Each Wednesday morning I post a photograph and ask readers to offer a funny caption. Hopefully you can do better than my attempt and will share a few of your own by leaving them in the comments section.
Slippery Soap
Too many of us have become addicted to 24-hour news network channels: MSNBC, CNN, FOX, etc… All of these channels have inherent biases.
My pitch for The PBS News Hour – hosted at 6PM daily
I wanted to make a pitch for my favorite news program, PBS News Hour, which covers both national and international news equally (a novelty for any American news program). They open with a 5-minute overview of the leading news stories of the day followed by 4-5 more in depth stories that run approximately 6-8 minutes and include multiple stakeholders (not just those who share a similar bias or who are brought on to provoke outrage). If you find a certain story is not of interest you can quickly fast forward if you watch this on DVR as I do.
PBS News Hour also provides an intelligent political analysis every Friday in a reoccurring discussion called Shields & Brooks, which includes syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks. These two men along with the moderator, Judy Woodruff provide an interesting discussion on 3-4 political issues of the week without shouting over each other or calling each other names. One actually walks away with not only a keener understanding of the issues but a better understanding of the opposing view.
If you find that you are getting outraged every time you watch your favorite 24-hour news network then maybe you need to evaluate why you are watching it in the first place. News shouldn’t be sensationalized or dramatic with wild music and graphics designed to elicit an emotional response and get your blood pumping. We are after all talking about news not your favorite reality TV program. Or is that what the news has become for you?
News Hour can be viewed on your local PBS affiliate at 6PM Monday – Friday.
Self Portrait 1980 – Source: clampart.com
Mark Morrisroe (January 10, 1959 – July 24, 1989) was an American performance artist and photographer who was born to a drug-addicted mother in Malden, MA. Due to his unhappy home life (he happened to also be a tenant of Albert DeSalvo, who would become known as the infamous “Boston Strangler”) he moved out at the age of 15 and began hustling to make ends meet.
Despite his hardships, he became known for his performances and photographs, which contributed to the development of the punk scene in Boston in the 1970s and the art world boom of the mid to late 1980s in New York City.
I had never heard about Mark until I learned that there would be an exhibit featuring some of his photos called Mark Morrisroe: Works from 1982 – 85, showing at Alexander & Bonin in NYC through December 22nd. Should you find yourself in NYC and like to see more of this remarkable man’s work, check out the exhibit before it closes next week.
Much thanks to the Seduced by the New blog for this week’s inspiration.
With the holidays in full swing and Christmas in less than two weeks a lot of you may be hopping on planes and traveling to get back to family. Should you be looking for recommendations for gay themed novels to pass the time while you are traveling or off from work, I wanted to point out the blog Gay Book Reviews.
Most of the reviews are of gay romance novels, which isn’t exactly my favorite genre but there are some mysteries and suspense novels interspersed. I want to see more LGBT-themed literature regardless of the genre so I wanted to give the site a shout out to encourage anyone looking for book suggestions to check out the blog. Links are provided to Amazon.com for the books that are reviewed to make it easier to download to your kindle or order online for delivery.
Gay Book Reviews blog
Gay Book Reviews is a permanent link in my Blogroll
Fascination Monday is Boston’s Gear/ Fetish/ Kink event at Jacques Cabaret
What to do this week: December 12 – 18th
5th Annual Sister Santa Bingo is hosted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on Monday, December 12 starting at 7PM at Club Cafe in Boston
Boston Gay Men’s Book Club has a double-feature this month discussing Crime at Christmas by Kitchin and Holidays on Ice by Sedaris at the Trident Bookseller & Cafe on Monday, December 12 in Boston
Fascination Monday is a Gear/ Fetish/ Kink event at Jacques Cabaret that takes place the 2nd Monday and 4th Friday of the month in Boston
Geek Trivia is guaranteed fun and has lots of prizes (trivia starts at 8PM) hosted every Tuesday at Club Cafe in Boston
Show Tune Tuesday is hosted every Tuesday at dbar in Dorchester
Tuesday Night Trivia is at The Alley Cat every Tuesday starting at 8PM in Providence
Karaoke Night starts at 10PM every Tuesday at Jacques in Boston
Opus Affair monthly cocktail social is always fun and this month it will take place at Stoddards near DTX on Wednesday, December 14 in Boston
Thump Thursdaes! takes place every Thursday at Peggy O’Neil’s Pub in Dorchester
Golden Girls Live – ‘LOST’ Christmas Episode takes place at Club Cafe Thursday through Sunday in Boston
Queer Inclusive Climbing Klub (QuICK) Pizza night and climbing club at Brooklyn Boulders on Friday, December 16 in Somerville
DotOUT Holiday Party to Benefit Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester starts at 8PM on Friday, December 16 at the Harp + Bard in Dorchester
Paul Oakenfold will be at Royale on Friday, December 16 in Boston
Boyfriends is the monthly no-attitude gay dance party at the Milky Way Lounge on Friday, December 16 in Jamaica Plain
The Coolidge at Midnight: Rare Exports – A Christmas Tale starts at 11:59PM Friday, December 16 at The Coolidge in Brookline
A John Waters Christmas brings his one man show to Boston at Berklee Performance Center Saturday, December 17 in Boston
Dont Ask Dont Tell is a monthly LGBTQ party and performance that welcomes everyone on Saturday, December 17 at Great Scott in Allston
The Judy Garland Christmas Special is every Saturday night at 8PM at Club Cafe in Boston
Saga Saturdays is Boston’s newest gay night featuring some of the best DJs and plenty of great dancing at Paradise Saturday, December 17 in Cambridge
Ego Saturdays with DJ Richie LaDue from 10PM – 3AM in Providence
Back 2 Basics Tea Dance never has a cover and always has great music from 70s 80s & 90s, starting at 5PM no cover every Sunday at Club Cafe in Boston
Karaoke Sundays is hosted each week starting at 9PM at Mainestreet every Sunday in Ogunquit
Send me information about your upcoming programs and events in my blog’s comment section or message me the details on Facebook.
