Guest Blogger Ari Solomon (creator of our favorite eco candle line A Scent of Scandal®) says what we have all been thinking about Adam Lambert’s much blasted performance;

There were a couple of legitimate criticisms of Adam Lambert’s seemingly unremarkable performance at the AMA’s the other night: the choreography was not the most imaginative, the vocals were (as Randy would say) “pitchy,” and the song was, frankly, just one of your run-of-the-mill-come-hither pop ditties that we’ve become inundated with on the Top 40.

What was remarkable, however, is that this performance had an openly gay man as its centerpiece. And a brief part of his routine included a 3-second-long kiss between him and another man.

Image Courtesy of Djansezian/Getty via NY Daily News

This of course sent a certain segment of our annoyingly puritanical country into an uproar. ABC, which aired the show, received over a thousand complaints (almost all from action-alerted members of two right-wing “family” organizations). Even though millions were watching, those thousand or so letters caused ABC to cancel Adam’s performance on Good Morning America. (The program showed no hesitation, however, in booking Chris Brown, who recently beat the shit out of his former girlfriend Rihanna, for an upcoming show. One can only wonder why “family” groups have nothing to say about that.)

Not to be outdone, CBS lost no time and booked Adam for their morning show where a condescending host took him through a ridiculous string of questions that made it seem like Lambert was sitting in an uptight principle’s office after school. Even worse, when CBS aired the kiss that dare not speak its name, they blurred it, lest they offend their viewers. It was all just “too controversial.”

Now I ask you: if this was a kiss between a man and a woman would ANYONE have batted an eye? Adam’s AMA performance closed the show at 11:00 p.m., and yet by 9:00 p.m. we can see men and women half naked entwined in flagrante delicto on almost any network show. And I don’t remember anyone blurring Madonna’s tongue assault on Britney, and that was years ago and with a woman half her age.

Apparently this is perfectly fine (and hot,) but Adam's kiss is not.

This whole scandal over a kiss highlights the ugly homophobia that still pervades our country, particularly toward gay men.

What is a gay teen supposed to think when he learns that just kissing another man is something so awful you can’t dare show it on television? It’s this very double standard that allows gay teens, both men and women, to be bullied and victimized in school. It undoubtedly contributes to self-esteem issues and also fires up homophobic dickheads in the schoolyard.

Shame on ABC, for barring openly gay artists from coming onto your morning show, but welcoming men who brutalize women. Shame on CBS, for attempting to make Adam Lambert out to be some naughty pervert when he’s done nothing different than what female performers and straight male performers have been doing for years.

And, thank you to Adam Lambert, for not being afraid to take an artistic risk based on who you are. For too many years, actors, singers, and performers of all kinds have been forced into the closet. It’s about time someone had the courage to kick the closet door off its hinges and just be themselves.

At the end of Adam’s number, he gave the camera the middle finger. At the time I thought it was juvenile and quite disrespectful. Now, I think it was the perfect choice.

Ari Solomon is the President and co-creator of the celebrated vegan candle line A Scent of Scandal®. After graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Ari first worked as an actor in New York and Los Angeles, and later hosted the wildly popular ARI’S HOLLYWOOD UPDATE on Miami’s Y-100FM. Now a prolific activist and writer for animal and human rights, Ari’s writes regularly for The Huffington Post, and this here blog.

Still locked up in a side-clutching Tofurky coma? Make this protein packed smoothie (shared by lovely Guest Blogger Ali Berman) to get you headed on the right nutritional path this morning so you have enough energy to get stepping to Black Friday Sales, or hit up your loved one for some holiday morning loving;

If you’re sick of cereal and all the other carb heavy breakfasts out there, a smoothie might just be the perfect morning pick me up for you. My husband and I used to start our days with cereal. While I liked the low maintenance preparation, it left us both feeling hungry by 10am. I didn’t feel like the hassle of making a tofu scramble every day or any other breakfast food that involved cooking, so we began experimenting with smoothies. Peanut butter/banana smoothies turned out to have all the right qualities. In addition to giving us energy, this smoothie recipe is filling, delicious, and packed full of protein, vitamins, omegas and antioxidants.

