Thursday, February 28, 2008
Who's That Girl?
This makes me happy: (courtesy of Fridae.com)
Madonna's 'Hard Candy' hits streets end April
By S2
Madonna's highly anticipated final studio album for Warner Music finally gets a name; first single 'Four Minutes' a super-hero themed collaboration with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland to air in March.
New Album: 'A very different sound for Madonna'
'Hard Candy' is Madonna’s first new material since 2005's Confessions On A Dancefloor, which debuted at #1 around the world. It will also be her final studio release for Warner Music, where she has been signed since her debut album 'Madonna'.
Madonna chose to stick with the sweet theme because "she loves candy," says her longtime rep Liz Rosenberg. "It's about the juxtaposition of tough and sweetness, or as Madonna so eloquently expressed 'I'm gonna kick your ass, but it's going to make you feel good.'"
Madonna's new album will feature 'a very different sound for her', according to the production team working on the record. Much of it has been produced by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and studio sidekick Nate 'Danja' Hills, who worked on Justin Timberlake's 'FutureSex/LoveSounds'. Justin Timberlake is featured on at least 4 tracks.
Rolling Stone’s recent sneak peak at the album revealed that, the record’s first single is 'Four Minutes' – a loud, busy, energetic track that is apparently getting an equally adventurous video: The clip (which is still being completed) is directed by hot French duo Jonas & François (Justice’s 'D.A.N.C.E.'). Timbaland makes an appearance, and Madonna and Timberlake play superheroes tackling physical obstacles. The clip features choreography by Jamie King, who worked on Madonna's Confessions, Re-Invention and Drowned World tours as well as her video for Confessions' 'Sorry.'
Madonna's 'Hard Candy' hits streets end April
By S2
Madonna's highly anticipated final studio album for Warner Music finally gets a name; first single 'Four Minutes' a super-hero themed collaboration with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland to air in March.
New Album: 'A very different sound for Madonna'
'Hard Candy' is Madonna’s first new material since 2005's Confessions On A Dancefloor, which debuted at #1 around the world. It will also be her final studio release for Warner Music, where she has been signed since her debut album 'Madonna'.
Madonna chose to stick with the sweet theme because "she loves candy," says her longtime rep Liz Rosenberg. "It's about the juxtaposition of tough and sweetness, or as Madonna so eloquently expressed 'I'm gonna kick your ass, but it's going to make you feel good.'"
Madonna's new album will feature 'a very different sound for her', according to the production team working on the record. Much of it has been produced by Pharrell Williams, Timbaland and studio sidekick Nate 'Danja' Hills, who worked on Justin Timberlake's 'FutureSex/LoveSounds'. Justin Timberlake is featured on at least 4 tracks.
Rolling Stone’s recent sneak peak at the album revealed that, the record’s first single is 'Four Minutes' – a loud, busy, energetic track that is apparently getting an equally adventurous video: The clip (which is still being completed) is directed by hot French duo Jonas & François (Justice’s 'D.A.N.C.E.'). Timbaland makes an appearance, and Madonna and Timberlake play superheroes tackling physical obstacles. The clip features choreography by Jamie King, who worked on Madonna's Confessions, Re-Invention and Drowned World tours as well as her video for Confessions' 'Sorry.'
Labels: Music
Monday, February 25, 2008
"You Make Me Want to Have More Gay Friends"
That's what a friend said to me one evening.
And that is about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
He told me he'd never really had gay friends before...I guess he was always the gay guy surrounded by a circle of straight friends. It's not that he didn't know any gay people, but as he said, "I've only had one use for gay men." And it wasn't friendship.
When my friend said what he said, it about knocked me out. I don't think he realizes how much it meant to me that he said those words. First, because it was the most open he had been with me, and I was touched that he shared those thoughts. And of course, because the idea that I might have had a positive impact on someone's outlook on life is a very powerful thing. It's always nice to have someone tell you that you've added something good to the way they view the world.
This came up months ago, I just haven't mentioned it before now because...well, because it seems like a new sensation, like it just happened last night. But the truth is, whenever I'm feeling down, I think about that, and I smile.