Posted in Boston, Ogunquit, Providence, Provincetown
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, Ogunquit, Provincetown
I wanted to take a moment to congratulate a local hero of mine, Mary Bonauto. Although she isn’t a household name and is likely to be quickly looked over by those skimming through this year’s OUT 100, she is a woman who has changed the world for the better. Mary Bonauto has worked tirelessly for the LGBTQ community here in Boston and across the country. In the OUT 100 issue they describe her as a lawyer and civil rights advocate who was one of the three attorneys who argued for same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court in 2015. However, her legal successes span decades of work thanks to her keen legal mind and chutzpah. Massachusetts former US Representative, Barney Frank, has referred to her as the LGBTQ community’s Thurgood Marshall and I’m inclined to agree.
Most of her work has been done while at GLAD (Gay Legal Advocates and Defenders) which is based here in Boston and should not be confused with GLAAD. Other highlights to her distinguished career include being the lead counsel in the 2003 case Goodridge v. Department of Public Health which made Massachusetts the first state in which same-sex couples could marry in 2004. She is also responsible for leading the first strategic challenges to section three of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Congratulations Mary. We are all lucky to have you. And those of us here in Massachusetts are especially proud of you and the work you’ve done.
Posted in Uncategorized
Located next to Fuji on Harrison Ave in the Ink Block, Lion’s Tail is rumored to possibly open this coming weekend. According to a write up in Boston Magazine the cocktail bar and restaurant will accommodate approximately 120 people, and the space will have a long, curving bar that spans the room, two communal high-tops, and dining tables with tufted black leather banquettes.
The space is marketed as a speakeasy which strikes me as odd, considering it is in the Ink Block which gives off anything but an old-time speakeasy vibe. Having said that, I’m game anytime a new bar or restaurant wants to open in the neighborhood and I look forward to checking out Lion’s Tail once they open.
You can follow Lion’s Tail on Facebook by liking their page, here. For more information you can read the Boston Magazine article, here.
According to a recent American Express survey of US households that have an annual income of $100,000 or more the average per person spend is expected to rise by more than 150% to $1,521 from just $605 in 2015.
The top reason to travel cited by consumers this holiday season is to visit family or friends. The second most cited reason for travel is to take a vacation, but the cost for the average American family holiday vacation has jumped and is expected to cost slightly more than $9,000. Among those traveling during the holiday season, the majority will stay within the U.S. with nearly one out of every three Americans naming the Northeast as their destination.
You can read more about these findings from American Express, here.
I’m not a morning person: I can’t function until I’ve had a coffee – or several.
– Alastair Reynolds
Click on the comic strip to enlarge
ADAM & ANDY is set in the fictional New England town of Woodfield, CT. You can learn more about this strip by visiting, adamandandy.com. To see previous Adam and Andy cartoons link here.
Enjoy the weekend and thanks for stopping by to check out my blog.
Derrick Barry released a new video on YouTube, Slumber Party (Parody) “Christmas Party”, which you should definitely watch. Its filled with some fun dancing, plenty of eye candy and is worth sharing.
Much thanks to Matt over at boyculture blog for bringing this to my attention.
Here is a throwback to just before the 2014 Santa Speedo Run. Since the annual 1 mile run through Back Bay is tomorrow, I thought this would be fun to share.
BosGuy 