Kanye West's Disability Idiocy, Arena-Style

Kanye West is a royal douchebag. But you knew that. If you didn't, then this should convince you.

The egotistical self-proclaimed "genius," "musical artist," and impregnator of professional fame whore Kim Kardasian, demanded that all fans at a recent concert in Melbourne, Australia stand up or the "genius" would continue to have a royal hissyfit.

He did. He even demanded that two disabled audience members stand up.

According to Heatwave, the "genius" had made the same edict at his Sydney concert, demanding that the entire audience stand up 'unless y'all sitting down because y'all handicapped'. 

Message of Love vs. Message of Hate; Goodreads = Good Screeds?

Today is Chrissie Hynde's birthday, and I am celebrating, because the upfront take-no-prisoners 63-year-old lead singer and guitarist for The Pretenders has a new solo album, and later this year, almost on my birthday, she's be playing in San Francisco, and I got tickets!

Also, I got into a flame war on Goodreads and made a few hate-fans! Whoo Hoo!

Backtrack: As you may have noticed, my latest novel is titled Message of Love. The hit Pretenders song is referenced in the book, and my old pal, musician Dudley Saunders, recording a lovely acoustic cover of the title song. No, it's nothing like the original, and that's the point. 

Full Disclosure

When my work, both day job and author writing, and my fandom combine, it's always interesting.

It's rare that I recommend an arts event via my work for the Bay Area Reporter that I wouldn't -and eventually do- see/hear/experience myself. Often, I'm just too busy to go out every night or day to see everything. But sometimes, I do spend a bit more copy promoting artists I would have experienced and enjoyed any way.

Eric Himan is one such artist. Even before I enjoyed his rousing performance at the Closing Ceremonies of Gay Games VI in Chicago's Cubs Stadium back in 2006, I'd been a fan.

Doing an interview for one of his recent appearances was great, although most of his San Francisco area gigs have been in small bars.

Himan also now does a funny cooking show online, when he's not touring the country. You can read about that in my latest interview with him for BARtab.

Himan will perform, along with Mia Dyson and Hotels & Highways, at a benefit for The Trevor Project at San Francisco's Cafe du Nord, Sunday, January 22. Along with it being a cool benefit for a worthy cause, what makes this special is that Himan will be performing with his Bandmates, doing original songs and unique covers of pop songs.

Here's one of Himan's many great songs, "Little Boy Blue," which deals with bullying:



So, the "full disclosure" part: that's what journalists add to articles when they have a personal relationship with their interviewees. Himan also recently recorded a lovely short version of the Babys song "Every Time I Think of You," which is also the title of my novel, of course.



The novel briefly deals with anti-gay violence, but it's not the main plot in the book (spoiler: Chapter 20), and I chose to dramatize it in a different way than most Young Adult and gay fiction novels do.

Anyway, I hope you'll support Eric, who has supported my work, and dozens of worthy causes, when he's not busy as a roving troubadour or online chef. Even if I'd never met him or written about him, or he'd never done this wonderful favor for me, I'd still be a devoted fan.

Cruelty

If there's one thing I've learned, bullies are sick puppies. and the ones who taunted a kid with a disability should be arrested and put away.

Mitchell Wilson Suicide: Disabled Boy's Death Raises Bullying Concerns

The death of an 11-year-old boy with muscular dystrophy months after his assault by a bully has shined a spotlight on bullying in Canada's schools.

Muscular dystrophy left Mitchell Wilson struggling to do simple things like walking around the block or climbing stairs. He also had to use a walker at school. Doctors had urged him to exercise regularly to stave off the disease's effects, something that was growing increasingly difficult for the boy.

Wilson was mugged last November by a 12-year-old boy from his school. The assailant was after the iPhone Wilson borrowed from his dad. The bully was arrested and removed from the Pickering, Ont. school they both attended.

"He was never the same," said Craig Wilson to the Toronto Star, the boy's father and the one who found the boy's body in his room with a plastic bag tied around his head earlier this month.

Things didn't get any better for the young Mitchell as the court date loomed. And the bullying didn't stop.

"Subsequent to the beating that he took, he just lost that spark you see in a kid's eye. He had huge anxiety attacks about going outside and going for his walks and going to school by himself," Craig Wilson told CTV's Canada AM.

“At the cottage in July, he said, ‘If I have to go back to that school, I’ll kill myself,’” the boy's grandmother, Pam Wilson, told the National Post.

More, with multiple links, at Huffington Post.