Michael Jackson's casket is just right for him... fitting for a King.
Michael Jackson's coffin is magnificent to say the least....
Costing a huge $25,000, the casket is solid bronze, plated in 14-karat gold.
The custom designed casket's interior is flame blue velvet and the exterior will have a mirror finish. We're so sad to see him go... he's going in style though.
Michael Jackson is once again at the top of the charts! His untimely death at the age of 50 was so unexpected and shocked literally everyone. The death shocked more than surprised. While endless fame seemed to inflate Elvis like helium, Jackson's fame seemed to scrub the flesh and wear into his bones until you could almost see him shiver. The Associated Press:
NEW YORK -When Michael Jackson anointed himself "King of Pop" over two decades ago, there was considerable rumbling about his hubris: Yes, he may have become a world sensation with record-setting sales of "Thriller," and yes, he may have had a string of No. 1 hits with smashes like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It," but the KING OF ALL POP MUSIC?
Surely, in a modern music history that has given us Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Stevie Wonder and so many other greats, that title was more than a bit inflated.
But in actuality, Jackson understated his significance.
While his elaborate, stop-on-a-dime dance moves and sensual soprano may have influenced generations of musicians, Michael Jackson stood for much more than pop greatness — or tabloid weirdness. One of entertainment's greatest icons, he was a ridiculously gifted, equally troubled genius who kept us captivated — at his most dazzling, and at his most appalling.
At the height of his fame, he was among the world's most beloved figures. Heads of state clamored to meet him, screen legends like Elizabeth Taylor were his close friends, and worldwide, simply the mention of his name could make people do the moonwalk, from Los Angeles to Laos. (The New York Times once accurately described him as one of the six most famous people on the planet).
His whispery, high-pitched speaking voice was constantly imitated, his fedora hat on his lean frame instantly recognizable, his childlike image endearing.
He influenced artists ranging from Justin Timberlake to Madonna, from rock to pop to R&B to even rap, across genres and groups that no other artist was able to unite. He changed music videos with "Thriller" in 1983, still considered by most to be the greatest music video ever made. Stars like Beyonce still mimic his moves. His one glove, white socks and glittery jackets made him a fashion trendsetter, making androgyny seem sexy and even safe.
Almost everyone wanted that Michael Jackson connection (and those who didn't were afraid to say so out loud). His celebrity and adoration was staggering.
So when his image began to crumble, becoming twisted and disturbed, that aspect, too, was larger than life. His multiple plastic surgeries and his vitiligo illness, which saw him transform from a masculine looking black man to a wispy, pale-faced, almost noseless figure, was held up as the standard for bad plastic surgery, a freakish-looking character.
His eccentric behavior left people confused, and when allegations (and later criminal charges) that accused him of sexually molesting two boys surfaced on two separate occasions, people were repelled by his alleged behavior and the man that their former idol had become.
And yet, it was hard to look away.
In the early days, no one wanted to. Jackson came into our public consciousness as an impossibly cute preteen wonder in 1969, an unbelievably precocious singer in his family band, The Jackson 5. The soon-to-be Motown legend channeled songs like "I Want You Back," and "I'll Be There" with a passion and soulfulness that belied his young years. Even then, his dance moves, copped from the likes of James Brown and Jackie Wilson, were exquisite, and his onstage presence outshone seasoned veterans.
The spotlight began to dim when he entered his late teens, however, and while he still had R&B hits with the Jacksons, it seemed as if he would never recapture the pop success that he burst onto the scene with as a child. But then he met Quincy Jones, and the musical landscape changed. With the legendary producer, Jackson crafted "Off the Wall," what for most artists would be a career-defining album, from the string-enhanced disco classic "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough," a party staple which he wrote, to the bitter ballad "She's Out of My Life."
The best-selling album showed the world a grown-up Michael Jackson with grown-up artistry, showcasing his breathy alto-soprano voice and providing a springboard to his early videos, which gave a glimpse of the dance wizardry to come.
At the time, it was Jackson's music that was front and center. A 21-year-old who spoke in a breathy, high voice, still lived at home, had his first, barely noticeable nose job and was a self-claimed virgin in an industry known for its hedonism, he was certainly an odd figure, but his personal life had yet to become intertwined with his public image.
That began to change during "Thriller" — the album that would become his greatest success and his career-defining achievement. Also produced by Jones, it featured even more of Jackson's songwriting talents. Selling more than 50 million albums to become the globe's best-selling disc, it spawned seven Billboard top 10 hits, including two No. 1s with "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." It won a then-unprecedented eight Grammy awards and numerous other awards.