And that is about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
He told me he'd never really had gay friends before...I guess he was always the gay guy surrounded by a circle of straight friends. It's not that he didn't know any gay people, but as he said, "I've only had one use for gay men." And it wasn't friendship.
When my friend said what he said, it about knocked me out. I don't think he realizes how much it meant to me that he said those words. First, because it was the most open he had been with me, and I was touched that he shared those thoughts. And of course, because the idea that I might have had a positive impact on someone's outlook on life is a very powerful thing. It's always nice to have someone tell you that you've added something good to the way they view the world.
This came up months ago, I just haven't mentioned it before now because...well, because it seems like a new sensation, like it just happened last night. But the truth is, whenever I'm feeling down, I think about that, and I smile.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Talk Talk Talk
It was a weekend filled with talking and that was all good.
Stan came over for a movie, Cut Sleeve Boys, Friday night, and we spent about 90 minutes watching the movie and 3 hours chatting, and that was very cool. Stan is someone I met last October and over time we've been able to get to know each other, and that's great, cuz he's a pretty nice guy.
Saturday was a day for me mostly...a little coffee, a little reading, a little sale at Sisley so I got some new clothes, so yay that. In the evening I called Justin and he was looking to have dessert at a cafe downtown, so off I went. We spent about 5 hours getting caught up on all sorts of things, and that was really nice. Justin is a teacher, and is from Taiwan, and is about to have a book published back home, and one of the sweetest guys around, and is a very interesting guy to spend a few hours with.
Sunday I was up to go have brunch with Stan...since we'd met a couple weeks after his birthday last October we never got to celebrate his birthday, so I took him out today...got him a birthday card and everything. A few more hours of chatting and I just hope I'm not talking too much.
Except for a brief period tonight when I thought I was going to barf, it was a good weekend.
And now I'm watching the Oscars, and that's all about "talk talk talk." So far, Blades of Glory hasn't won anything, but I'm hopeful.
Stan came over for a movie, Cut Sleeve Boys, Friday night, and we spent about 90 minutes watching the movie and 3 hours chatting, and that was very cool. Stan is someone I met last October and over time we've been able to get to know each other, and that's great, cuz he's a pretty nice guy.
Saturday was a day for me mostly...a little coffee, a little reading, a little sale at Sisley so I got some new clothes, so yay that. In the evening I called Justin and he was looking to have dessert at a cafe downtown, so off I went. We spent about 5 hours getting caught up on all sorts of things, and that was really nice. Justin is a teacher, and is from Taiwan, and is about to have a book published back home, and one of the sweetest guys around, and is a very interesting guy to spend a few hours with.
Sunday I was up to go have brunch with Stan...since we'd met a couple weeks after his birthday last October we never got to celebrate his birthday, so I took him out today...got him a birthday card and everything. A few more hours of chatting and I just hope I'm not talking too much.
Except for a brief period tonight when I thought I was going to barf, it was a good weekend.
And now I'm watching the Oscars, and that's all about "talk talk talk." So far, Blades of Glory hasn't won anything, but I'm hopeful.
Labels: Friends
Saturday, February 23, 2008
If You Wanna Be My Blogger...
...ya gotta read all my friends! (that's them, over to the left. Go read. I'll wait.)
So yeah...Spice Girls!!!
OK, I haven't been to a concert in a while, and this was a great one! The girls put on a really fun show, the dancers were hot, I love British accents, so it was fantastic! They said they were trying to get Geri laid and I for one would be straight for a day just for her.
I went with Linh and his friend Brian. Linh and I actually met for the first time the day the tour was announced, back in October...when we got together for lunch that day it turned out we'd both gotten the e-mail from the Spice Girls website, and we talked about maybe going to see them in New York. Fortunately, a couple months later they announced the DC date and we bought tickets right away. I bought them too soon, it turned out, because Linh had already talked with Brian about seeing them together, so he went online and ordered three tickets...leaving me with two I needed to sell. Fortunately I did, the night before the show, and I'm glad, because the seats I'd gotten were stuck up near the top...but Linh's seats were only 8 rows up from the floor and by the end of the catwalk where half the stuff would happen.
