Bugging on a Friday afternoon

Okay, a few random things about media and whatnot that are bugging me today:

--I've really kind of had it with the "Who's Hottest" in Washington lists -- I'm still reeling from the 50 Hottest People on the Hill list that included John Boehner. The always super-sunny and boosteriffic FishbowlDC is now running its own annual poll of who's hottest in the D.C. media world. The most surprising thing? The male non-broadcast contestants are way hotter -- for some value of "hot" -- than their broadcast counterparts (okay, except for that Washington Times guy; seriously, what is up with that?). I didn't realize until seeing them all together that the guys who read the news on the tee-vee were such a bunch of goobers. Tucker Carlson, my ass. So go vote Andrew Noyes -- early and often! Even despite the hat.

--Lots and lots of gay bloggers, from Towleroad to Pam's House Blend to Wayne Besen are up in arms about one of Alan Keyes's lackeys claiming in a radio interview that the latest trend among gays is having "sex with infants." Now, I understand the outrage and share it too. But, I'm kind of thinking that we need more crazy, right-wing SOBs going on radio and television and calling us a bunch of baby fuckers. The people who would actually believe the baby fucking thing aren't the type of people who are ever, ever going to vote for gay marriage or take to the streets for a PFLAG parade. But the middle-of-the-road folks who have some sympathy for gays and lesbians while still voting for Republicans will hear "baby fuckers" and think how crazy and out-of-touch the right-wing is getting. I could be wrong, but "baby fucking homosexuals" seems a little too Fred Phelpsy a slogan for general consumption.

-- What self-respecting gay person gives a crap about Lance Bass being gay? Kevin Naff, that's who. Naff, once the object of Shepherd Smith's affections, is upset that Bass didn't come out the right way -- you know, the way Kevin Naff thinks he should. Naff wrote last year:

"We need role models and spokespeople to boost visibility, increase understanding and, most importantly, to inspire those living less privileged lives to come out and stand up to those who would deny us the right to marry, to adopt children and to go to work free from the prospect of legal discrimination. Shame on the rich and famous closet cases who have let us down."

So naturally you need to smack 'em around a bit when the do come out. That'll learn 'em!

Comments

[Joel]

Noyes has the looks, but what is with the cowGIRL hat? I realize this appears to be the result of some Brokebackesque clothing trend, but aren't the hats with the extreme upcurl on both sides originally intended for women? How about one of these (metro/homo)sexuals wearing a hat that actually conveys masculine authenticity for a change?

Oh, thanks for the tip on the Blade critique of Lance Bass' coming out. Hilarious "window" into that paper's priorities, eh? I used to tell people that reading the Blade was a fun game, because you never knew where you might find the front page story. Now, you just don't find it.