Armchair Ascends 98,268 Feet to the Edge of Space

In a stunt having nothing to do with Richard Heene, Toshiba has sent a chair to the edge of space for a new commercial. The chair, lifted by a helium balloon, was monitored by a ground crew using four GPS systems and was filmed by the cinematographer who shot Mamma Mia. According to Toshiba:

The shots were taken at a staggering 98,268 feet above the earth and the weight of the rig had to be carefully managed to a weight of no more than four pounds. The chair is made of biodegradable balsa wood by a company called Artem and cost about £2,500. It was launched 12 miles North-East of the town of Gerlach, Nevada. The temperature dropped to minus 90 degrees when the chair reached 52,037 feet. The chair took 83 minutes to reach an altitude of 98,268 feet where it broke and took just 24 minutes to fall back down to earth with the rig.

The commercial extolls the virtues of the company's LCD TV and the enhanced "armchair viewing" it provides. Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

Kalamazoo Episcopalians Take Out Full Page Anti-Discrimination Ad

Note: Political director Corey Johnson and I will be live-blogging election results this evening here on the site. Please join us.

Kalamazoo, Michigan-area Episcopalians wanted to counter the Roman Catholic Bishop, who has publicly opposed the anti-discrimination ballot measure up for a vote there today, so they raised $7,000 in donations from individual Episcopalians to put a full page ad in Sunday's paper and demonstrate to area voters that not all Christians are anti-gay.

Said Rev. Cynthia Black, Rector of the Parish Church of Christ the King in a press release: “Our denomination was very clear this past summer when it’s legislative convention met in Anaheim, California. As Episcopalians we are to actively work to defeat discrimination of any kind, especially discrimination against our transgender and gay sisters and brothers. We tossed around a lot of ideas, and finally settled on two: to raise money and signatures for a full page ad in the local paper, and to go door to door, sharing our perspective on why a ‘Yes’ vote is necessary. We had no idea if we could raise the $6000 necessary for a full page color ad, so we sought a grant for matching funds. When that didn’t come through, we decided to step out in faith, and raise the entire $6,000 ourselves. It’s a wonderful position to be in, and clearly demonstrates the conviction of Episcopalians in this area."

The full-page ad above ran in the Kalamazoo Gazette on Sunday. The Rev. Beth McLaren, Associate Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and The Rev. Anne Reed of the Diocese of Western Michigan were also involved.

As I mentioned yesterday, the opposition has been running fear-mongering ads trying to scare voters into believing they will be sharing the bathroom with transgender predators should the ordinance pass.

Anti-Gay Kalamazoo, Michigan Scare Campaign Gets a TV Ad

Note: Political director Corey Johnson and I will be live-blogging election results tomorrow evening here on the site. Please join us.

UPDATED

Another ordinance we'll be watching tomorrow is the heavily funded anti-discrimination measure in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Two weeks ago I posted about the flyers being distributed there by the anti-gay side meant to generate fear about transgender people in public bathrooms.

Here's the TV ad version of those flyers.

UPDATE: Hadn't seen this, they are also using the same exact footage used in a similar campaign in Gainesville, Florida last year showing a "transgender predator" (below) stalking children in a public bathroom. Btw, the anti-discrimination ordinance survived in Gainesville. Really, beyond the pale.

Watch both spots, AFTER THE JUMP...

News: Texas, Lance Bass, New Brunswick, Scholastic, Curry

GLAAD announces inaugural GLAAD Media Awards in Advertising. Top TV winner was Orbitz commercial featuring Human Rights Campaign logo.

Lance Bass and his latest guy.

Scholastic backtracks on gay-themed book Luv Ya Bunches, says it will carry the book in its book fairs.

Two gay candidates vie for spot in Illinois General Assembly, and nobody's talking about their sexuality.

Adam Lambert and Katy Perry go on a Michael Jackson date.

Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis speaks out about Paul Haggis defection: "In his first extensive interview since the resignation, Davis says Haggis’ letter is based on a series of misunderstandings. The church’s San Diego branch was erroneously named as backing Prop 8, he says. And he argues that his comments on CNN about disconnection have been mischaracterized. He declines to say whether, in light of his explanations, he believes Haggis might become reconciled to the church."

Morrissey returns to the stage.

Crowd of more than 1,000 turns out in New Brunswick, New Jersey to counter-protest six members of the Westboro Baptist Church

Jonathan Capehart: Harry Reid "crazy like a fox" with Hate Crimes bill.

CHART: Does policy trail public opinion on gay rights?

Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival winners announced: "The Man Who Loved Yngve," directed by Stian Kristiansen, wins Best Feature Film.

Curry spice found to kill cancer cells.

Someone poured scalding water into Channing Tatum's wetsuit on the set of his latest film, but he's ok.

Fort Worth police appoint LGBT liaison: "[Sarah] Straten, who serves as the liaison in addition to her full-time job as a neighborhood police officer in the far north part of town, hopes the position will become an official, full-time one. She’s made it clear that she wants the job."

Alan Ball offers some spoilers for the upcoming season of True Blood.

Judge Tena Callahan talks about the courage she needed to summon in order to declare Texas' ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and proceed with a gay divorce case: “I was sitting at my dining room table and I was thinking, I’ve got to make this decision, I’ve got to rip this Band-Aid off and I’ve got to make this decision. My dad always used to tell me that a billion people can believe in a bad idea, and it’s still a bad idea. And that man taught me to have the courage of my convictions and to do what’s right — it’s always the right time to do the right thing. And as I’m sitting there and all this is going through my head, I’m looking at the back of this bag, and I went, ‘Oh my God, I just got my answer.’"

Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo Sings a Love Song

Turn up the auto-tune. Portuguese footballer and future Armani underwear model Cristiano Ronaldo is exercising his pipes for a television ad for Portuguese bank BES.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

New Ad from 'No on 1' Maine

Protect Maine Equality puts mom in charge of this new ad, AFTER THE JUMP...

And Protect Maine Equality here.