Joe My God posted this photo from Penn Station earlier this week, and I have to admit I love the Visit Philly tourism banner. Maybe I need to book a trip to Philadelphia.
Yesterday, after the US Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, Joan Rivers sent this tweet out to her followers.
Last week NPR’s News Hour ran a segment called Why Those Who Feel They Have Less Give More. The segment is based upon the controversial study, Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior by Paul Piff.
Apparently the study has created a bit of an uproar with people saying this is about class warfare, but I thought it was interesting. My Liberal friends shouldn’t get too smug about this study because it paints quite a hypocritical picture. A consistent finding in all seven studies Piff ran was that social progressives or “Liberals” were just as likely to act unethically / immorally as their social conservative counterparts; meaning your political persuasion didn’t impact your behavior.
I’m not a sociologist so I didn’t bother to read the study that I link to in this post, but it does beg the question, does wealth corrupt? In study after study even those who came from a poorer background – when in simulated tests where they were made to feel “wealthy” – exhibited the same exact unethical decision-making tendencies. Below is the NPR segment that spurred the post.
One week from today, I will head down to Provincetown for the first time this year. Aside from Boston, there is no place I feel more at home and more myself than Ptown. Never visited Provincetown over the 4th of July holiday? A couple years ago I posted this video of what you can expect.
I’d like to say I’ll miss you, but frankly, I’ve never liked you very much; good riddance to you and everyone who supported you.
LGBT community and their allies could not have hoped for more favorable rulings from the US Supreme Court earlier today. In particular, striking down DOMA provides LGBT couples equal protection under the law in states that recognize same sex marriage. This includes tax benefits, pensions, immigration rights, etc… Parties and celebrations will be taking place all over Boston and through out the US.
Are you going to go out and celebrate today? Where will you go?
Today the US Supreme Court sided favorably on two key rulings that has had the entire LGBT community waiting with baited breath; The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8.
DOMA was ruled unconstitutional because it was deemed that it unfairly deprived of the equal liberty of persons and violated their Fifth Amendment rights. The ruling said, “DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled to recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty.”
Page 20 of the opinion said: “careful consideration” standard: In determining whether a law is motivated by improper animus or purpose, discriminations of an unusual character especially require careful consideration. DOMA cannot survive under these principles.
What this means: same-sex couples who are legally married will be entitled to equal treatment under federal law– with regard to, for example, income taxes and Social Security benefits.
California’s Proposition 8 The US Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs lack standing and same-sex marriage is declared legalize in California.
From the majority opinion: We have never before upheld the standing of a private party to defend the constitutionality of a state statute when state officials have chosen not to. We decline to do so for the first time here.
What this means: Same sex marriage is now legal in the most populous state in the USA.
Steve Ali is originally from the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago but now lives and works in the Cayman Islands. I’m not exactly sure when Steve and I started chatting but it was definitely a few years ago back when he maintained a blog any music enthusiast would enjoy called, Long Haired Boy.
Over the years, Steve has made a few trips to Boston to see concerts (he is madly passionate about music), but this was his first visit staying at chez BosGuy. He is such a great guy, attractive, interesting and fun to spend time with and I was really happy to have him here with me. One of the best unintended consequences of writing this blog has been the friendships that have resulted.
I do promise Steve that I’ll be taking you up at some point on your hospitality and visiting The Cayman Islands – but I hope you come back again soon.
If it has been awhile since you last went out dancing, I thought I’d share this instructional video from Soul Train. I think this clip is absolutely hilarious. Dear god the fashions leave a lot to be desired.
For those of you too young to remember Soul Train, was an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from 1971 to 2006.
Enjoy.
Earlier this month Eater Boston reported that restaurant space formerly known as, Noche in the South End on Appleton Street, will open as a new venue called Blind Tiger in late August or early September.
Teenagers will rejoice as they head to City Hall Plaza this Sunday to celebrate Boston radio station AMP 103.3 free Birthday Bash. Performances begin at 2PM by Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Jason Derulo, Sammy Adams, and many others. More details about the birthday bash can be found here.
Thanks to Adam over at Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog for the heads up.
I believe this is my first group photo for this weekly post. I have to admit it is pretty darn tempting. What do you think?
Year 7 Self is how Australians refer to someone who is in 7th grade, and currently there is an initiative in Australia called To My Year 7 Self. The initiative is similar to the It Gets Better videos made in the US. The Aussie initiative focuses on how heterosexuals may fight homophobia and transphobia by sharing stories of people talking to their “7 year self”.
It is a compelling video and worth watching.
Thanks to my fellow friend and blogger, Brenton over at Aussielicious for sharing this last week.
BosGuy 