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Mind & Body Break

Sometimes you just need a Mind & Body Break. Today, well, today is one of those days. Now, when I say Mind & Body Break, I don't mean a day at the spa...though, now that I think about it, that wouldn't be too bad either. No, I mean a Mind & Body Break in the sense that with a couple of clicks both your mind and body will feel refreshed. Think it's impossible? Just watch.

First, the Body. Please let the fabulous Ms. Knowles work it out for you. I swear, if I could just once make my hips move like B does here, I could die a happy woman. Where my single ladies at? Beyoncé dance break in the middle of the room, immediately.

• Beyoncé
• New Music

And now, the Mind. I watched this video four times in a row yesterday. I did this because it made me feel good. And not in the usual, “Awww, isn't that a cute kitten!” “Hey, is that dog riding a tricycle?” way many other videos make you feel good. No, this made me feel better because it made me believe we really can make the world a better place. In these terribly uncertain and unsatisfying times, I think what we all really want is to know that we can still make a difference. Find out more about The Girl Effect. Go girl, indeed. [Hat tip, Shakesville!]

See, a little fun for the Body, a little fuel for the Mind. Who needs a stupid spa anyway?

Behind the 8-Ball

Election seasons get heated. I get that. People get passionate about their politics. I totally get that. But as I've driven around these past few days and seen yard signs proudly displayed for “Yes on 8: Protect Marriage,” I simply don't get that. Actually, I get it. I understand that there are people who believe gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people should not be allowed to marry, let alone exist. I just don't get that in the year 2008, there are people who still think it is OK to publicly flaunt their prejudices so openly. Proposition 8, for those unfamiliar or living outside this big goofy place we call California, would permanently amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage. So all those happy, smiling, beautiful couples who got married this year thanks to the state supreme court overturning the previous ban on gay marriage would have their unions invalidated by the state. Wow, so much for family values.

At first, I wasn't too worried about Prop. 8. Public opinion on the issue had shifted. People were more accepting. Massachusetts led the way. And just last week Connecticut joined us in equality. Plus, hey, this is California. But then I started to see the ads. These horrible, despicable, hateful ads play to people's most base fears. Children will be taught gay marriage in schools! Churches will lose their tax exemption! Run for your lives, the gays are coming! (I can't bring myself to post or even link to their bile, so search “Yes on 8” yourself if you must...just be sure to have a strong stomach). And then I heard how the “Yes” people had raised more cash than the “No” folks, in spite of high-profile donations from stars like Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg, Kate Capshaw and T.R. Knight and support from big names like Ellen DeGeneres, Margaret Cho and a slew of other famous folks. Thankfully the “No on Prop. 8” folks have pushed back forcefully against the hate. Still, I'm worried.

There is no way for me to not feel this vote viscerally. Each “Protect Marriage,” sign I see is like a kick in the gut. Each house I pass sends a pang through my body. The people in that house think I shouldn't be allowed to marry. The people in that house think I don't deserve the same rights as everyone else. The people in that house think I am fundamentally wrong. It hurts – it hurts a lot. This is not what America is all about. In the land of the free and the home of the brave, what is more free than letting people marry who they love and what is more brave than accepting someone despite his or her differences? Who I marry doesn't diminish who you marry in any way, shape or form. Love is love. Hate is hate. Which do you want people to feel as they walk down the aisle? Come on, California, vote No on Prop. 8. Protect love.

Tina Fey Tuesday

A whole week without Tina Fey and I’m starting to twitch. Seriously, I’m coming down with the cold sweats. But, luckily for me, my Tina has been all over the news lately. And by all over the news, I mean everywhere. Writing a book. Appearing on Dave Letterman this Friday. She seems to be everywhere except, curiously, her own show “30 Rock.” The series still won't premiere for another 16 days (yes, I counted). I know I'm not the only one who is impatiently waiting for the return of Liz Lemon on Oct. 30. Heck, even The New York Times is getting antsy.

To hold us over until then, NBC whets our appetites with a sneak peek at the deluge of very-special guest stars coming to visit 30 Rockerfeller Center this season including Oprah, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Martin and Megan Mullally.

Not included in the preview, but no less noteworthy, is Salma Hayek who plays Jack's love interest in two episodes. Here she is filming. Tina and Salma and, um, the girls – I may pass out.

But enough teasing. I want the main course. Bring on the Rock. Though seeing Tina and Megan side-by-side I thought for a second that I'd stumbled into the First Annual Sarah Palin Impersonators Convention by accident.

Speaking of she who should not be vice president, Tina had a few thoughts on what she would do if Moose & Squirrely actually made it into office:

“If she wins, I'm done. I can't do that for four years. And by 'I'm done,' I mean I'm leaving Earth.”

Oh, Tina, if you're leaving the planet then I'm coming with you. I hear Mars is nice, and it even has ice. And you know what that means, right? Margaritas! Getting blitzed with Tina on a Palin-free planet? Sign me up, you betcha.

UPDATE: It’s true, it’s true! Only T-minus 9 days until the new season of “30 Rock” premieres online.

And the winners are...

Thanks to everyone (all 124 of you!) who entered the “Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan” CD giveaway. If I had 124 copies, I'd give you all one. I mean it. For serious. And thanks so much for sharing your stories, too. See, I told you lesbians love Sarah. Via the random number generator doodad, the winners are:

• Allison
• J9
• Penny Cillin
• AGM
• Ravaj

Congratulations! And if you didn't win, don't worry, more giveaways are coming. Please enjoy the music.

You turn me on with your androgyny

I love a woman in a suit. Period. Full stop. I also love Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. Period. Full stop. But after that, things get complicated. You see, both Cate and Tilda have this delicious habit of posing in suits. Lots and lots and lots of suit. And, to be perfectly honest, I can't decide which I prefer more in a suit. They're both Oscar winners. They're both cinematic chameleons. They're both sexy as all get out. Oh, the anguish. But then I decided, why choose? Why put myself through that needless torture when I could just have both, together, all suited up and gender bendy. Double your pleasure, double your fun.

At this point I could easily make some crack about double-breasted suits, but I'm going to go against type and use self restraint. Gosh, I guess wearing a suit really does class up a joint.

My Weekend Crush

Helena Bonham Carter seems sent from another time, possibly another world. The combination of doe eyes and architectural angles is at once arresting and irresistible. From the moment I saw her in “A Room With a View,” I knew I'd be fascinated by her face for the rest of my life. While her penchant for period pieces early in her career may have typecast her forever with the tea and crumpet set, she has found a way to carve out a niche now that is at once quirky and bewitching. Sure, she has a bit of an unfortunate habit of falling in love with her already-coupled directors which is, well, unfortunate. But life is messy, even for those with porcelain skin. And I really can't think of a more perfect coupling for her than her current partner and the father of their two children, Tim Burton. May they make many, many strange and wonderful movies together. And may Helena continue to beguile through time and even space. Happy weekend, all.