The crowd seemed to be mostly teenage girls who were probably in elementary school when the Girls were first out, but hey, the Girl Power message endures. Almost everyone else seemed to be gay men, so it was a good bunch of people. Kinda like a Madonna concert, except a lot of the people had to be home before their parents curfew! We had three high school girls next to us who'd all dressed up. they asked me "which Spice are you?" and I looked and said "you mean you can't tell?"...they looked at each other, looked at me, and both said "you're Posh." heh heh Yeah.
I was REALLY glad to see this with Linh...he has been a huge fan for years and had always wanted to see them in concert...he couldn't believe it was actually happening, and he was smiling, dancing, and singing the ENTIRE time. (well, we all were, but he had the biggest smile, knew every song by heart, and looked cutest doing it!)
The opening was so cool. The video building it up was really great and I was grabbing Linh and pointing, "look, look, the floors opening, it's opening RIGHT THERE!! Linh was screaming like the 10,000 teenage girls around us...when their heads started popping up through the stage floor he was already yelling and pointing and by the time they emerged I think he came right there. heh heh Watching him was as much fun as the show itself because he had SUCH a good time!
No, I didn't shoot these videos -- our seats were good, but not quite THIS good!
They did all their old numbers, they got naked on the stage (well...maybe), and they did solo numbers (Posh worked the runway, each of the others sang). I was hoping Geri would do "Lift Me Up" 'cuz that always triggers great memories from my London 2001 trip when that song was EVERYWHERE that week. But she did "It's Raining Men," and trust me, that was ok, too!
The closing was great, the "flags of the world" in the background was cool (and so appropriate for this crowd...Linh was screaming for Vietnam, Brian was yelling for Singapore, and I gave shout outs for Malaysia when they popped up). The final burst of confetti and lights created rainbows through the arena...also pretty appropriate for this crowd!
So yeah, a very good time was had by all. Thanks, Linh, for making it so great!!
Oh, and on the train home, we met a girl that went to the same high school as Linh when he was an exchange student in Texas 5 years ago. Small world. Girl power.
So yeah...Spice Girls!!!
OK, I haven't been to a concert in a while, and this was a great one! The girls put on a really fun show, the dancers were hot, I love British accents, so it was fantastic! They said they were trying to get Geri laid and I for one would be straight for a day just for her.
I went with Linh and his friend Brian. Linh and I actually met for the first time the day the tour was announced, back in October...when we got together for lunch that day it turned out we'd both gotten the e-mail from the Spice Girls website, and we talked about maybe going to see them in New York. Fortunately, a couple months later they announced the DC date and we bought tickets right away. I bought them too soon, it turned out, because Linh had already talked with Brian about seeing them together, so he went online and ordered three tickets...leaving me with two I needed to sell. Fortunately I did, the night before the show, and I'm glad, because the seats I'd gotten were stuck up near the top...but Linh's seats were only 8 rows up from the floor and by the end of the catwalk where half the stuff would happen.
The crowd seemed to be mostly teenage girls who were probably in elementary school when the Girls were first out, but hey, the Girl Power message endures. Almost everyone else seemed to be gay men, so it was a good bunch of people. Kinda like a Madonna concert, except a lot of the people had to be home before their parents curfew! We had three high school girls next to us who'd all dressed up. they asked me "which Spice are you?" and I looked and said "you mean you can't tell?"...they looked at each other, looked at me, and both said "you're Posh." heh heh Yeah.
I was REALLY glad to see this with Linh...he has been a huge fan for years and had always wanted to see them in concert...he couldn't believe it was actually happening, and he was smiling, dancing, and singing the ENTIRE time. (well, we all were, but he had the biggest smile, knew every song by heart, and looked cutest doing it!)
The opening was so cool. The video building it up was really great and I was grabbing Linh and pointing, "look, look, the floors opening, it's opening RIGHT THERE!! Linh was screaming like the 10,000 teenage girls around us...when their heads started popping up through the stage floor he was already yelling and pointing and by the time they emerged I think he came right there. heh heh Watching him was as much fun as the show itself because he had SUCH a good time!
No, I didn't shoot these videos -- our seats were good, but not quite THIS good!
