Welcome to my world.... : 01/23/17

Monday, January 23, 2017

MOVIE MONDAY: THE BELLAS ARE BACK IN PITCH PERFECT 3

The Barden Bellas are back in a big way as shooting kicks off this month on the set of Pitch Perfect 3. Today, Universal Pictures has shared a first look video, which goes behind the scenes with the cast as they begin rehearsing one of their big musical numbers for the third chapter in this ongoing a’ cappella saga.

Pitch Perfect 3 is one of the few films with the balls to take on Star Wars: Episode VIII this December. And it looks like they are trying to get a foot up on their competition. While there is no way the Bellas will beat Luke Skywalker and Rey’s first adventure together, they will arrive as a nice alternative at the box office, and the sequel should be a hit in its own right. So it’s never too early to start getting fans and newcomers excited.

Pitch Perfect is one of the few ongoing franchises that doesn’t currently revolve around superheroes, space robots are giant explosions to sell itself home. The previous two films have proven to be substantial hits, and have cultivated its own unique fan base. Pitch Perfect 3 promises to be the biggest entry in the series yet, and as you can see in this fun video, the Bellas are planning some big surprises for this Christmas.

This sneak peek gives us our first good look at the Barden Bellas since was last saw them in 2015’s Pitch Perfect 2. Sadly, this first look doesn’t even hint at what songs might make the cut this time around. It does highlight all of the hard work and participation that goes into bringing these comedies to life. And it serves as an excellent reminder of the chemistry these young actresses all share.

As for the returning cast, Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow will all be back. Strangely, Alexis Knapp, who plays Stacie Conrad, is absent from this particular video. As of now, the character is still listed as returning for the sequel. She just apparently wasn’t available for this day of rehearsals. Let’s hope that doesn’t put her a step or two behind everyone else.

Universal Pictures has not released an official synopsis for Pitch Perfect 3 at this time. And the movie’s marketing campaign hasn’t even officially kicked off yet with shooting just starting to begin. It will be a few more months until we see the first trailer. Elizabeth Banks is set to return, but she did step down as director of the movie just prior to production. She will continue on as an executive producer. Until Christmas 2017 arrives in just under 12 months, we’ll have videos like this to keep us company. The Barden Bellas will return on December 22, 2017. Take a look as they get ready for their big return.

Lush Includes Same Sex Couples In Valentine’s Day Ads

“At Lush we believe that love transcends gender."

From: NewNowNext

With less than a month left until Valentine’s day, cosmetics brand Lush has debuted a line of adorable and inclusive ads centered around the idea that “love is love.”

Last Thursday, the company tweeted out an image of a gay couple enjoying a bubble bath together, writing: “Our Valentine’s Day goodies are even better when you’ve got someone to share them with.”

Our Valentine's Day goodies are even better when you've got someone to share them with. Online and in shops now: https://t.co/e7OJujFK3I pic.twitter.com/sPryxZ3icE

— Lush North America (@lushcosmetics) January 19, 2017

In celebration of the Women’s March, the brand rolled out another LGBT ad, this time featuring a female couple accompanied by the hashtag #loveislove.

To everyone marching today, time for some well-deserved bubbles! #bettertogether #womensmarch #loveislove pic.twitter.com/LDWuSX9EkU

— Lush North America (@lushcosmetics) January 22, 2017

The images were retweeted thousands of times, with LGBT users coming out in waves to commend the brand for its inclusive Valentine’s message.

@lushcosmetics loving that you use a non heteronormative couple here. Take my money forever 💸💸💸💸💸

— Gabrielle Leimon (@GabrielleLeimon) January 19, 2017

@lushcosmetics omg I went to your website and that's TWO WOMEN TOGETHER IN A TUB ON YOUR HOMEPAGE, RIGHT? This is giving me life ^_____^

— JoJoTheModern (@JoJoTheModern) January 21, 2017

@lushcosmetics I've never bought anything from Lush, but I love the fact that they support different sex couples 🏳️‍🌈❤

— Mami (@_Isabellachanel) January 19, 2017

@lushcosmetics I'm single, but I can't even be salty about this because of how effing cute it is! 😍😍😍😍❤❤❤

— Kayla Jones (@kaylamarrero) January 19, 2017

“At Lush we believe that love transcends gender,” a spokesperson for the company recently said. “We set out to do one thing when creating our Valentine’s Day visuals, we wanted to capture love between two people and we believe that’s what we have done here.”

“The fact that our loyal and loving fans are starting their own conversations using our visuals and #loveislove absolutely warms our hearts.”

This isn’t the first time Lush has come out in support of the LGBT community—in 2014, the brand spoke out against anti-LGBT violence in Russia and in 2015, it donated $425,000 to LGBT rights organizations in conjunction with Act Up.

Groovy Flashback: TIME Covers 1923 - 1959

From: Deep Dish

Carol Channing (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on Broadway) - January 9, 1950

Kate McKinnon’s Kellyanne Conway Deflects Her Way to the Top in Dazzling SNL Musical Number

From: Towleroad

Channeling Chicago‘s Roxie Hart, Kate McKinnon showed off her musical chops in an SNL number that exposed the real reason Trump’s top aide decided to join his campaign.

