Monthly Archives: August 2013

NYC Restaurant And Nightclub Trade Association To Hold Symbolic Vodka Dump

A New York City restaurant and nightclub trade association will today hold a symbolic vodka dump in protest of Russia’s ban on “homosexual propaganda.” The protest is organized by the United Restaurant and Tavern Owners Association, which represents 3,000 hotels, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. The umbrella group is calling for a citywide ban on all Russian booze and foods. Last …

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Art Installation: NYC’s Voice Tunnel

A new audio/visual art installation debuted on Saturday in the eight-block long Park Avenue tunnel. My Modern Met provides a description: Open to pedestrians for the first time in history, the Park Avenue Tunnel welcomes visitors to experience an interactive light and sound installation like no other. Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer has transformed the 1,400 foot long tunnel with 300 …

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COSTA RICA: Government To Close Zoos And Release Animals From Captivity

Citing a change in “environmental conscience,” Costa Rica will close its zoos and release many of its animals back to the wild. “We are getting rid of the cages and reinforcing the idea of interacting with biodiversity in botanical parks in a natural way,” said Environment Minister René Castro. “We don’t want animals in captivity or enclosed in any way …

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Times Company Sells Boston Globe

Yesterday the New York Times Company agreed to sell the Boston Globe to Red Sox owner John Henry for a mere $70M.  Twenty years ago the Times Company bought the Globe for $1.1B. Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy confirmed the planned sale of the Globe and other media properties to Henry. The Times said the all-cash sale, expected to close in …

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BBC America Unveils The New Doctor

Yesterday BBC America revealed the identity of the 12th doctor since Doctor Who launched 50 years ago. And the sonic screwdriver goes to Peter Capaldi. The Scottish actor was named the new star of the British sci-fi franchise Doctor Who on Sunday during a live broadcast on BBC America. He will replace the departing Matt Smith, whose time in the …

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NEW JERSEY: Chris Christie Launches Web Ad Touting Support From “ChristieCrats”

Christie continues to lead New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono by about 30 points in the polls.

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Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley Speaks On His Potential 2016 Bid For President

While other top Democrats continue to hold their breath while they wait for word from Hillary Clinton, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley this weekend spoke about his own potential 2016 run for president.  Politico reports: “By the end of this year, we’re on course to have a body of work that lays the framework of the candidacy for 2016,” he told …

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Former Exodus President Alan Chambers Denounces “Ex-Gay” Therapy For Minors

“What I believe is that when it comes to promising or assuring someone, or causing someone to expect that they’re gong to completely eradicate a set of feelings or temptations or desires, I think that sets someone up for tremendous damage, which can cause them shame and guilt. I certainly believe we should never be offering [conversion therapy] for minors. …

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83 Members Of Congress Petition John Kerry To Protect Gay Athletes At Olympics

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has written a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry which demands protections for LGBT athletes at the Sochi Olympics. The letter was co-signed by 83 members of the U.S. House.  The letter closes: We applaud the State Department’s commitment to ensuring that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT …

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Ellen Degeneres To Host Oscars

Ellen Degeneres will host the 2014 Oscars. It will be DeGeneres’ second tour of duty as Oscar host, having previously emceed the 79th annual Academy Awards in 2007 and earning an Emmy nomination. The popular syndicated talkshow host also fronted the Emmys in 2001 and 2005 (co-hosting them in 2003). “I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for …

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Unemployment Rate Falls To Lowest Since December 2008

“The books are cooked! Fake!” said all of Teabagistan.

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HomoQuotable – Christopher Doyle

“July 31, 2013 was a great day for former homosexuals in America! While the turnout was humble, the enthusiasm among those who participated in Ex-Gay Pride was immeasurable. Anti-ex-gay extremists are gleeful that ‘less than ten people showed up’…actually, by my count, nine former homosexuals (including an ex-transgender) and a half-dozen more allies came out to lobby Congress and show …

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Morning View – Fire Island Superman

This life-sized Superman statue guards the front gate of one of the oceanside houses in Fire Island Pines.  The first time we walked past it, it was quite dark out and we thought somebody was going for some cosplay action.

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Barney Frank Comes Out As Atheist

Barney Frank outed himself as a “pot-smoking atheist” on Bill Maher’s show Friday night. Hemant Mehta writes at Friendly Atheist: “It’s one of those things you wish he could’ve said more openly during the 32 years he sat in Congress. Somehow, it was okay to be a gay liberal, but saying he was an atheist would’ve been taking things too …

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Email Of The Day – Eugene Delgaudio

“Dear Joe, They could not ignore us. Thanks to quick and decisive action from Public Advocate supporters the Pennsylvania state government has filed a lawsuit against rogue county official D. Bruce Hanes in an effort to halt his outrageous violation of state law. After the state’s Attorney General Kathleen Kane (D) publicly refused to defend Pennsylvania’s marriage law, it seemed …

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NYT Disses AIDS History Exhibit

AIDS In NYC: The First Five Years has been running all summer at the New York Historical Society.  Yesterday the New York Times issued a scathing review. After seeing this show, a newcomer to this history would be hard pressed to understand the rise of the street-activist group Act Up, the takeover of the Food and Drug Administration headquarters by …

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President Obama Turns 52

I still can’t get over being older than the president. Very slightly older. But still!

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Original Fire Island Pines Sign

Circa 1957.

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State Department Issues Global Terrorism Alert For Travelers

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Photographer Joe Hepworth

This afternoon Father Tony and I dropped in at the 14th biennial Fire Island Pines Art Show, where my pal (and former NYC Eagle bartender) Joe Hepworth was showing some of his photography.

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