JJ Abrams Shows Off First Footage of 'Star Wars' X-Wing Fighter

J.J. Abrams gave the world its first glimpse at a battle-worn X-Wing from Star Wars: Episode VII this morning in a video promoting the Star Wars: Force For Change campaign. Launched back in May of this year, Force For Change sought to raise funds for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund’s Innovation Labs, which aims to spur innovation in UNICEF’s means of reaching out.

By giving anywhere between $10-$50,000 through the campaign’s Omaze page in the next four days, fans will be entered into a raffle to shoot a scene and be in the next Star Wars film and tour the London set with Abrams. Supporters are also entered to win the chance to host an advanced screening of the film for themselves and 20 friends.

Check out the epic reveal of the X-Wing AFTER THE JUMP...

 

What To Watch This Week on TV: 'Runway' Returns, Seth Green Plays Games - VIDEO

Check out our weekly guide to make sure you're catching the big premieres, crucial episodes and the stuff you won't admit you watch when no one's looking.

— Our favorite reality-competition, Project Runway, returns Thursday at 9 p.m. on Lifetime. We're always happy to have Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum back on our screens, even if some of the contestants can get a little grating. (We’re not sure about this new contestant named “Fäde.” My eyes still haven’t recovered from rolling them at Suede through season five and season two of Project Runway All Stars).

If Runway's not your style, check out another talented crop of artists in a very different sort of competition, AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

— History lessons go down a lot easier with a little booze. We always walk away learning something from Drunk History, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. Eastern on Comedy Central, even if it’s just when to say no to one more martini. This week's slurry retellings of historical happenings tackle Edgar Allan Poe, among others.

 

— If you love the artistry of Project Runway, but are non-plussed by all the dandy drama and chiffon nonsense, leave the charmeuse and lace behind for something with a little more edge. Special-effects-makeup artists create some truly twisted transformations on Face/Off’s new season, premiering tomorrow at 9 p.m. Eastern on SyFy.

 

— Jenna Elfman, Seth Green and Monica Potter guest on Hollywood Game Night, Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC.

 

— Two ways True Blood can improve this final season: More James (Nathan Parsons) hooking up with LaFayette (Nelsan Ellis), less Civil War-era Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) flashbacks. And while you’re at it, throw in some more sass from Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten). See the show barrel toward its big, bloody series finale with this week’s next episode, Sunday at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO.

What are you watching this week?

Department of Justice Urges States To Drop HIV Criminalization

The Civil Rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice is strongly urging legislators across the country to strike down laws that currently criminalize HIV-positive people who, often unknowingly, “certain behaviors before disclosing known HIV-positive status.”

HIV criminalization laws sprang up across the country in the early days of the AIDS epidemic when diagnoses and death were swift and sometimes unexpected. In a time when the exact means of transmission were misunderstood and means of treating those infected were scant, the laws were a desperate attempt to curtail the spread of the virus. More robust public health funding  was provided to the states in 1990 provided that the states criminalized HIV transmission.

Unfortunately, most of the laws regarding HIV positive individuals and their conduct haven’t managed to keep pace with the development of treatments. Put simply, the laws just don’t work. Last year the United Nations HIV/AIDS prevention task force found that in criminalizing HIV transmission these laws discouraged people from finding out their HIV statuses.

“Generally the best practice would be for states to reform these laws to eliminate HIV-specific criminal penalties except in two distinct circumstances.”

The DoJ’s guide reads:

First, states may wish to retain criminal liability when a person who knows he/she is HIV positive commits a (non-HIV specific) sex crime where there is a risk of transmission (e.g., rape or other sexual assault). The second circumstance is where the individual knows he/she is HIV positive and the evidence clearly demonstrates the individual’s intent was to transmit the virus and that the behavior engaged in had a significant risk of transmission, whether or not transmission actually occurred.

Read the Department of Justice’s Best Practices Guide to Reform HIV-Specific Criminal Laws to Align with Scientifically-Supported Factors AFTER THE JUMP...

