Google "gay" or "marriage equality" = rainbow! Plus, Kristen Bell proposes

Google "gay" or "marriage equality" and watch what comes up... a rainbow!

As Global News reports, the rainbow pops up when searching  “gay,” “lesbian,” “homosexuality,” “LGBT,” “marriage equality,” “bisexual” and “transgender,” as well as searches for gay pride celebrations.

Says this LA Times story:

The rainbow of colors became the standard symbol of the gay community in the 1970s. In 1978, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker designed a flag with eight bright stripes.

Each color has its own symbolism, as Slate reports: "pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for art, indigo for harmony, and violet for the human spirit."

This is in line with Wednesday's US Supreme Court rulings, striking down the federal Defence of Marriage Act and California's Prop. 8 prohibiting same-sex marriages.

As usual, Twitter was a fabulous barometer for the sentiments felt by stars.

Actress Kristen Bell tweeted to her fiance Dax Shepard:

"@daxshepard1 will you marry me? Xo #marriageequality #loveislove" - Kristen Bell to her fiance, Dax Shepard. The couple previously said they'd wait to wed until it was legal for everyone.

The couple previously said they'd wait to wed until it was legal for everyone. Bless.

Kevin Rudd to challenge Julia Gillard for the Labor leadership June 27

In news just in, Kevin Rudd will challenge Julia Gillard for the Labor leadership tomorrow morning, Thursday June 27 2013.

To read more, click here.

Are you team Rudd or team Julia?

Or... team Abbott?

"I crochet. Julia knits. Big. F-ing. Deal!" - Rina Ferris On Julia Gillard's Knitting Photo

"I crochet. Julia knits. Big. F-ing. Deal! Paul Keating polished clocks, Howard wore a stupid tracksuit, (Costello polished Howard's nob,) Hawke drank beer - but the hobbies of these "blokes" weren't called into question."

This is the fabulous comment by Rina Ferris, an Australian entertainment publicist who does not mince words, in relation to the just-released 'The Australian Women's Weekly' magazine photos of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, where she is seen knitting.

She posted this comment on her Facebook feed, supporting this opinion piece by writer Amanda Blair titled 'Why I Don't Care If Julia Knits.'

The article starts:

"Australia. Put the needles down. The knitting needles that is. The furore over the Prime Minister Julia Gillard being photographed for The Weekly click clacking her way through a Cleckheaton Kangaroo pattern has me truly gob-smacked.

So what if she has a hobby? Everybody has a hobby and some would argue strongly that at the moment she needs this hobby — her stress relief, her little piece of sanity and calm in a crazy world more than ever.

The media hounds are in a feeding frenzy accusing Ms Gillard of taking her eye off the political ball and instead focusing on the ball of 8 ply. Seriously? Do you honestly expect her to be in Prime Ministerial mode 24/7?"

Click above for the rest of the piece.

To prove her love of crochet, Rina posted THIS photo on her Facebook feed, with a caption:

Proof of my crocheting expertise:

Pretty impressive, Rina!

Rina, and likely many women (although I obv. can't speak for them all, nor can I give you specific numbers!) could not give a toss that Julia knits. Me included. Darn it, I wish I could knit properly... I am one of those people who starts a scarf, and then it all goes pear-shaped... in every way.

And yes, I know, I know... it's a very specific image of Julia being projected to us, and The Australian Women's Weekly has delivered an image we are now ALL talking about. Mission accomplished.

Oh, look... I am not silly. I know it's a way to skew our perception of her. I really don't mind. I'm not a fool. And neither are most people.

I like seeing this version of Julia.

Just as I liked seeing her glammed up for the Mid-Winter Ball last week, with beautiful finger waves in her hair and a bright red lip.

What? She can't run the country, and look beautiful?

So, what do you think?

Is this brouhaha utterly over the top?

Sonia and David 'Mornings': 'Celebrity Apprentice' Parody - VIDEO

I watched this send-up this morning, on 'Mornings' on Channel Nine, and truly could not stop laughing.