It was an impact measured much more than in stats.
He broke MTV's color barrier, becoming the first black artist to be prominently featured on the young, rock-oriented channel when the success of "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" became so overwhelming it could not be ignored. He also established the benchmark for the way videos would be made, with stunning cinematography, precision choreography that recalled great movie musicals. Jackson's amazing talents as a dancer were also displayed to the world during his Emmy-nominated performance for Motown's 25th anniversary. It is still considered one of TV's most thrilling moments, from his moonwalk strut to his pulsating pelvic movements.
But as Jackson's fame grew, his eccentricities, from his strange affinity for children and all things childlike, to his at times asexual image to his fascination with plastic surgery, began to dull the shine off of his sparkling image. As the years went by, those "eccentricities" would become more bizarre, and completely tarnish it.
Of course, there will be no comeback now, no Jackson 5 reunion, no new music to share with millions of fans. But the legacy he leaves behind is so rich, so deep, that no scandal can torpedo it. The "Thriller" may be gone, but the thrill will always remain.
Ok, so I'm going home to visit family... leaving tomorrow morning. My family are my world and they're just the sweetest people, I love them all to death and they always love me no matter what...
My girlfriend is going home with me for the first time. I've been dating her for 5 months and it will be the very first time bringing a girl home to meet the family, who are a very religious, spiritual, and traditional family. They aren't the super-strict parents (anymore), now my sisters (who are basically grown) have tattoos - something that would have never even been considered growing up, and other little things that were out of the question years ago. I'm not sure but for some reason my parents kinda became more lenient as years went by.
But being gay is still not something they're "OK" with yet - or will ever be, so...
I'm hoping the trip home will still be a good trip though. I am worried- I know it has to happen eventually, and I want it to... I've wanted it to for a while, because I feel like the longer we avoid it the less chance there is of everyone ever getting along and being okay with each other and the idea of me being a lesbian. I don't even know if that's a possibility at this point, but I feel like I need to try.
I believe they love me enough to get over my partner and accept my lifestyle. We'll see.
Sorry I haven't blogged in a bit, I don't like bloggers who don't keep up with their blogs, lol... like me. Well here's a new post about Chinese-Jamaican poet and activist Staceyann Chin, she's so beautiful and has performed her work around the world, from the Nuyorican Poets’ Café to the Tony-nominated Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam on Broadway to her one-woman show “Hands Afire.” Chin’s work is edgy and provocative. Among her many achievements, she’s won a Lambda Poetry Slam, a Chicago People of Color Slam and the American Amazon Slam title in Denmark. She has been featured in numerous publications and television programs, such as the New York Times and the documentary “Between the Lines,” about her experience as an Asian woman and writer. She was even a guest on Oprah last year. Chin’s publications include her first chapbook, Wildcat Woman, and if there is any doubt that she is a modern poet, check out her comprehensive website, which features audio clips of Chin reading her work and a rolodex of her poetry.
Here’s an excerpt from her poem, “Lesbian Chasing Straight.”
...told her I liked the way she made that pink push up bra look intellectual—and she laughed at me beautiful confident deadly she turned her color-treated blow-dried bone-straight just curled arrogance the other way and roared I almost told her—If you didn't have that perm you'd be perfect —only a scorned woman's opinion it hangs on the uncertain balance of her laughter still I wanted to go after her —beg her to sit with me awhile lip-stick that smile to the tip of my pen maybe then she would allow for my fingers constructing the perfect poem on the hollows her elbows the line of her neck made me want to paint her brush tattooing words up the inside of her ankle tongue caressing metered shadows under her knee show I wanted to please that woman with the things I have learned to do to a body But straight girls require more than the catchy lesbian line they need more than the average stitch in these times of weak-kneed freedoms the bi-curious require a puss' whole nine lives as they move in for the kill it is a skill they perfect in the practice of rejection it is the only protection they know in a world where ladies are encouraged to toe the only line allowed...
...and another excerpt from a poem.