Department of Justice’s Best Practices Guide to Reform HIV-Specific Criminal Laws to Align with Scientifica...

 

L.A. City Councilman Mike Bonin Marries Partner Sean Arian

Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin married his partner Sean Arian in San Pedro, California on Saturday, Bonin's website 11th District reports:

The festive nuptials, held in the neighborhood where Arian was raised, featured works of art and music from several bands from the Venice area, which Bonin represents. The couple insisted on a sustainable and tech savvy event, using a wedding app instead of paper invites, and solar power to fuel the sound system. The reception took on a carnival feel, with a giant Jenja set, interactive art, and bouncy houses for both children and adults.

Bonin and Arian met at City Hall in 2009, when Arian was Director of Economic Development for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. At the time, Bonin was chief of staff to Councilmember Bill Rosendahl and a same sex marriage activist with the Courage Campaign.

The wedding was officiated by Mayor Eric Garcetti.

(image facebook)

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1592

NIGHTCRAWLER: A teaser clip for the upcoming Jake Gyllenhaal film about a freelance journalist who explores the L.A. crime world.

JOHN OLIVER: The disaster that are America's prisons.

HOMELAND: Season 4 trailer.

COLTON HAYNES: 'You Raise Me Up'.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Kanye, Prince George, Colorado Springs, The Flash, Sharks

This is what the victims of MH17 did for AIDS research.

The mountain of evidence linking Russia to the downed Malaysian airliner.

Great White tourism bringing vacationers to Cape Cod.

Fifty Shades of Beyoncé.

Neil Patrick Harris may join American Horror Story: Freakshow.

Children taking center stage in national gay marriage cases: "Lawyers are recruiting same-sex couples who have children, putting interviews with kids as young as seven in court filings, and organizing media events featuring teenagers. In May, for example, after a Virginia federal appeals court hearing, 16-year-old Emily Schall-Townley told a televised news conference: 'These are my two moms. And this is my family.'"

Wall Street Journal's Facebook page hacked with fake Air Force One disaster news.

Technology's rainbow connection: "If it weren’t for the one naked guy, the furries with their articulated ears and the small gaggle of leather-clad members of the Society of Janus, this city’s 44th annual Pride parade in June could have been easily be mistaken for a technology conference."

Leonardo DiCaprio hits the beach in Miami.

Yeezus does GQ: “I got the answers. I understand culture. I am the nucleus."

Wentworth Miller cast as Captain Cold in CW's The Flash: "The freeze-gun-touting villain is one of Barry Allen/The Flash’s biggest adversaries in the DC Comics, and is the leader of the Rogues—a group of his enemies. Miller will guest star as the character in the fourth episode of the show’s debut season this fall."

Warner Bros. acquires rights to classic video game Space invaders.

Colorado Springs LGBT Pride festival is largest in state's history: "More than 50,000 people came to America the Beautiful Park for cosPRIDE-FEST 24, Colorado Springs' annual gay pride festival, Saturday and Sunday according to police tally. Last year, 35,000 people attended."

Two gay men in Guyana stabbed to death by spurned lover.

Male model fix: Monty Hopper.

Britain's Prince George gets a new official portrait.

Elton John is not retiring from music: "The 67-year-old legendary musician, who did some shopping around town that afternoon after grabbing lunch, reportedly took the stage in France recently and told fans he was going to retire! However, Elton‘s rep quickly shot down the rumors."

Straight business students are crashing gay job fairs.

Video: rescued Boston terrier cuddles human for first time.

Wisconsin police chief registered political foe with gay dating websites as act of revenge: "Town of Campbell Police Chief Tim Kelemen was charged with one count of unlawful use of a computerized communication system, which carries a maximum penalty of $1,000 in fines and 90 days in jail. Kelemen would still be able to stay on as police chief if convicted, since only those with felonies or misdemeanor convictions related to domestic violence are barred from being police officers, according to the state Department of Justice."