Frankly, they had me at the Mark Bouris narrow-eyed stare and the Deb Thomas coiffed hair...

Watch as Sonia Kruger and David Campbell - co-hosts on 'Mornings' who always demonstrate such fabulous chemistry and comic timing - take on the roles of magazine legend Deborah Thomas and Mark Bouris, ahead of the grand final for the TV show.

Watch:



Who do you think will win?

Roxy Jacenko, John Steffensen, Stephanie Rice or Jeff Fenech?

How good are these two?

Photo: 'Mornings' Facebook page

'All I Know': Mary Coustas Book

When I received a copy of the new book by Mary Coustas called 'All I Know' a few weeks ago, I immediately flipped opened the cover.

Was it that Mary Coustas? The funny one? Who created the inimitable 'Effie', the big-haired 'wog' who quite possibly burned a new hole in the ozone layer with her overuse of hairspray?

Why yes, it was!

But then I read the subhead: "A memoir of love, loss and life from Australia's favourite comedian."

My heart sunk. Oh no! Who died?

Several people close to her heart, it became apparent.

Says Australian actress Naomi Watts about Mary's new book:

"Mary's book is a reminder that we don't have to be alone with grief. Her heartbreak and inspiring story is a lesson to all of us on how to live life to the fullest even in our most difficult moments. I loved it."

The book begins by painting a colourful picture of Mary's childhood in Collingwood and Doncaster, under the shadow of her father's mortality, and ending in sunny Bondi, supported by a tight circle of girlfriends who got her through a death even more painful.

In the book, Mary takes the reader on a journey through three deaths that changed her life forever.

Here is an excerpt from her incredibly powerful story, as told to 'The Good Weekend':

Six weeks after George and I were married, I found out that I could not have children. A laparoscopy revealed that I had blocked fallopian tubes. Our honeymoon was brought to a swift end by an unanticipated and massive blow. I was told my only option was IVF. I was completely winded emotionally.

The shock of hearing the news that I could not have children naturally ricocheted in me for months. My future as a mother was now at the mercy of laboratory long shots.

But fall pregnant she did.

She continues:

On the day of my pregnancy blood test in December 2010, the only time I wasn't within earshot of my phone was when it rang. I was in the bathroom - on the toilet, to be exact - when I heard Nathalie, my close friend since childhood, yell out as she was running towards me, "It's your doctor!"

I froze. I couldn't get up. I couldn't move.

I managed to open the door slightly just as Nathalie passed me my phone. I sat there with my trousers around my ankles and with my heart skipping beats, trying to listen with my fertility tone-honed ears for clues. The confirmation came - third sentence - I was pregnant! The exact words were, "We have great news, Mary. I'm pleased to say, it's a positive result. You're pregnant."

The story continues with a heartbreaking, devastating outcome.

To read more, click here.

Mary's book is utterly raw, moving, and it is so upsetting to read of Mary's ordeals.

The woman who gave us a gazillion laughs from the days of her 1987 ground-breaking stage show role in 'Wogs Out of Work' (where 'Effie' was born), and who followed this up by five seasons of the TV sitcom hit 'Acropolis Now', has already written a book, one on self-help for teenagers titled  'Effie's Guide to Being Upyourself.'

Feel free to comment below on Mary's story. 

'All I Know' by Mary Coustas will be available from June 26, 2013 (RRP $24.99).

'Twerking' - What Is it? Plus, Twerking to Classical Music [NSFW Video]

Have you heard of the word 'twerk' or 'twerking'?

Have you wondered what the heck it is?

A music video staple, it's a dance move demo'ed by Beyonce and Miley and Kendra... and now, a just-released video on 'The Huffington Post' shows a twerking mash-up... to classical music.