This recipe makes enough for two people;

• 2 bananas (Make sure they are fully ripe - no green bits or the smoothie will be super thick and lack flavor.)
• 4-5 spoonfuls of peanut butter (Protein Packed!! Go for Organic.)
• 1 tbsp of flaxseed oil
 (A great way to get your omegas first thing in the am!)
• 1 heaping spoonful of raw cacao nibs
 (They are packed with antioxidants and add a great crunchy texture.)
• 7-10 pieces of ice (Depending on the size of your ice cubes)
• Toss them all in a blender and turn it on.

It does require a bit more work than cereal. The clean up is obviously more involved. Cleaning tip: This smoothie acts like an adhesive to the glass if left to sit. So if you don’t have time to clean up, just soak your blender and glasses to keep them ready for easy clean up later. Enjoy!

Ali Berman is a writer/teacher/activist. She works as a humane educator for HEART teaching kids about issues affecting people, animals and the environment.

A cute boot is an obvious essential part of any city girl’s winter wardrobe arsenal. Most of us, of course, need more than one boot. Cri de Coeur shoes have been a go-to for stylish, eco-savvy and vegan chicas since the line launched in 2007, with totally cruelty-free boots being the line’s signature show stoppers season after season.

Coveted by Emily Deschanel, Alicia Silverstone and Portia De Rossi – Cri de Coeur has been featured in mags Elle, Lucky, O, People and others. And now GirlieGirlArmy.com subscribers can score a pair at 20% off, exclusively at Cow Jones Industrials. So when it comes to stockpiling for the upcoming season, the newest collection of Cri de Coeur boots is a no-brainer. But what to wear with them? Find your style below, then visit Cow Jones Industrials to make them yours (all available instore, and online now).

Edgy Day-to-Night: Meetings all morning, followed by power lunch, catching up on emails, then on to organic cocktails and a date at night. Sound familiar? Stephanie’s your girl. She’ll make a smooth transition through all the day’s tasks with edgy foldover styling and a comfortable heel. Pair with skinny black jeans, a sexy vintage blouse and cardi.

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Trendy Sophisticate: Big sunglasses. Oversized scarf. Chunky costume jewelry. Check, check and check. You like your accessories a bit over-the-top. Perhaps Ab Fab DVD’s and vintage Cher posters sit on your dresser. Ariel’s perfect for you. Throw on some leggings, Ariel over-knee boots and your usual mojo, and you’re set to take on the world.

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Marisa Milller Wolfson (of Kind Green Planet) helps new and old veggies survive the holidays with carnivorous relatives with her thoughtful tips.  It’s best to read this blog before starting to the throw pie and threaten familial divorce;

I can hardly think of a topic more emotional than food. You can debate health care reform or Obama’s economic recovery plan until the rescued cows come home, but once the topic of food lands on the table, get ready for a full-on food fight, at least verbally if not physically.

Well, that’s how it can feel, anyway, especially to people who are new to veg-conscious living.  But here’s the good news:  the first holiday or two as a vegetarian or vegan is always the hardest, but it gets easier from there…as your brother’s tofurky jokes get stale, and your mom discovers that she can no longer sneak some turkey fat into the supposedly vegetarian gravy without you noticing.

So, how do you survive that first holiday or two? Here are a few pointers:

