A friend passed along a copy the latest copy of NUVO, an Indianapolis-based alternative newspaper, to me. Thumbing through, an article caught my eye so I started reading. Steve Hammer’s “Celebration and Vengeance” article had me nodding my head through his pro-Obama and anti-Bush diatribe, touching on things like how Obama is bringing a lot of positive energy and enough excitement that companies are capitalizing on his popularity by selling commemorative trinkets.

Then Hammer wrote something that just amazed me. Similar comments always amaze me when I read such things from self-proclaimed progressive writers in so-called progressive papers that are essentially supported by their end-of-issue prostitution advertising.

What exactly did the Funky Headhunter (cheap reference to the other guy named Hammer) write, you ask? While commenting on the Wall Street bailout, he says, “I want there to be a revolution similar to that in Cuba, where the corrupt political leaders are jailed for years without trial.”

Are you fucking kidding me?

Let’s keep something in mind here that NUVO is an ALTERNATIVE newspaper, a paper that relies on freedom of speech – emphasizing the word FREEDOM. There is no fear of backlash from the government for bashing the president, governor or city council. Hammer and his pals won’t be lined up and shot for calling for the impeachment of Bush, or maybe Obama if Barack somehow pisses him off down the line.

It simply blows me away when an “alternative” writer gives praise to Cuba or Castro, or the governments of Venezuela, North Korea or Iran as liberators of their people, when they are suppressors of their countrymen. Do Cubans have the right to vote, protest or travel outside their country? Could Mr. Hammer, if he were Cuban, protest in public over a government policy or suggest in writing a member of their government be jailed? No and no. What if Mr. Hammer were gay and wanted to express this in public in say, Iran? Can you spell j-a-i-l?

While we as a country may be far from perfect, The Hammer can still bash Bush and praise Obama, or bash Obama if things don’t go to his liking in the coming years - and I can write these comments and opinions because our constitution says I can.

It is now officially President Obama and the press is lit up that he is the new friend of the gay community in the white house.

But is he?

Biden and Obama are on record as being against same-sex marriage, so how does that put them in the gay corner? They’ve both said they support “gay rights” but what exactly does that mean? Unless the ultimate right is supported by the Obama white house, I find it hard to give him a pass and make a broad-stroke statement that he indeed supports the gay community.

Of course, time will tell, and I do understand politics. If he stated before the election that Tom & Steve had the same rights as Tom & Eve he may have lost those key swing states where the bible is thumped. Maybe it will be into term 2 when he shows the fortitude to do a “Gavin” and step up to the plate, as he won’t have the electorate hanging over his head.

I don’t quite get the attraction or the hoopla over High School Musical 3, but there are a lot of Corbin Bleu fans!

If you’d like to show off with a HSM3 ringtone, here is your chance to get one for free, while supplies last.

Text HSM3TONE to DISNEY (347639) for your “Now Or Never” ringtone.

In less than 48 hours we will have a new president, and his name is Barack Obama.

The last couple of weeks I have been reading the national press who has (rightfully) been all over George W Bush for much of the last eight years, become kind, almost sentimental. Some have said he was dealt a tough hand, others thanked him for not allowing another attack and some still, were praising him.

Speaking with a friend about the transition of office between polar opposites, he said that we should just wait about 90 days and see how the tide flows for Obama. As president-elect, he seems to be a half-step below Ghandi is how he is looked upon by the masses and media. But will this change if he steps out of place, or if another of his appointees has background flaws, or if he puts his foot in his mouth about the wrong thing? What happens if there is some tragedy and he acts in a way that his core voters oppose? Will he still get a pass?

Let us not forget the Biden-Palin debate where VP Joe made it very clear that both he and Barry DO NOT support legal gay marriages. There is no debating the debate comments - they were quite clear: “No. Barack Obama nor I support redefining from a civil side what constitutes marriage. We do not support that,” Biden said.

For the sake of the country I believe 98% of people who voted for the old guy hope he does a good job - for the country’s sake. I wish him luck in helping to turn this mess around, get people back to work and giving consumers the confidence to go out and buy something so people can keep their jobs.

Michael Bastian launched his eponymous label in 2006 and last year took the reins as creative director for menswear at Bill Blass Ltd. Bridging the gap between flashy European couture and relaxed American classics, the New York City designer was already a finalist for the 2007 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award, and this year he garnered a nomination for CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year, proving he’s well on his way to becoming the next Ralph Lauren.

eBay, the place where you can buy and sell anything short of a human kidney has decided that sellers can no longer leave buyers negative feedback. What this means is that if Joe-loser decides he doesn’t want to pay you, your only recourse is to file a non-payment claim, but cannot leave bad feedback to alert other potential sellers about the deadbeat.

This gives buyers carte-blanche the ability to threaten sellers that they will leave bad feedback if they don’t do certain things. They have you by the balls, my friends. This is pretty sad, in my opinion, and eBay doesn’t care. They feel they are protecting BUYERS from the evil sellers. Wrong.

Next - Yelp users beware - a lawsuit filed by a loser chiropractor in San Francisco against negative feedback he got has sent a ripple through the Yelp-ers of the world. This ambulance chaser is pissed because a guy with a bad back didn’t like his billing procedures. So is he going to sue me because I am calling him a loser? Loser, loser, loser. I have been to 2 chirprators in my life and both were pretty good but they have a reputation that isn’t so hot, and we are all aware of this no matter how untrue it may be.

But then again, how accurate is Yelp? There are people who give glowing reviews of Mickey D’s and Wendy’s…”ooohhh, the best damn Big Mac ever….just the right amount of secret sauce…”

I went to a place in Milpitas, CA last week called e-noodle. It was just plain horrible. A hair in the soup…no apology….nasty pot stickers and bland noodles. My tablemates were all in agreement this was just plain bad. And sure enough, there were Yelpers that said they were the best pot stickers they ever had.

Opinions….that is what I am all about….love me or hate me

I admit it, I was home on the couch on New Year’s Eve with the TV remote in hand flipping channels. And like so many other years, wanted to see Times Square in New York go crazy. One year I will actually make it there so I can freeze my ass off in person, but for now, my climate-controlled condo will have to suffice.

Ryan Seacrest, who looked fat by the way, Kellie Pickler, and Dick Clark handled duties. Ryan, fat Ryan, did his usual solid un-offensive job, and Kellie asked the questions and didn’t have to pronounce salmon. OK, American Idol joke there.

Dick Clark owns the show and he can do what he wants, and apparently he felt as if he had something to add to the broadcast. But for anyone who grew up watching American Bandstand or any of his game shows, let alone the NYE shows, this was sad. Dick looked like a guy who had a stroke. And bless his heart, and more power to him, he is able to communicate and look good for a 79 year-old. But I don’t think there is anyone who watched that KNEW him back in the day that wasn’t a bit uneasy watching him on screen.

That said, I hope you all had a festive holiday and now it’s back to it so we can make ‘09 kick-ass!