Watch:

Ivanka Trump’s Brother-in-Law Joshua Kushner Spotted at Women’s March

From: US Weekly

An unlikely face in the crowd! Ivanka Trump’s brother-in-law Joshua Kushner was spotted at the Women’s March on Washington on Saturday, January 21, though Jared Kushner’s younger brother told marchers he was simply “observing.”

The Washingtonian editor Jessica Sidman snapped a photo of Joshua, 31, standing a head above a crowd of protesters wearing pink knit caps on Saturday, tweeting the image with the caption, “Oh hey, it’s Jared Kushner’s brother at the #WomansMarch.”

Another #WomensMarch marcher spotted Joshua Kushner, asked if he was Jared's brother. He (reluctantly) admitted yes, said he was "observing" pic.twitter.com/2ppR0mWV6B

— Jessica Sidman (@jsidman) January 22, 2017

According to the site, Joshua told fellow marchers that he was simply at the event “observing.” (Both he and girlfriend Karlie Kloss expressed their support for Hillary Clinton in the November elections.)

Joshua Kushner and Karlie Kloss attend the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
game at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2016, in New York City.
James Devaney/GC Images

A rep for Joshua told Esquire last year that the Oscar Health founder is a lifelong Democrat who would not be voting for Donald Trump, his brother Jared’s father-in-law. And Kloss, 24, posted an Instagram of herself filling out her absentee ballot with the hashtag “#ImWithHer” on in November.

Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington drew close to half a million marchers, including celebrities ranging from Ashley Judd to Madonna to Alicia Keys to America Ferrera. Internationally, it was estimated that more than a million participants showed their support in cities throughout the globe.

"I am a nasty woman,” Judd read from a poem written by 19-year-old Nina Donovan from her home state of Tennessee on Saturday. “Not as nasty as a man who looks like he bathes in Cheeto dust, a man whose words are a dis to America, electoral college–sanctioned hate speech.”

Madonna also grabbed headlines with her fiery, f-bomb–laden tirade against Trump, telling him to “suck a dick” at one point and telling the crowd that she has sometimes thought about “blowing up the White House.”

The new president, for his part, didn’t appear to be impressed by the march in a tweet on Sunday, January 22, though he drastically changed his tone just one hour later. “Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election!” he wrote. “Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.”

Then, an hour later, Trump’s account tweeted another message. “Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.”

In the Pink

From: Speed o Rex

Camille Anmmour

Bruno Miranda

Cheyenne Parker

Guigo Kieras

Igor Kolomiyets

Jonas Sulzbach

Kevin McDaid

Matt Williams

Michal Kyselica

Nyle Dimarco

Rogan O'Connor

Tyler Maher

48 GUYS YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY WANT TO FUCK

From: Manhunt Daily

cutecropped

Clapham, Greater London, England

Cropped guy

Down to earth, chilled & told have head screwed on. Looking to meet guys for friendship, fun, new experiences & whatever else may come along. Attracted to masculine guys, in shape. ;-)

I’m pretty sure this is a Champion Studios photo since it uses the same shoulder pads, helmet, and football used in several of their shots of Joe Canoli. And then there’s that name. Peter Strap?

Here we have a vertical centerfold, a layout pioneered by Playboy ™ in the late 1950′s. Ten years later, this sort of material appeared in gay publications, most of which are now defunct. The young man is perched on the door of a vintage convertible, but I’m sure that’s not what you’re looking at.

There’s a car in this photo, if you stare at it long enough! Who knew?!

Hanging with my friend at the beach today

From: freeballflorida561

Masturbation Motivation!
This warms my fuckin nuts right up. 💓

Redneck

Tim Hurley
From: MenSmut

Gay Trump Supporters At “Deplorables Ball” Insist He Won’t Harm LGBT Community

Left leaning gays are engaging in “Chicken Little histrionics”
From: Gay Pop Buzz

Did you hear? There was a big gay, republican shindig on inauguration day for Donald Trump. It happened at the Bolger Center in Potomac, Maryland.

Inside, gay, Trump loving supporters whooped it up in celebration of their candidate’s election to the presidency of the United States at the “Deplorables Ball”.

Time Magazine filed a report from the event as did Chicago’s very own, WGN News. The emerging theme from the party was a giant message that gay folks have absolutely nothing to worry about now. Trump won’t hurt you.

Andy Bar, a gay Trump ally shared:

“We saw Mr. Trump holding the LGBT flag. Let’s see how it goes in the future.”

And what about Mr. Trump’s pick of rabidly anti-gay Mike Pence as his Vice President? Well, to hear Mr. Bar and others like him tell it: ““He [Trump]will not be the executive. Let’s give Mr. Pence the benefit of the doubt.”

And WGN TV reports that Chris Baron, co-founder of the now-defunct conservative LGBT group GOProud and a former Trump surrogate, shared that LGBT community should not worry about Pence.