They did all their old numbers, they got naked on the stage (well...maybe), and they did solo numbers (Posh worked the runway, each of the others sang). I was hoping Geri would do "Lift Me Up" 'cuz that always triggers great memories from my London 2001 trip when that song was EVERYWHERE that week. But she did "It's Raining Men," and trust me, that was ok, too!
The closing was great, the "flags of the world" in the background was cool (and so appropriate for this crowd...Linh was screaming for Vietnam, Brian was yelling for Singapore, and I gave shout outs for Malaysia when they popped up). The final burst of confetti and lights created rainbows through the arena...also pretty appropriate for this crowd!
So yeah, a very good time was had by all. Thanks, Linh, for making it so great!!
Oh, and on the train home, we met a girl that went to the same high school as Linh when he was an exchange student in Texas 5 years ago. Small world. Girl power.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Not Much Happening
I'm still alive, just not writing much. I just haven't had much to write about. I don't want to be filling the screen with negative posts so 'tis best to wait until something more positive comes along. And since I'm going to see the Spice Girls Thursday night, that will probably qualify!
A number of friends have been feeling down lately as well, whether due to romantic problems, job difficulties, or illness. But some have been doing great, writing about holidays with family, and in one case I learned someone is dating...
I am considering signing up for a social networking site using the screen name "Ang Moh." Thoughts?
A number of friends have been feeling down lately as well, whether due to romantic problems, job difficulties, or illness. But some have been doing great, writing about holidays with family, and in one case I learned someone is dating...
I am considering signing up for a social networking site using the screen name "Ang Moh." Thoughts?
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Dinner and Dancing
The day after a Lunar New Year dinner and some clubbing with AQUA.
Asian Friend: There was a second guy at the club last night who looked a lot like Doctor Erick.
Me: What was he wearing?
AF: A blue t-shirt.
Me: ...
AF: ...
Me: That was Doctor Erick.
AF: It was? But I thought Doctor Erick was wearing a white shirt and vest?
Me: No, that was Lin.
AF: Oh. Well, truthfully, we all look alike to each other, too.
Asian Friend: There was a second guy at the club last night who looked a lot like Doctor Erick.
Me: What was he wearing?
AF: A blue t-shirt.
Me: ...
AF: ...
Me: That was Doctor Erick.
AF: It was? But I thought Doctor Erick was wearing a white shirt and vest?
Me: No, that was Lin.
AF: Oh. Well, truthfully, we all look alike to each other, too.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
First Day Back
I've been out sick for a couple days. Everyone else seemed to be getting sick at work last week, guess it was my turn. I really wasn't that bad off...my body is pretty good at fighting off sickness, it just makes me really tired when it does. But since I didn't have anything really urgent at work I felt comfortable taking a couple days to try to feel better. Glad I did...we had a bad ice storm Tuesday that messed up the commute home for lots of people, and a lot of our folks didn't even make it into work Wednesday as a result. So if I was going to be out, these were the days to do it.
A bunch of people suggested today that I shouldn't be there...whether because I looked really sick or because they didn't want me infecting them, I don't know. But I needed to go in and will go back Friday as well, I have some stuff which does need to get done now. I'll just try to avoid sneezing on anyone.
Here's a question on office etiquette: when you see someone in the boss' office, would you walk in on their conversation? I never do, unless there is something very urgent the boss needs to know about, and that is pretty rare. So how come today, whenever I went in to see one of the senior folks, people felt compelled to come in and either interrupt or just sit down and start contributing their thoughts to our meeting? One guy stuck his head in the door and said "am I interrupting anything?" Um, yeah. If there was nothing going on, I wouldn't be here, I'd be back at my desk working. I told him to let us finish, and he took off. Later, I was trying to fill one of the directors in on what happened at the Atlanta meeting last week and 2 other people came in and joined the meeting, turning it from 15 minutes (which is all I thought it would take) into nearly 2 hours! Plus, 2 other people stopped in just to ask a question about something that could have waited. Come on!! Didn't these people learn manners as a kid? I guess it's too late for me to fix their behavior -- if their mother didn't do it, it's probably too late for me to change it -- but I will let them know they're annoying and embarrass them in the process if they're too dumb to get the hint.