Watch this not-safe-for-work (NFSW) video:

So. You wanna learn how to twerk? You're in luck. Watch this video tutorial, which has already received six million plus hits:

And... here is the new Miley Cyrus video for 'We Can't Stop', featuring lots of twerking:

Miley Cyrus twerks with stuffed animals

Twerking to classical music

The how-to-twerk video tutorial

Wedding Gift Expectations: 'Viral' Texts All 'Fluff'? Read Entire Text Exchange Here.

Have you ever been asked to buy a specific gift for a wedding, from a gift registry? What about being a part of the 'wishing well' money contribution? Or have you decided what to buy the couple getting married?

Personally, I think any of these options is just fine. It really does depend on the financial circumstances of the guests at your wedding. They're thrilled to be invited, but maybe one of the couple is not working or the family is struggling financially, and although they want to come to the wedding and share the day, they can't contribute very much money to the 'wishing well', or the gifts left on the registry are out of their budget. I can share more about my own experiences below.

But first... this real-life text correspondence has gone viral. I first read this a few days ago on pop culture site Jezebel and happened to see the post on my iPhone Facebook feed. I could not believe my eyes as I read the whole story, then the comments below the post. All of it was scathing. Overwhelmingly, the social commentary was in support of the invitees at the wedding.

One of the focal points is... 'Fluff.' And how, a wedding present - it does NOT make. Funnily, I'd only discovered this stuff recently on a trip to my local Woolies supermarket. It's basically whipped marshmallow in a jar, from the US. I was so, er, taken, I took a snap:

And so, the viral wedding texts.

A couple were invited to the wedding of two women.

The couple decided to put together their own gift basket, filled with bits and bobs like marshmallow fluff (the jar of 'Fluff' pictured above), and Jolly Ranchers lollies. They attach a note that says: "Life is delicious... Enjoy."

Then... the following text is received from one of the brides:

Heyyy I just wanna say thanks for the gift but unfortunately I can't eat any of it lol I'm gluten intolerant. Do u maybe have a receipt

And so, the toxic wedding present texts start.

This is what happened to one Canadian wedding attendee recently, and he decided to document the whole interaction in a local newspaper, 'The Hamilton Spectator.' 

He writes: "As a gift, my girlfriend and I gave [the couple] a wicker box with a hinged lid, filled with food items, most of them PC Black Label, including: tri-color pasta, salsas, balsamic vinegar and olive, gourmet croutons, panko breading, pesto, some baking ingredients, biscuits from Godiva and a few 'fun' items like marshmallow Fluff, sour patch kids and butterscotch sauce." Here is a pic of said basket:

Pic: Hamilton Spectator

Then he received that text, above. He says he texted back to the newlyweds:

Ahh shit! Really!? We had a great time. Thank you again for allowing us to be a part of the celebration.

The man got to thinking, and that he realised that just a few short weeks earlier, he'd gifted the brides-to-be a certificate to the Italian restaurant he works at... and that the ladies had used the whole amount to eat pasta... full of gluten!

And so, below, the actual text exchange between the newlyweds and one half of the gift basket couple, the guy. It's per-retty bad. (Grammatical errors left as is):

NEWLYWEDS:

Hey it's [Bride 1's] wife Laura. I want to thank you for coming to the wedding Friday. I'm not sure if it's the first wedding you have been to, but for your next wedding... People give envelopes. I lost out on $200 covering you and your dates plate... And got fluffy whip and sour patch kids in return Just a heads up for the future :)

GIFT BASKET GUY:

Hi, I want to tell you how incredibly insulted I am in both of the messages you have sent me over the last two days. [Bride 1], I am sorry that you have intolerance to Gluten, I am sure that makes life difficult at times. However, to ask for a receipt is unfathomable. In fact it was incredibly disrespectful. It was the rudest gesture I have encountered, or even heard of. That is until you, Laura, messaged me today. Laura, the message you sent to me today was by far the most inconsiderate, immature, greedy, and asinine thing I have ever had the displeasure of seeing.

