By Jack Fertig

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAY

Madonna turns 53 on Tuesday. The Queen of Pop is back in the studio working on her 12th album. She’s kept busy outside the music industry by opening her Hard Candy Fitness gyms and directing the film W.E., about the love story between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson set for release this December.

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THIS WEEK

Good news: The sun, Mercury and Venus lining up in Leo promote bold, fun, flirtations and creative efforts. Bad news: Mars in Cancer in semi-square to those three undermine confidence and promote ill-considered aggressive efforts. Solution: Be willing to be vulnerable, start amorous overtures with a meal (or share some candy).

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LEO  Jul 23-Aug 22
Are you fully as bold and confident as you appear or are you covering some hurt, some fear? True courage would welcome a confidant to help resolve that hidden pain.

VIRGO  Aug 23-Sep 22
Friends disappoint you; they’re only human. You disappoint them, too. At some point it’s about forgiveness. Extend that sense of charity. Recruit your pals to help the poor and hungry.

LIBRA  Sep 23-Oct 22
Problems at work complicate your long-term plans. Some backtracking is necessary to correct your course. If your boss is wrong, remember who’s the boss. Be critical, but be tactful.

SCORPIO  Oct 23-Nov 21
Opportunities open up for you. Be careful of distractions and half-baked innovations. Your challenge is to state your opinion with flexibility, without looking wishy-washy or sycophantic.

SAGITTARIUS  Nov 22-Dec 20
Your love of loquacity is cranked up to full blast. You might be even more entertaining than you think. Listening quietly lets you be the one to get the deep insights.

CAPRICORN  Dec 21-Jan 19
You’re a tiger in bed. Your partner may prefer a kitten. Negotiating something mutually satisfying could be very difficult. Being humble is a challenge now, but is sure to have benefits later.

AQUARIUS  Jan 20-Feb 18
It’s no news that your mouth makes trouble. Just keep your brain ahead of it and do not reveal your partner’s secrets. Thinking ahead is what you do best. Apply that foresight in the present.

PISCES  Feb 19-Mar 19
Trying to make work fun backfires badly. Concentrate on the work and take pride in doing the best you can. Communication with colleagues gets easily confused. Keep it clear and simple.
ARIES  Mar 20-Apr 19
Those voices from your childhood saying “you can’t” are correct. Some, not all. Make a list of your talents and weaknesses. Improve where you can and forge ahead with your strengths.

TAURUS  Apr 20-May 20
Take the lead on events. People flake. Work around that and forgive them. Sharing a goal doesn’t mean they have your level of enthusiasm. Accept their contributions with good grace.

GEMINI  May 21-Jun 20
Idle chatter and gossip can be fun, but what do you really want to discuss? What did you want to learn as a child but never got around to? It’s never too late.

CANCER  Jun 21-Jul 22
Whether you take one step back from the counter or 12 steps is up to you. Where is your ego wounded? You already have what you need to heal that. Consider your strengths and resources.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 12, 2011.

Information regarding Morrissey’s hand and arm injuries; Morrissey’s show at the London Palladium sold out in five minutes

11 July 2011

Morrissey sustained hand and arm injuries recently after being attacked by a dog in England. Morrissey has attended hospital in Malmo (Sweden) where x-rays reveal a fractured index finger on his right hand. The cracked bone is at the tip of the finger. The injury will not affect upcoming shows.
Morrissey is delighted with the news that tickets for the London Palladium sold out in five minutes.

Dog bites suck but this kind of punctuates his mild streak of bad luck. In an interview with Pitchfork last month, the out singer mentioned his new album is complete but he won’t record it without a label. And apparently they’re not calling him. Ouch. 

• CBS reports that Madonna is officially in the studio recording her 12th album. This will be the follow-up to 2008′s God-awful Hard Candy. She’s working with producers David Guetta and A-Trak, according to Rolling Stone, but Idolator mentions a whole slew of names on the potential collab roster. 

• As U.K.’s News of the World came to a screeching halt, George Michael publicly declared his elation over Rupert Murdoch’s questionable publication. Monday, the singer was on a Twitter rant that was both interesting and entertaining. Now he’s going to be asked about them, according to this tweet.