Catalogue your insanity
type the small words
push them from you fingers
and feet
and fury
first find the flippant denial
affirm it, bend
forget what you used to call her
learn the name of her new lover
write it on wax paper
burn it
forget the smell of her cunt
carry one poem to orgasm erase the lines
catalogue the blood
drink the solution with intent it was meant to be
so accept it
chant the inevitable and fold her picture in three tear into the center of her face
copy the broken image and send it to her
imagine her happy smile slitting the frame
imagine her in Iowa cornfields
bending beneath another's hand
the soft land warming her back
catalogue her leaving
admit that she was never there
imagine her driving haikus scattered from Denver to Kentucky to Khartoum
construct a betrayal
make it a thing of unspeakable beauty
forgive her
slit your wrists
survive
count the number of times you have kissed her
multiply by three
imagine she kisses Iowa five times more than that
pack
unpack
pull your shoe-strings tighter than you need to
shave your head
move to Indianapolis
buy a dog
call her impossible
call her cell phone
hang up
call again
obsess
fuck other women who remind you of her
study their scent
shower less
stare at strangers
slip in and out of reality
do not explain yourself survive
sleep with a man swallow your fist feel
survive
scrape the flesh from your unstable legs abort the skeleton that stands there
ingest one gallon of paraffin light a match from the box she left by your bedside
imagine her happy
then inhale
(((Just as confused as you buddy!)))
Why do you need a swing over the hot tub? Is there a specific reason you need to hang over the tub? Maybe it spontaneously drops her into the pool for a fun surprise... wth! It also allows you to decline down into the water comfortably. Why not just get in the bath tub if you just want to lay there?
Poop soap, come and get it!! Ad: "Its looks like poop, but its not. In fact, its the complete opposite. These little coffee scented creations are soap bars you can wash your hands and body with."
Ad: "This product is slightly twisted. It allows you to dry your wet hair while putting a gun to your head." The ad speaks for itself. ((coo-coo))
"When you love someone all your saved up wishes start coming true."
"Happiness is falling asleep next to you and waking up thinking I'm still in my dreams."
"If you were a tear in my eye, I would not cry for fear of losing you."
"Falling in love with someone isn't always going to be easy. It is often filled with anger and tears. It is when you want to be together despite it all. That is when you are truly in love."
In another classic case of a mother gone wild, a 31-year-old woman reportedly performed oral sex on her 2-year-old son, and then, get this - emailed the pictures to a friend. According to a copy of the e-mail reported by the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Alicia Lee told her friend in April that she had thoughts about performing the sex act with her infant son while changing his diapers. The next day, she turned her thoughts into a reality. Lee sent the photos to her friend who forwarded them to the boy’s father. The boy’s father called the police. Lee is free on a $50,000 bond. The child was placed in foster care. ((click title for full story from CBS))
They say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I am curious as to what attracts you to another person...
What "initially" attracts you to someone?
Does this initial attraction tend to wear off quickly?
If so, what qualities do you find are more attractive in the long run?
What is most important to you in a potential mate?
If it is a combination, rank them in order of importance to you.
1) physical beauty
2) intelligence
3) personality
4) other - please specify
5 Things Lesbians Would Hate to Happen
Some straight women imagine that lesbian relationships are pure bliss. They remember how well they got along with their best friends and think that every day must be filled with shared feelings and every night must be a joyful slumber party. Think again. We lesbians know that our relationships, like any other relationships, must be carefully tended, cared for, and worked on. We have many of the same fears and concerns as straight couples, and a few extra that are unique to our relationships. This article examines five top lesbian fears, explores why they send terror through us, and offers suggestions for neutralizing these fears.No relationship is perfect. Like male-male couples and male-female couples, lesbian couples have their share of strains and concerns. This article lists five of the top lesbian nightmares and suggests ways to avoid or neutralize these common fears.
Nightmare #1: Lesbian Bed Death
Lesbian Bed Death, or LBD as it is known in the lesbian community, occurs a few months into some lesbian relationships. Somehow the sex disappears, and the relationship that burned so hot at the beginning becomes more of a platonic friendship. It’s perfectly normal that as the relationship progresses you won’t feel the same scorching heat you felt when you first met your partner, but there’s no reason to let sex fade away entirely. Communication is the key here. Talk to your partner about your concerns. You may decide to set aside a “date night” once a week, or perhaps you’ll explore mutual fantasies to keep things interesting.
It is not normal for anyone to lose all interest in sex. If this is the case with you or your partner, visit a doctor to make sure you are healthy. If so, consider marriage counseling with a therapist knowledgeable in lesbian sexual issues.
Nightmare #2: Serious Illness or Injury or Partner
Everybody dreads their partner being seriously sick or injured, but for lesbians the fear is even worse. We all fear that some homophobic member of our partner’s family will step in and whisk our partner away from us. This fear isn’t unfounded either–it has happened in the past to same sex couples and will probably continue to happen in the future.
