Life of the tiny mind
By R.J. Beaumia It's tempting to compare the Rev. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church to Kabuki theater; however, that would be insinuating that the group is a hyperbolic representation of the American right [...]
All Politics is Loco: How conservative ideology cripples America
By Sean Kosofky Allow me to unravel my endless scroll; the one that contains the laundry list of naughty deeds conservatives have hoisted on our country, essentially crippling all of us. I need to get [...]
Creep of the Week: Nigeria’s House of Representatives
If there's one thing gays in Nigeria have it's too many friends. Thankfully they won't have to worry about juggling their social calendars once the Nigerian house of representatives makes it illegal to hang out [...]
Dear Jody on forgiving and forgetting
Is it selfish to ask ex-girlfriend to party? Q: I have a dilemma about New Year's Eve that I want you to solve for me. My friends and I are having an argument about it [...]
Evangelical dominoes, oh how the mighty fall
By Leslie Robinson What is it with the state of Colorado? Mere weeks after Ted Haggard landed in a scandal of biblical proportions, another Colorado pastor of the evangelical sort has resigned over gay sex [...]
Parting Glances: E-mail Q&A for Sr. Scatterpin
Q: Do you believe in original sin? A: If you know someone who can be truly original, introduce me. I'm willing to try anything once. (Well, maybe twice if it doesn't take up two spaces [...]
YouTube It: Model should leave singing to Seal, wannabes mimic Mary J. Blige
YouTube's like Pringles. Once you pop! You can't stop! After I'm thrown into this realm of warbling Whitney wannabes, it's like having the "American Idol" prelims on repeat. There's an endless array of so-bad-they're-good videos. [...]
Q Scopes: “Think ahead, Aries!”
by Jack Fertig December 18, 2006 Mars square Uranus provokes wild impulses - a few are brilliant, but most are just reckless. Venus in Capricorn offers a strategic focus. Older women and classical arts offer [...]
Clip-clop: Now THIS is entertainment!
Every time I spotted Fisher Theatre honcho Alan N. Lichtenstein wandering through the crowd at the opening night of "Spamalot" last week there was a great big smile on his face. And for a very [...]
Inferno’s back with more holiday cheer
It was big news a few months back when Ann Arbor's Improv Inferno unexpectedly shut its doors on Main Street after losing its lease. But what seems to be a well-kept secret is the fact [...]
Waxing’s worth it
Steve Carell didn't make waxing his man-lawn look merry in "The 40 Year Old Virgin." "Damn that movie! It scared everybody away," laughs owner and esthetician Yvette Tremaine of Tantra Face & Body in Ferndale. [...]
Toys for Tots at Gigi’s
Generous contributions through out the night helped GiGis give kids a Christmas at the 33rd annual Tony Garneau Toys For Tots Show.
Movie Reviews: Charlotte’s Web, The Good German, more
December 25, 2006 NEW THIS WEEK: Charlotte's Web Young Fern (Dakota Fanning) rescues runt pig Wilber (voice of Dominic Scott Kay), but it's going to take even greater intervention to save him later, when he's [...]
Art & Around for the period Dec. 21-30
ARCHITECTURE/GARDEN TOURS: Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Events include: Estate-wide exhibit, "Josephine Ford; A Celebration of Her Life and Legacy" (through Dec. 31; $8). Open Tue.-Sun. Grosse Pointe Shores: 313-884-4222. http://www.fordhouse.org ART, HISTORICAL & SCIENCE [...]
Theater Events for the period Dec. 21-30
PROFESSIONAL THEATER/OPERA: Arborophilia An oblique comedy that manages to twist thoughts, maul marriage, poke politics, whack weather, muddy money and loop love around a tree. Detroit Repertory Theatre, Detroit. Thu.-Sun., through Dec. 30. $20. 313-868-1347. [...]
Catholic, KKK reference tasteless
I'm sending this email as a comment on D'Anne Witkowski's article about Sen. Sam Brownback entitled "Creep of the Week". In the article, Witkowski sardonically that "a good, God-fearing judge would have attended, but with [...]
