Saturday at sunrise in the summer. Each year the Methodist community at Ocean Grove sponsors a beach festival called “Beach Blaze” where people can enjoy worship bands, vendors, exhibits, games and a volleyball tournament. The Methodist church also offers retreats for religious groups all over the country as well as week long seminars for various Colleges and Universities.Ocean Grove has remained a dry town since its establishment and continues to embrace its strong religious ties.

Although the town has stayed true to its Methodist roots, a growing number of L.G.B.T.Q. members has moved in and set up businesses over the last 10 years. The L.G.B.T.Q. community has revitalized the town of Ocean Grove by establishing quaint bed and breakfasts, antique shops and restaurants. The new business brought in by the community turned the town into a New Jersey vacation hot spot. The two conflicting groups which make-up the towns population enjoyed a pleasant give and take relationship until New Jersey’s new Same-Sex Civil Union law went into effect on Feb. 19, 2007.

In June 2007 two lesbian couples requested permission to have civil unions at Ocean Grove’s Boardwalk Pavilion. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association denied both couples access to the Boardwalk Pavilion on the basis that same-sex marriage went against the beliefs of the Methodist church.

One of the couples immediately decided to take action against this injustice. Harriet Bernstein and Luisa Paster sued the O.G. Camp Meeting Association stating that they were being wrongful discriminated against based upon sexual orientation. With the help of the New Jersey division of Civil Rights, the couple was able to make an impact on Ocean Grove. On Sept. 18, 2007 the Boardwalk Pavilion was ruled to no longer abide by the guidelines of New Jerseys Green Acre Program. The Green Acre Program states that private property can be tax exempt if opened up to the general public.

By denying same-sex couples the right to have civil unions in the Boardwalk Pavilion the area is no longer open to the public. The town has always had a tax-exempt beachfront and boardwalk but will now be paying over $20,000 dollars a year in real estate tax.

Although this is a win for the gay community of Ocean Grove, Bernstein and Paster were still unable to hold their ceremony at the Boardwalk Pavilion. Instead, the couple exchanged their vows at a fishing pier not far from the disputed location. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association continues to discriminate against the homosexual community by banning same sex unions at their Boardwalk Pavilion. Only part of the battle against the Methodist church of Ocean County has been won. The newly established Ocean Grove United continues “working for civil rights for all Ocean Grove residents” as their slogan states. The group recently took part in New Jersey Pride at Asbury Park on June 1 2008 where they continued to spread the word about overcoming discrimination in Ocean Grove.

[ocean grove united]
[ocean grove camp meeting association]