Hate

Friday night, I went to the newly built and recently dedicated Cleveland LGBT Center.

Besides being just a great organization on its own, my friend, Chef Bob, used to be president there for a number of years. And the work I did at CLAW was so that the money raised would be donated there - but to $20,000 per year.

710 and I also give them money annually.

They not only do a lot with at risk youths, they're branching out as us gays age. They are looking at what this looks like, housing, healthcare, etc for the elderly gay population. I'm sure I'll need all that info in the next 19 months.

Anyway, the Center was doing a fundraiser using the NOH8 campaign.

NOH8 was founded back around 2008 around to push back against California's Proposition 8, which was to ban same sex marriage.  The campaign is something you've no doubt seen:  people being photographed in white shirts, against a white background with the NOH8 tattoo on their face, with a piece of duct tape over their mouth. That is to symbolize gays being silenced. Many of the pictures in the campaign having the subjects peeling off the tape.

Since they were doing a two hour photo shoot in the CLE, I felt the need to be a part of it. If Facebook is to be believed - and it's not - 120 people just who were on that platform said they'd be there.  Uh-huh.

Blobby got there 15 minutes in. There was one person getting their photo taken and two ahead of me. And it would be a bit before there was someone after me. 

Yes, just me. I tried to get Chef Bob to go with me, but he had plans. 710 - well, he isn't much of a picture guy, let alone one that would end up on social media. So it was me, myself and I.

As I came straight (ha!) from work, I just used the t-shirt I had on under my dress shirt. They had someone apply my tattoo and then another to apply my duct tape.

This is not the official photo.

I haven't seen the official photo(s) yet.  The photographer took about 10. I say he was good at giving directions, but with over 56,000 having participated in this, even though I'm sure he didn't do all of them, that he's got a rhythm down. 

I felt comfortable doing it, mostly because there was no one else there. Also, I've done way more public things for this blog, and over the years, that trepidation about taking a picture somewhere for said blog, has just gone out the window.

As there was no one waiting after me, after he gave me a hug, he showed me one or two. I was very happy with one of them. It is unclear if they'll send all 10 or so to me, or if they just pick the one that THEY like.

I also am unclear on when I'll see them. But it sounds like 4 weeks, which seems insane, as they're digital.  But they're doing these sessions in Columbus and Cincinnati immediately after. Maybe they'll come sooner should the attendance be not what they expected.

I'm sure I'll show the finished product once it comes my way.  ....and I like it.



Song by: Cat Power

the House I Live In

Oooooh.  The Mavericks have a new single out.

I know, it's not My Music Monday. It's not a full recording, so not a Record of the Month post either, but you have to read this entry......to the end.

Per their PR firm - or something / someone like that -  "the song was used in a short film released by the government as a racism public service announcement in 1945. The band thought that it really related to today’s political atmosphere."

They also go on to say that the song is to be released before the political conventions, and until then it's existence is supposed to be "hush hush".

Since 'conventions' was plural, in theory the song would have to be released before the GOP convention. I mean, it stands to reason. It seems it got released between the two.

And while I haven't heard this version of the song in advance, I did go sample others - and it has been covered a LOT.  Sinatra. Cooke. Danza.

Oh yes. The incomparable Tony Danza.

Frank might be the Chairman of the Board, but Tony is the Boss. Oh, who are we kidding - that was always Mona.

Oddly enough, I'm blogging about the Mavericks, but I'm not really. I'm really blogging about the cover art.

My cousin David took the photograph for the artwork. I believe he took it at his father-in-law's house in Iowa.

My first thought was: well, there are no single sleeves anymore....since there are no singles. But then I guess each selection in the iTunes has an image, so.....why not?

I'm always proud of David, but I love that he got this opportunity.

As the Mavericks are pretty much self-releasing their stuff now - which is possibly the only way to make money in that industry, unless it's touring and merchandise - it's unknown what kind of reach they'll have.

I got a live version of the song, which kind of sounds familiar, but kind of sounds like another song on to which I cannot place my finger.

I agree it has a patriotic bent to it. Perhaps a little heavy-handed, but maybe the message is what this country truly needs right about now.

Congrats to David for a new market to his career.






Song by: the Mavericks

the Riddle of the Model

One of the reasons for the timeline of my glasses purchase was that for work they were taking pictures of administration - at least for the folks who didn't have them. Or for the folks who'd been around forever and their original image no longer resembles them.

Oh yes - I had a red-hot photo shoot at work.

I cannot say I was thrilled about having to do this. It is so not my thing. I mean, does anyone visit a medicine website to see who is the business guy behind the practice?

It seems there was no way of getting around it. And I literally waited until the last scheduling day to do it - as they only do it once per year.

But at least I had my new glasses.

That's about all I had.

The photographer works in media, but it isn't a photographer by trade. So while she took like 60 shots, I can't say I was happy with 90% of them. She wasn't savvy enough to say, "your suit is bucking here....or there....".  Some of them were just horrible. Just horrible.

I'm not sure I've had an official portrait done since I was in my fraternity. That was pre-digital, and I think they only took three. But developing film is expensive.

I think I was a little surprised when I got an email back the same day with the proof sheet. Well, I guess it was a zip file.

The good thing is, they let me pick the image that they'll use. I just assumed the powers that be who are higher than me would select. But nope - I get to. 

I made a joke to see if they'd airbrush and photoshoppe it for me - and they came back that they'd touch it up.  I really was kidding. 

So now I get to go select the image - which just seems to be a shot in the dark. I guess I'll be picking the lesser of all evils. 

....and sometimes that the best you can ask for. 

After it's all done, perhaps I'll post it here. 

However, the glasses look great. 

Song by: cast of Sing Street