Am I surrounded by idiots, or is it really just something wrong with me?
A bunch of people suggested today that I shouldn't be there...whether because I looked really sick or because they didn't want me infecting them, I don't know. But I needed to go in and will go back Friday as well, I have some stuff which does need to get done now. I'll just try to avoid sneezing on anyone.
Here's a question on office etiquette: when you see someone in the boss' office, would you walk in on their conversation? I never do, unless there is something very urgent the boss needs to know about, and that is pretty rare. So how come today, whenever I went in to see one of the senior folks, people felt compelled to come in and either interrupt or just sit down and start contributing their thoughts to our meeting? One guy stuck his head in the door and said "am I interrupting anything?" Um, yeah. If there was nothing going on, I wouldn't be here, I'd be back at my desk working. I told him to let us finish, and he took off. Later, I was trying to fill one of the directors in on what happened at the Atlanta meeting last week and 2 other people came in and joined the meeting, turning it from 15 minutes (which is all I thought it would take) into nearly 2 hours! Plus, 2 other people stopped in just to ask a question about something that could have waited. Come on!! Didn't these people learn manners as a kid? I guess it's too late for me to fix their behavior -- if their mother didn't do it, it's probably too late for me to change it -- but I will let them know they're annoying and embarrass them in the process if they're too dumb to get the hint.
Am I surrounded by idiots, or is it really just something wrong with me?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Boy Culture
Got back from Atlanta Sunday. The business part of the trip was OK, the social part pretty slow. Friday night I went out to dinner and to a bar I used to go to, and I realized something: you can still smoke in bars in georgia. Huh. Kind of takes the fun out of it, when I'm used to DC, NYC, SF...why would anyone want to hang around a smoke-filled bar? I didn't run into Young Matt (who turns 30 later this year, so I guess he's not as young as he used to be...but then, who is?), nor did I run into Former Boyfriend Michael, also known as Michael the Antichrist (though I've gotten over my bitterness, the name still stands out in my mind). But I did talk to someone who knows him...small world.
Tonight I watched Boy Culture. the movie came out 2 years ago but I've kind of avoided seeing it...the book is one of my favorite novels and I hesitated to see the film because the images might not match up with the images in my mind. I read the book at least once a year and I have a picture in my mind of the characters that never changes. Would i screw up a favorite book by letting someone else's vision intrude on my own?
The movie was good. It was set in a different city, and some key elements were added or, in a few cases, changed in a way that changed the story. One of the characters was black, which didn't match his description in the book, though another favorite character was pretty much like I expected. But still, it was good, and it was fun to see them moving around instead of just being pictures in my head. Very often, a director really screws up a good book, but this time around he did all right. Oh, and i picked up on an important reference that I'd never gotten before...and it was a pretty obvious one, too, staring me right in the face.
The book is really good. Go get it. Then later, see the movie. Then write a blog post about it.
Tonight I watched Boy Culture. the movie came out 2 years ago but I've kind of avoided seeing it...the book is one of my favorite novels and I hesitated to see the film because the images might not match up with the images in my mind. I read the book at least once a year and I have a picture in my mind of the characters that never changes. Would i screw up a favorite book by letting someone else's vision intrude on my own?
The movie was good. It was set in a different city, and some key elements were added or, in a few cases, changed in a way that changed the story. One of the characters was black, which didn't match his description in the book, though another favorite character was pretty much like I expected. But still, it was good, and it was fun to see them moving around instead of just being pictures in my head. Very often, a director really screws up a good book, but this time around he did all right. Oh, and i picked up on an important reference that I'd never gotten before...and it was a pretty obvious one, too, staring me right in the face.
The book is really good. Go get it. Then later, see the movie. Then write a blog post about it.
Labels: Stuff
Friday, February 08, 2008
Slow Trip
Not much going on. Work is going well...I'm finding I actually have a positive influence on how this group performs. Nice to know I still have some group management skills. I think a lot of the reason for my success is that I'm not one of those guys who talks a lot...we have plenty of people who seem to be talking just so it looks like they have something to say, even if all they're doing is repeating things that have already been settled or offering examples no one needs or cares about. My experience has been, if I don't say much, then when I do speak up, people tend to listen because they're not tired of me and they realize that if I'm offering an idea, it must be one I think is pretty important, since otherwise I'd just be quiet. It seems to work.
