Because God is punishing me for all the bad karma I've accumulated on this blog this past year, I have a bitch of a cold. She better run her course by tomorrow, because the Village is hopping with New Year's Eve parties, which I'll be reviewing in my next Blitz & Shitz column. How will I find the energy? I'm not a coke whore, just a regular one, so Red Bull it is. Oh #firstworldproblems. 

Big Roger throws some great events in Vancouver, including the beloved United all-nighters. Their next party, "Day One," with New York City's DJ Tony Moran and our own Adam Dreaddy, is sure to be a massive blowout, as usual, and an epic way to ring in 2012. 

Big Roger is also doing something that I think is a really cool way to give back to charity, as well as their devoted party people. The Black Card is available two ways: 1) You're special and get it for supporting Big Roger by attending/volunteering at their events, or 2) You win it at an auction or as a raffle/door prize, with the proceeds raised going to charities, including Loving Spoonful, YouthCo, McLaren Housing Society, Friends for Life, the Dr Peter AIDS Foundation, Vancouver Pride Society and Red Cross. 

What do the Black Cards get you? Privilege, baby. Skip the line, get in for free, enjoy the VIP areas, and even share the wealth with a plus one! 

So keep an eye out for the cards the next time you're feeling generous. Because we all know giving is so much better when you also get. Don't even try to deny it, you slut! 

A fake People magazine cover featuring Taylor Lautner with the headline "Out and Proud" recently surfaced on the net, quickly exploding on Twitter and Facebook feeds. Twi-hards were devastated, celebrity outers were vindicated, and gossip rags were crestfallen because writing about Taylor being openly gay isn't half as fun (or profitable) as writing about Taylor being secretly gay. Even Russell Simmons got in on the action, tweeting his congratulations.

Of course it's now been revealed that the cover was a scam, with People spokesperson Julie Farin saying, "The cover in question is 100 percent fake. This began as a ridiculous Twitter joke that went viral."

The problem is that this isn't a joke. Maybe Taylor is and maybe he isn't, but shouldn't we respect his right to be or not be on his own terms? There is the argument that it's important to out celebrities because the more famous people we have out and about, the more exposure, the more understanding and the more acceptance that will create. Yadyadaydada. That only works if the celebrity in question is "out and proud" willingly. If he's being dragged out of the closet, exposed, tormented, forced -- what kind of a message does that send to the world? It's not something to celebrate when it's done through humiliation. When we shame stars into being out, we are implying there is something to be ashamed of. 

It's like Russell Simmons said after it was revealed that the cover was a hoax: "Disappointed that people would joke about someone coming out about their sexuality. Let Taylor Lautner be whoever he wants to be."

Vancouver performer Tyrell Witherspoon's new single "Glow" is available for download. Proceeds from the sales benefit the Dr Peter AIDS Foundation. 

The organization's website says, “At the Dr Peter AIDS Foundation, every day is an inspiring reminder of what we can achieve by providing HIV treatment and other supports for people whose lives are impacted by HIV/AIDS and additional challenges of addiction, mental illness, poverty and discrimination."

Tyrell shared the song's meaning with Xtra: "I wrote this song with the intention to reach out to the younger generation out there who also have big dreams. I am a firm believer in anything is possible if you believe it will happen and work your butt off to do it. Trust me, you’re going to have more than enough people who will break you down and tell you you can’t. Sometimes you just want to quit. I know I have. But with the right support around you and persistency to do your best, you’ll always come out on top."

Take a second to listen to the track, and then download it here for a good cause. 

Local performer Rodolfo Rodriguez Vazquez has a new song, which the United afterhours DJs should really pick up  . . .