• Feel solid in your decision to be vegetarian or vegan. If you feel secure and happy about your decision, chances are, you’re going to radiate happiness and security, and people will notice and will likely choose weaker (ahem) prey for their snarky comments. They’ll also notice your “veg glow” and vow to themselves (if not you) to eat more plant foods. If you want a little more inspiration to eschew turkey flesh, feel free to read this page about turkey factory farming, this undercover investigation of a turkey breeding facility, or this photo tour of a “free-range” turkey farm.
• Have compassion for the people who are eating the turkey. As Jasmin Singer says on Farm Sanctuary’s Making Hay blog about surviving the holidays, “Don’t feel as though you have to defend your veganism. If your Uncle Joe is poking fun at you, it could be because he’s grappling with his own conscience. Extend compassion to him, and rise above the petulance.” She goes on to say, “Unless you were born vegan, there was a time when you also consumed animal products. Keep that in mind, and also lead by example.”
• Don’t go into the horrors of factory farming and slaughter at the table…especially if there is a dead bird on it. I tend to agree with feminist vegetarian author Carol Adams, author of Living Among Meat Eaters that the presence of meat at the table automatically raises defenses, and people will be less able to take in what you’re saying. It creates a strange power dynamic that detracts from your message. If someone asks me why I’m vegan in such a situation, I’ll reply with something light and vague such as, “Ethical and environmental reasons,” or “Being vegan allows me to have a different kind of relationship with animals and the earth.” Then I’ll usually say that it’s one of my favorite topics of conversation and I’d love to chat about it when we’re not at the dinner table. And then I do! Offering to chat later gives you points for social decorum. Plus, it’s more effective to bring it up at a time when people can have the kind of conversation that the topic actually merits.
• If a non-veg person is hosting the dinner, bring a delicious dish or two and/or offer to help in the kitchen. More points for decorum, and the host will be so grateful.
• If you’re hosting a dinner for non-veg people, don’t emphasize that all the food you’re making is veg. I like how VegNews puts it in their article with Thanksgiving tips & tricks:  “Try to remember that people eat vegan food every day-they just don’t label it that way. The mind has a funny way of altering our experiences based on perception alone, so let the food speak for itself.
• If your family insists on eating a turkey, and it really upsets you, be honest with them, and get creative. Some families leave the bird in the kitchen so their veg family members don’t have to stare at a carcass the entire time. Other families cook and eat the turkey the day before or the day after the veg person comes. It’s healthier to talk about it openly and come up with a solution together than to internalize it, be passive-aggressive or broody.
• Know that you have a right to feel upset by violence towards animals. The American Psychiatric Association says that witnessing the death or injury of one animal qualifies as a traumatic event. Being marginalized for feeling upset about it further compounds the trauma. Please respect your own animal rights and do what you need to in order to take care of yourself emotionally on this holiday for which so many animals suffered and died. If that means forgoing celebrating with your family, host a potluck-style Thanksgiving dinner with veg friends instead. (They tend to be more fun anyway–ssshhh! Don’t tell my family!)
• Phone a friend. Contact a veg friend now who might be going through something similar and offer a moral support phone call in case of emergency.  Sometimes all it takes to feel better is a good vent.

Vegan Thanksgiving Yummies from QuarryGirl.com

You are participating in one of the most important social justice movements of our time, and you are helping to create a new holiday tradition that affirms life, health and compassion. Be bold. Be strong. Be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.

Marisa Miller Wolfson is the Outreach Director for Kind Green Planet, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching people about healthy, humane, eco-friendly living. She’s currently in post-production for her documentary about veganism and is co-drafting a city council resolution to lower NYC’s global warming “foodprint.” She also loves coaching people on plant-based living through Vegan at Heart, a free email mentoring program for treehuggers, animal lovers, and health nuts who consider themselves vegans at heart but not necessarily in practice.

When you’re not stressing about dealing with the family for Thanksgiving, whip up a batch of this decadent brittle from cookbook author and overall veggie goddess, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. Easy, delicious, and way more fun to give out to during the holidays than fruitcake!

Serves 10

What You Need:

1/2 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, room temperature
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 ounces vegan graham crackers (about 6 rectangles)
1-1/4 cups almonds, toasted and chopped

What You Do:

1. Lightly grease a 9-inch square or round cake pan. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the margarine and chocolate. Meanwhile, break up the graham crackers into small pieces (but not crumbs).

2. Once the margarine and chocolate are melted, remove from heat and stir in the graham crackers and chopped nuts.

3. Spread mixture into prepared baking pan. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours or until set. Store in an airtight container.

via vegnews.com