Could Michael have a new career as a media pundit? Monday’s tweets have been utter gold.

Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ will hold five Christmas Eve services beginning at noon Friday, Dec. 24, with “A Shopper’s Christmas Eve” in the Interfaith Peace Chapel. Shoppers can buy gifts in the Sources of Hope gift shop, have their packages wrapped and worship during their lunch hour.

The Children and Families Service, with sing-alongs, puppets and more begins at 5 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by Mass en Español in the Interfaith Peace Chapel.

Traditional candlelight communion worship services will be held at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Services are free and open to all.

Pavillion holds Stocking Stuffer drive

The stocking stuffer benefit for Legacy Founders Cottage hospice continues through Friday, Christmas Eve, at Barbara’s Pavillion in Oak Cliff.

Patrons are asked to donate gifts to fill up the gigantic stockings at the bar and then donated to the Founders Cottage. Wish list items includes paper towels, Lysol, coffee, gift cards for groceries, disposable adult diapers (medium), cleaning supplies, hard candy, trash bags, Ziploc bags, disposable tableware, wipes, non-powdered latex gloves, games, etc.

Barbara’s Pavillion also has Christmas stockings on hand that patrons can purchase and decorate, with proceeds also benefiting Legacy Founders Cottage.

ONE Church in new location

The ONE Church, the only LGBT-affirming Apostolic Pentecostal church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, now holds services each Sunday at 6 p.m. at Resource Center Dallas, 2701 Reagan St.

The church also holds prayer service each Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by Bible study from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., also at Resource Center Dallas.

Tuesday Night Fellowship is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Buffalo Wild Wings on Lemmon Avenue at Douglas Avenue.

For more information go to the church’s website at Dallas1Church.org.

Sadlek wins MTAR award

The MetroTex Association of Realtors has announced that Mark Sadlek from Republic Title is the 2010 Affiliate of the Year award winner. The announcement came at MTAR’s annual awards and charity event.

Sadlek has served on the MetroTex board of directors and is a MetroTex Leadership Academy Graduate, currently serving on the Leadership Committee.

He also serves on the Human Rights Campaign’s Board of Governors and as co-chair of the Federal Club. He co-founded and chaired Leadership Lambda Inc. in Dallas and has done planning and fundraising for Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA).

“I have been amazed with Mark’s dedication to MetroTex this year,” said 2010 MetroTex President Kay Weeks of Ebby Halliday Realtors. “His contributions to our organization reflect his professionalism and devotion to the real estate industry.”
MetroTex has honored one of its affiliate members with this award annually since 1982.

Stonewall Denton elects officers

DENTON — Stonewall Democrats of Denton County, now completing its third year, has elected new officers for 2011.

Eloy Machuca of Flower Mound was elected as the second president in the chapter’s history. Outgoing founding President John McClelland did not seek re-election.

“I was honored to have lead this chapter and in becoming the first openly gay elected official in the county in my final year,” said McClelland. “Our members put a lot of faith in me. I felt it was the perfect time to get some new blood on our executive board.”
Joining Machuca will be Vice President Courtney Medina of Flower Mound, Treasurer Tod King of Lake Dallas and Secretary Stacey Langley of Denton.

“Our new officers are representative of our chapter being male, female, Caucasian, Hispanic, gay, straight and bisexual,” said Machuca. “Stonewall is intended to fight for everyone.”

Stonewall Democrats of Denton County has been instrumental in holding a Pride Weekend in the city of Denton, organizing rallies for the Prop 8 rulings, providing scholarships for community organizations and promoting progressive Democratic candidates.

Estate-planning seminar set

Attorney John McCall and Sparkman Hillcrest Family Service Director Ron Boson are sponsoring a free estate-planning seminar on Jan. 2 at 2 p.m. at Oak Cliff Coffee in the Bishop Arts District. Complimentary coffee and refreshments will be served. Seating is limited so call 214-942-1100 to reserve a seat.

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 24, 2010.