The fix? See an attorney immediately and have legal papers drawn up that allow your partner to make health care decisions for you when you cannot. Select an attorney in the gay community or at least one who is familiar with lesbian and gay issues. Ask about any other documentation you might need to protect your relationship as well.
Nightmare #3: Domestic Violence
Some people still have trouble believing that domestic violence can occur between two women. They either fantasize about a “cat fight” or simply assume that women are too gentle-natured to beat their partners. The truth is domestic violence does occur in anywhere from 10 - 20% of lesbian relationships.
If your partner deliberately hurts you physically or emotionally, call the local domestic violence hotline to get support and to explore your options. If your community has a gay and lesbian center, contact them as well. Remember that being abused is never your fault. Ultimately, you will probably need to leave the relationship and perhaps even press charges against your partner to ensure your own safety.
Nightmare #4: A Break Up
Since lesbian relationships are not recognized by the courts in most states, a break up, especially one that involves children, can be extremely nasty. You may feel as if you were left holding the short end of the stick while your partner took everything.
If you feel you have been legally wronged, or if there are children involved and you want to try for visitation or even custody, it’s time to see a lawyer. Choose someone who is familiar with gay and lesbian issues. Also ask this attorney to dissolve any paperwork you had drawn up to protect your relationship with your partner (e.g., medical power of attorney).
Nightmare #5: Being Outed
Many lesbian couples live relatively closeted or hidden lives. Being outed (that is, identified as a lesbian) to one’s family, community, or place of work can be a dramatic and painful experience. Remember, though, you have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. If someone confronts you, hold your ground and don’t deny the information. Either refuse to confirm it or be honest. (”I really don’t see how that’s any of your business, Bill” or “Yes, Mom, Margie and I are lesbians. We’ve been together for about five years now.”)
Better still, come out yourselves rather than waiting to be outed. That takes the timing and control away from someone who is being a jerk and puts it back in your hands. And nothing takes the winds out of a homophobe’s sails as effectively as being told, after his or her dramatic announcement, “Yes, we’ve all known that for a while now!"
Here's an awesome post written by: LesbianSaidWhat, who's an awesome writer with a lot of interesting posts!
(click title to go to her site)
I think that a lot of people think that there are lesbians in the world because they just haven’t met the right man.
Now I know that plenty of men out their think that they are the right man. I have met a few of those men in my life. I’m pretty sure a lot of lesbians have met the man that thinks they are the one to solve the lesbian issue.
I could share a few of my I’m just the man for you stories. There’s the guy who let me know he would take it slow and easy. Wow really? Thanks so much, I rather you just take it fast right for the door. Or the guy who thinks I just needed to be treated right. What exactly is right? Cara doesn’t treat me wrong. Ohh she treats me right indeed.
Do gay men get that sort of thing? I’m just the woman for you.
Some people think that it’s because I’ve had a bad experience with a man. As a lesbian I must say that yes I’ve had a bad experience with a man. It wasn’t his fault at all. It was because I’m a lesbian. I was in that stage of my life where I needed to date a guy to be ‘normal’. I feel bad for the guy now. He probably got a bit of a complex from me, I didn’t want to kiss him for fear I would throw up in his mouth. What made the experience bad was that I felt bad that I just wasn’t sexually attracted to him and he was utterly confused.
I digress a bit. Why am I a lesbian? I think I’ll drop the woman part of that question because well…obvious reasons. I’m a lesbian because that is what I am born to be. I didn’t wake up some morning and say I’m a lesbian. I woke up and said ohhh I can’t go through life pretending to like men.
I could turn the question around: Why are heterosexuals, heterosexual?
Ok, so I'm currently working from home and thought I would love the freedom and being able to mute my tv show when a call comes in, exercise between calls, sneak in some food here and there, and work in pj's. Am I liking it? -- not so much - actually it's a big N-O. I actually miss the human interaction of beng at a "workplace", (or at least I think I do). I don't miss getting up early every morning and having to rush from work to school, but I do miss being around other humans. IDK, I think a workplace does add to your day in some ways. Or maybe that was just MY last job before working at home. We had some type of cool organizational culture that made it an interesting place to be. There was always something going on and most everyone got along... Ohh, ugh, well, uh-hem, nevermind about the getting along part, but hey, that's everywhere, lol. When the business was bought out and moved to another state, I started working from home but not quite lovin it so far, just kinda barely liking it. I may be on the job search again soon... We'll see.
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