I'm also catching up on my reading, which is nice.
And yeah, apparently there's a really big Vietnamese community here in Atlanta, and there's also a Chinatown of sorts (I never knew that), so maybe I can find some New Year's stuff going on this weekend.
I'm also catching up on my reading, which is nice.
And yeah, apparently there's a really big Vietnamese community here in Atlanta, and there's also a Chinatown of sorts (I never knew that), so maybe I can find some New Year's stuff going on this weekend.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Gong Xi Fa Cai!!
Hope everyone has a wonderful Lunar New Year, and that the Year of the Rat brings you lots of good luck and happiness.
I'm in Atlanta for a few days for work. Meetings meetings meetings. Then all these old men want to go to the hotel bar and get drunk. Yeah, like I'm going to do THAT. I used to live a couple hours from here and often came here for fun so I'm going to reconnect with those roots.
After flying in today I stopped off at my favorite bookstore/coffee house. I picked up the local gay newspapers and have since discovered that the clubs I used to go to are gone. I've sent out a couple e-mails to folks asking about new places; I have to work every day but hope to go out Saturday night before flying home Sunday.
There are some people here I know but I'm out of touch with them. There's Michael, an ex-boyfriend, who has suggested he wants to meet up when I come to town but who isn't returning my e-mails. There's also Matt, a short-term roommate and even shorter-term FB from many years ago (my god, he's turning 30 this year!), but we have not been in touch in many years so the only way I would see him would be by randomly bumping into him (and as we all know, that happens to me a lot!).
I have plenty of work to keep me busy at the hotel, so I'll probably just focus on that.
Oh, and last Saturday was fun. AQUA had a night out at Town nightclub in DC and a fun time was had by all!
Danny and I at Town
I'm in Atlanta for a few days for work. Meetings meetings meetings. Then all these old men want to go to the hotel bar and get drunk. Yeah, like I'm going to do THAT. I used to live a couple hours from here and often came here for fun so I'm going to reconnect with those roots.
After flying in today I stopped off at my favorite bookstore/coffee house. I picked up the local gay newspapers and have since discovered that the clubs I used to go to are gone. I've sent out a couple e-mails to folks asking about new places; I have to work every day but hope to go out Saturday night before flying home Sunday.
There are some people here I know but I'm out of touch with them. There's Michael, an ex-boyfriend, who has suggested he wants to meet up when I come to town but who isn't returning my e-mails. There's also Matt, a short-term roommate and even shorter-term FB from many years ago (my god, he's turning 30 this year!), but we have not been in touch in many years so the only way I would see him would be by randomly bumping into him (and as we all know, that happens to me a lot!).
I have plenty of work to keep me busy at the hotel, so I'll probably just focus on that.
Oh, and last Saturday was fun. AQUA had a night out at Town nightclub in DC and a fun time was had by all!
Friday, February 01, 2008
What's in a Name?
I was going to write about my job sucking really badly today, but instead, this cute short tale...
Adrian and I had to go to the condo office for something this evening. The lady at the front desk was filling out some paperwork and made a comment about Adrian's last name. Then she looked at me and said, "sorry, I just wasn't sure how to pronounce your name." Implying, of course, that Adrian had my last name and I had his.
Why this is funny is, whereas I have an English last name, Adrian is from Laos, so his last name has something like 37 consonants and 2 vowels. But with both of us standing there, she thought that was my name.
Obviously, she wasn't Asian.
Adrian and I had to go to the condo office for something this evening. The lady at the front desk was filling out some paperwork and made a comment about Adrian's last name. Then she looked at me and said, "sorry, I just wasn't sure how to pronounce your name." Implying, of course, that Adrian had my last name and I had his.
Why this is funny is, whereas I have an English last name, Adrian is from Laos, so his last name has something like 37 consonants and 2 vowels. But with both of us standing there, she thought that was my name.
Obviously, she wasn't Asian.
Labels: Life