This is not even close to being the first wedding I have attended, and actually I have done a lot of research on wedding etiquette, a step in the process the two of you clearly skipped over (clearly displayed by Laura chewing gum, like a cow does hay, while walking down the aisle). Here is some help for you..just a heads up for the future.

The Bride's Etiquette Guide: Etiquette Made Easy, Second Edition. Here is the link.

Too bad you didn't read this, or any other etiquette guide prior to your "big day". In respect to this particular topic, I would turn your attention to pages 147-149. I am sure you will not bother to follow this link, so I will fill you in. Not only is it wrong to have an expectation of any sort of gift, it is the ultimate insult to your family and friends to mention a gift of monetary value at all, let alone be so boorish to message someone with your disappointment in said gift. Also, you should never host a party that you cannot afford, or expect your guests to pay for it. On that note, I seriously doubt that you had an expense of $100/plate. If you did, you were taken for a ride.

In retrospect, this is the exact style of behavior I should have expected from the two of you, when you used the gift card donated to your doe and doe for a personal date night, then had the gall to ask your server for the "friends and family discount".

I'm sure that one, or the two of you will mature, and grow into adults who will take a different, more respectful, LOVE based approach when you invite guests to your next wedding.

NEWLYWEDS:

Again... Out of 210 people at a wedding... The only I gift I got from all was yours... And fluffy whip and sour patch kids. Your Facebook message had nothing to do with the gift. Weddings are to make money for your future.. Not to pay for peoples meals. Do more research. People haven't gave gifts since like 50 years ago! You ate steak, chicken, booze, and a beautiful venue. To be exact the plates were $97 a person... But thanks again for the $30 gift basket my wife can't even eat. If anything you should be embarrassed for being so cheap and embarrassing yourself walking in with a gift basket probably re gifted cheap ass. Again.. Out of 210 people, you were the talk and laugh of the whole wedding!!!! Worst gift ever story Is being passed along to everyone!! How about you tell people what you gave as a 2 person gift to a wedding and see what normal functioning people say about it!! Do a survey with people u know... And tell me what 100% of them tell you!! Wake up dude

GIFT BASKET GUY:

It's obvious you have the etiquette of a twig, I couldn't care less of what you think about the gift you received, "normal" people would welcome anything given, you wanna have a party, you pay for it, DON'T expect me to, I don't care what you or anybody thinks, you should just be happy your sham of a marriage is legal dude!

NEWLYWEDS:

Lol. Your an idiot. Go research more on life

You should have been cut from the list.. I knew we were gunna get a bag of peanuts.. I was right

GIFT BAG DUDE:

Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. - George Carlon.

You just proved this to be true.

NEWLYWEDS:

Thanks for the fluffy whip :). Have a good day

And that's the end of the text exchange.

WHOA!

What do you think?

Heavy-handed and rude? The couple's expectations should not be voiced in that way. In fact, not voiced AT ALL. 

It is rude to have a particular expectation from a couple's wedding gift. Or any gift, for any occasion.

I have been married almost ten years, and a decade ago, at the swank Sydney harbourside venue we chose, the cost was $120 per plate. That was a lot of money ten years ago, and it still is today. I have no idea what the cost would be at the same or similar venue today, but I imagine it has edged towards the $200 per person mark.

The unspoken Italian heritage way of thinking is that, if you are giving cash, you cover the cost of what it would have cost the couple to host you at their wedding. But that's not possible for everyone. Considering we invited families of four and five, couples with one child, and boyfriend/girlfriend combos, the minimum that should have been gifted was $240 or so dollars.

This did not happen. We were okay with that. With the money that was gifted to us, we were able to buy a leather couch. All the other gifts were either from our gift registry, or whatever the couple wanted to buy. Sure, some gifts were under $50... but... I do know in particular circumstances, that's all the guests could afford.

So... was our wedding a money-making exercise? Oh, hell NO.

Do couples need to be grateful for whatever they receive? Hell, YES!

What do you think about this whole wedding text exchange?