The monument in the middle of the circle was erected in 1892 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus “discovering” America. It is the the point from which map makers measure the distance from New York City. A couple of years ago, the fountains that surround the column were renovated by the same team that did the fountains at the …

Happy Chinese New Year. We are now in the Year Of The Pig. As I was born in a Piggy Year (ahem), I checked out my Chinese horoscope: According to customary superstition, these people are not vengeful creatures. If someone tries to take advantage of them, the pig type tend to withdraw to reflect on the problem and protect themselves. …

According to Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York, the city’s massive condom giveaway is “tragic and misguided” and “the only way to protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS is through abstinence before marriage and fidelity among married couples.” In a joint statement with Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Egan goes on to say: “Our political leaders …

The Attorney General of New Jersey has announced that gay unions performed in other jurisdictions will be recognized as such, even if other the unions were called “marriage”. Activists consider this partially good news. On the one hand, gay people married in Massachusetts, Canada, Spain, etc, will have all the rights and privileges of “civil union” couples in New Jersey. …

Apologies for the light blogging the last few days. My ex is visiting for a week and I’ve been in complete NYC tourist immersion. Last night we hit The Drowsy Chaperone and dinner at the revolving restaurant at the top of Times Square. Next stop: foam Statue Of Liberty crowns!

Warren Chisum, the wingnut head of the Texas Appropriations Committee, doesn’t believe that the earth revolves around the sun, and is sending his fellow Texas legislators a memo promoting FixedEarth.com, a site devoted to “debunking” Copernicus. Accorded to the site, everything from Darwin to the Big Bang is a “Kabbalist” conspiracy. According to a Daily Kos diarist, Chisum may just …

“I’m not hiring them for their ability to act.” – Porn director Michael Lucas, speaking of the performers in his movie, La Dolce Vita, claiming that nobody would confuse his movie for Federico Fellini’s 1960 original. Lucas is being sued for copyright and trademark infringement..

A JetBlue airliner pushed back from the gate at JFK on Wednesday and waited for the bad weather to clear so it could take off. ELEVEN hours later, the passengers were still on the plane, waiting for take off. Finally, the jet returned to the gate and the enraged passengers were allowed to get off. We’re hearing these stories more …

That’s me in the red coat..

“It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours,” NBA Commissioner David Stern, announcing that former Miami Heat star Tim Hardaway was being removed from All-Star Weekend activities. Yesterday, Hardaway effectively ended his sportscasting ambitions by saying on sports radio, “I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t …

Don’t be fooled by the gleaming tile, this station isn’t nearly as clean as this picture might indicate. Still, I’m in the tiny minority of New Yorkers who think that the subway stations and trains are aren’t that horribly dirty, considering that millions and millions of passengers travel through every day and that they never close. This is the 1 …

Hmm, the earlier story indicated that there’d be a condom for each subway line. There goes the collectible market. The condoms are available free at many of the busiest subway stations around the city. UPDATE: Washington, DC is doing a city-branded condom too. I’d make some limp joke about the DC fucking the entire country, but it’s probably already on …

I’ll post my piece from last night’s Worst. Sex. Ever show later today. What was your worst sex ever?.

Nigeria, the 9th most populous nation in the world, is about to criminalize “virtually all forms of gay expression.” Legislation being considering by the Nigerian National Assembly reads: “Any person who is involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organizations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public …

A drug from a coming new class of HIV medications has been fast-tracked for review in the United States and Europe. Pfizer’s Maraviroc is the first drug to block CCR5, a chemokine receptor that allows HIV to enter T-cells and reproduce. The FDA will consider approving Maraviroc in April, making it possible that the drug may reach U.S. patients by …

Tonight I’ll be appearing in the 4th annual Worst.Sex.Ever, the show that launched WYSIWYG, the now legendary all-blogger performance series. Wizmaster Chris Hampton advises that while the advance tickets are sold out, there will be additional tickets available at the door. This is my fourth or fifth time doing Wizzy, but my first time at the Worst.Sex.Ever show. I’m still …