“Trump is in charge now. When people tell me they are worried that Mike Pence is the Vice President, I remind them that Trump is the president,” he said. “Trump is not going to be signing anything into law that hurts the LGBT community.”

There was no mention by attendees in either news stories of Mr. Trump’s recently meeting with rabidly anti-gay SCOTUS candidate, William Pryor – a judge who has gone on record with suggesting that gays should be jailed.

And there wasn’t so much as a peep said about how GOP leaders in Texas are going after a same sex benefits case with the state’s Supreme Court, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

We searched high and low and also couldn’t see any commentary from attendees about the bulk of Mr. Trump’s cabinet picks being opposed to LGBT rights.

Apparently, people concerned about LGBT rights that lean left are engaging in “chicken Little histrionics”, according to Gregory T. Angelo, President of the Log Cabin Republicans.

“What you are seeing already from the left is Chicken Little histrionics that are not actually rooted in any tangible political philosophy or legislative agenda that President Trump could push in support of LGBT community”.

We tried to find commentary from attendees (with no luck) about a recent article written by Family Research Council’s leader, Tony Perkins – a strong Trump supporter – who just last month penned a piece detailing his wish that LGBT people be purged from the State Department.

And nothing could be found in the transcripts about what Trump supporters thought of well known anti-LGBT religious personalities, Jerry Falwell Jr or Pat Robertson.

As reported by Time:

“Most of the ball’s attendees actually praised Trump for his stance on LGBT issues—pointing to his appearance with the rainbow “LGBT for Trump” flag just prior before the election—while others complained about the perception that all gay people are liberals.”

See liberal LGBT America – you have absolutely zero whatsoever to worry about. Trump held that gay pride flag. That means he’s on your side, right?

Eddie Williams Photographed by the Western Photography Guild

From: Male Models Vintage Beefcake

Google Doodle for January 23, 2017

Ed Roberts’s 78th Birthday

Today’s Doodle pays tribute to an early leader of the disability rights movement, Ed Roberts. After contracting polio at age 14, Roberts was paralyzed from the neck down. He used a special wheelchair with a respirator during the day and slept in an 800-pound iron lung at night. Despite his limitations, he continued his studies via telephone hookup, attending in person a few hours a week. His mom, Zona, encouraged him persevere despite the odds.

Roberts’s activism began in earnest as early as high school, when he was denied his diploma due to his inability to complete Physical Education (PE) and Driver's Ed. After petitioning, not only did he earn his diploma, he went on to college, becoming the first student with severe disabilities to attend the University of California, Berkeley. There, he led other Berkeley students with severe disabilities in creating the Physically Disabled Students Program, the first of its kind.

Roberts went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Berkeley, and later returned to lead the Berkeley Center for Independent Living, which inspired many similar centers around the U.S. In 1976, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him Director of the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, and in 1983 he co-founded the World Institute on Disability.

His mother Zona describes: “I watched Ed as he grew from a sports-loving kid, through bleak days of hopelessness, into self-acceptance of his physical limitations as he learned what was possible for him to accomplish. His years at UCB were great ones as he both enjoyed his college status and got in touch with his leadership qualities. He took great pleasure in watching people with disabilities achieve greater acceptance.”

Department of Interior’s Twitter Shut Down Temporarily After Unflattering Tweets About Trump

From: Towleroad

Following two retweets that shed a dubious light on the incoming Trump administration and inauguration crowd size, the National Park Service’s Twitter account was shut down Friday night on an “urgent directive” from its Washington support service to “immediately cease use of government Twitter accounts until further notice.”

Looks like the Trump administration hasn't taken control of the @NatlParkService Twitter feed just yet. pic.twitter.com/dCKGHoW0cU

— Binyamin Appelbaum (@BCAppelbaum) January 20, 2017

The ban applied to all of the Department of Interior’s dozens of Twitter accounts representing its various bureaus. As an example of the temporary disruption caused by the shutdown, the Mount Rainier National ark Twitter account directed users to its Facebook page for road condition updates. Earlier this morning, the radio silence ended with a new tweet on the NPS account:

National Park Service spokesman Thomas Crosson, whose agency retweeted the offending tweets, apologized on Twitter for the “mistaken RT’s from our account,” referring to retweets. In an email, Crosson said the shares were “inconsistent with the agency’s approach to engaging the public through social media.”
“The Department of Interior’s communications team determined that it was important to stand down Twitter activity across the Department temporarily, except in the case of public safety . . . Now that social media guidance has been clarified, the Department and its bureaus should resume Twitter engagement as normal this weekend.”

While any transition will have its share of miscommunication and stumbles, this episode seems to reflect what may be the new administration’s approach to any information it deems critical. It is especially interesting since the NPS typically offers estimates of crowd attendance. But it has now declined to do so with respect to the inauguration: “Due to the difficulty in accurately assessing crowd estimates for large events,” wrote Crosson, “the National Park Service no longer makes it a practice to provide crowd estimates for permitted events.”

Given the overwhelming multitude of protesters who assembled in the national’s capital yesterday for the Women’s March on Washington, it seems the NPS got out of the estimating business just in time.