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads to promote diversity
ANN ARBOR - Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder will partake in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Washtenaw Community College. Kidder's book, "Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest Of Dr. Paul Farmer, A [...]
Hear Me Out: Blige, Stefani, more
Mary J. Blige: "Reflections: A Restrospective" C+ After Mary J. Blige married, she got all happy on us. No more drugs. No more drinking. No more drama. And the scariest part about that? She wasn't [...]
‘Boys’ make the grade
Perhaps the greatest lesson taught isn't one chronicling history. In the screen adaptation of the Tony Award-winning "The History Boys" director Nicholas Hytner tests that theory with a group of seven unruly, brainy boys vying [...]
Repeating ‘History’
By Gregg Shapiro The "Dreamgirls" aren't the only Tony Award winners to make the transition from the stage to the screen this holiday season. "The History Boys," which cleaned up at the Tony Awards this [...]
Ice carvers return for 25th anniversary
PLYMOUTH - The 25th anniversary of Michigan's largest ice show event will feature more than 100 statues carved from a single block of ice from Jan. 19-21 in downtown Plymouth. Dozens of high school, community [...]
Getting drunk on homoerotic ‘Jackass’ could cause vomiting
If the thought of a penis-puppet mouse being used as snake-bait or chugging beer up the butt doesn't sound appealing, I thought the same thing. Until I saw "Jackass: Number Two," which releases on DVD [...]
Pet of the Week: Motown
Meet Motown, a marvelous two-year-old tabby kitty, with magnificent tiger markings and stunning green eyes. She's both sweet and social, making friends with all she meets! This gal adores affection, especially enjoying endless pets and [...]
Gifted and ChoZen
ROYAL OAK - When greeting customers in his newly opened home furnishings boutique, ChoZen by BC, interior designer BC Cabangbang first introduces himself and then his mother. Though she died when he was only 11, [...]
She/he Said: Bush, Schamus, Hudson, Channing, Cooper
"I think Mary is going to be a loving soul to her child. And I'm happy for her." President Bush to People Magazine "You know my joke is that in the sequel, Heath will go [...]
First openly gay gubernatorial chief of staff calling it quits
LANSING -- While Gov. Jennifer Granholm prepares for her second term, her openly gay chief of staff, John Burchett, will be packing up his bags. "I did what I set out to do," Burchett said [...]
Conservative Jews change stance on LGBT issues
SHARON GITTLEMAN ANN ARBOR - One of the three major Jewish sects made decisions that will cheer many members of the LGBT community. At least one area congregation was especially happy to hear the news. [...]
Lansing approves human rights ordinance
LANSING - As expected the Lansing City Council voted unanimously to approve a comprehensive human rights ordinance Monday night, then voted to make the ordinance effective immediately. The ordinance, introduced in October, is the first [...]
Report documents masculinity, hate crimes
By Bob Roehr A report released last week documents the tide of murderous violence against gender nonconformity in the United States over the last decade. "Under 30: Masculinity and the War on America's Youth" was [...]
Chief of staff’s departure a bittersweet goodbye
After 15 months serving as Gov. Jennifer Granholm's chief of staff, John Burchett is leaving Michigan. It's a bittersweet goodbye, as the nation's first openly gay chief of staff came to our state at a [...]
‘Dreamgirls’ shines on silver screen
The Dreamettes, a Detroit trio, seem destined for stardom when up-and-coming record mogul Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx) signs them to his label. Both big-voiced Effie (Jennifer Hudson) and beautiful Deena (Beyonce Knowles) are in [...]
Dreamy soundtrack showcases Beyonce, ‘Idol’ finalist
All that buzz about Jennifer Hudson, believe it. Breathtaking beauty "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" highlights a dazzling set that showcases Hudson as a gifted vocalist who should be elated she didn't [...]
Sweet dreams
By Lawrence Ferber They say the camera adds 10 pounds. But that wasn't enough for "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson, who landed the plum - and plump - role of Effie White in out screenwriter/director [...]