My fellow blogger, Brenton posted this YouTube video featuring Olympian Matthew Mitcham and the very handsome Dan Murphy. They’ve made an entertaining 2 minute video that mashes up 18 classic Australian songs.
Even though Australia Day is Jan. 26th – I’m posting this tonight because it is actually the 26th already in Australia. So go out and celebrate a bit early.
It is finally Friday afternoon here in Boston, and I’m already thinking of what to do tonight. Do I dare brave the cold and head out?
Do tell, what will you be doing this weekend?
Michael C – a friend who has contributed posts to this blog in the past, recently posted this image on his Facebook page. It got me to thinking, “What are you reading?”
I’ve been friendly with Jesse for more than a decade and can tell you that he’s as sweet on the inside as he is sexy on the outside. This photo looks like it was taken at Body Body in Ptown. May the image warm you, despite the freezing temperatures here in the northeast.
It is so cold here in Boston I completely forgot about the appeal of beach volleyball. Sure, it sounds dumb; risk getting clobbered by a ball or possibly wind up with sand in your mouth as you dive out of the way to avoid getting clobbered. However, this serene image reminds me that there are other aspects to the sport which deserve a second (and third) look.
Next week at this time I’ll be heading to the airport to leave for Puerto Rico, and after the bitterly cold temperatures of this week I am more than ready to go.
I am longing to feel the warmth of the Caribbean and look forward to having a few days that are free of conference calls and meetings. On this particular visit to Puerto Rico I’ll be at the W Hotel resort on Vieques. The image above was taken a couple years ago at El Conquistador Resort at my cousin’s wedding.
With Sen. John Kerry’s nomination to be President Obama’s next Secretary of State all but assured, Massachusetts will once again hold a special election to fill a U.S. Senate seat. US Representative Ed Markey has emerged as the early favorite to seek (and get) the Democratic Party nomination. Prominent politicians have quickly lined up to express their support, but I’m not the least bit happy about this news.
Over the past few years the Massachusetts delegation has lost significant clout with the loss of Congressional districts and after powerful politicians have left office. If Rep. Markey leaves the US House of Rep., he will be the second (following Rep. Frank who just retired) loss for our delegation. Adding to the problem is both US Senators from MA will have no seniority. While voters may not be thinking about how this will impact the state, mark my words – this will make thing difficult for a state that is accustomed to having powerful legislators in D.C. able to negotiate and work on our behalf.
Aside from this significant issue (and rest assured – it is a significant), the opening in the US Senate should in theory allow for “new blood” to enter our state’s political landscape. If MA is going to be faced with the reality that both US Senators will have zero seniority, I’d prefer to see someone come from the outside the current political machine who can bring new ideas to the table. So while many may have personal / political biases in favor of or opposing Rep. Markey, my reservations are based on reality, and I’m not pleased.
It is so cold in Boston this week. I’m starting to wonder if the mild temperatures earlier this month was a hallucination. Dear Mother Nature, please tell Old Man Winter to buzz off.
Long time readers of this blog know I am a tennis fanatic. While I love the international flavor of the sport, there have been very few new Americans who look as if they could win majors like the Australian Open, which is currently being played in Melbourne.
However, that all changed last night when I watched 19 year old Sloane Stephens defeat her idol, Serena Williams. Sloane moves as quickly as Serena and matches her power. What she lacks is experience but her quarterfinals match in Melbourne yesterday gave her plenty and hopefully that perspective will help her when plays the Women’s top seed, Victoria Azarenka in the next round.
Source: Getty Images
If you are not familiar with Stephens it may be because she’s so young and has not been a seeded player in a major until now. WTA rankings show Stephens has risen quickly, in ’09 she was ranked 802; in ’10 she was ranked 198; in ’11 she was ranked 97 and last year she was ranked 38. With her win over Serena Williams she is now ranked 25 in the world.
Who can say what Stephens’ future will bring, but I have my eye on this soft spoken young woman with the powerful serve and killer slice return. Her poise while playing Serena Williams is admirable and more than one would expect from a 19-year old. I’ll be cheering from my couch when she plays her next match and watching her all year long. Trust me – you’ll love her game.
Last week I went to see The SpeakEasy Stage production of Other Desert Cities. The play tells a story of a once promising young novelist who has returned home after several years to celebrate Christmas with her family in Palm Springs, CA. However, the daughter’s return home turns tense after she announces that she’s published a tell all memoir about a family tragedy from the past.
The narrative of family tensions and travails are things we can all relate to, but the depth of the frustrations and personal tragedy addressed are thankfully uncharted territory for me. The humorous lines interspersed and mostly delivered by the role of recovering alcoholic, Aunt/Sister played by Nancy Carroll go a long way to release that tension and provide many unexpected laughs. Leaving the theater, I was left with the thought, we all need to be a bit more forgiving because reality isn’t always what it seems. If that message strikes home for you as well, you may want to go see this production.
Other Desert Cities performances run through Saturday, February 9th. You may purchase tickets at The Calderwood Pavilion box office on Tremont Street in the South End or by phone, 617-933-8600 or online at SpeakEasyStage.com.
Its been awhile since I’v channeled Mean Girls. Do you have your pink on?
Fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, raised eyebrows and earned applause from the French GLBT community when he used fashion to express his support for a controversial French gay marriage law by sending two brides down the catwalk. Interestingly, Lagerfeld has indicated that he is opposed to gay couples being allowed to adopt children, but that’s probably a discussion better suited for a future post. Read more here.
BostInno is reporting that the MBTA may be looking into extending service until 2:00am. Late night transit service in Boston is a perennial topic that usually results in more talk than action, although it isn’t without precedent. I recall the “Night Owl” service where buses served specific train routes until 2:30am for a premium fare. However, that program was eventually axed in 2005 due to budget cuts.
Could this be more than just lip service from the Governor and others who seem to be in favor of extending the transit service? I’d like to think so. In addition to the many who find themselves stranded after a night out of drinking, I like to point out that working 9am to 5pm is now a thing of the past and thousands of residents work hours early into the morning when public transportation would be a welcome service. You may read more about this on BostInno’s website here.
On January 22, 1973 (40 years ago) the US Supreme Court legalized a woman’s right to choose to have a safe and legal abortion.
While I can appreciate arguments from those who oppose the legalization of abortion, I see this simply as an individual right that can be summed up as such, your body = your choice.
Are you an advocate for choice? Learn from the LGBT movement and do not take your rights for granted. The LGBT community learned this lesson the hard way as we watched both states and the federal government restrict our individual liberties through a combination of legislation and judicial rulings in the previous century and first few years of this one.
BosGuy 