Jake Gyllenhaal camps it up while refreshing his riding skills in England for his role as Prince Dastan in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. You can take the man out of the gay cowboy.... (via BeautyandtheBum) ...

There is widespread concern among the gay community in Belarus following an increased number of homophobic attacks over the past month. Among the victims was Edward Tarletski, a well-known Belarusian gay and member of the Board of Lambda Belarus. He was badly beaten on May 21 at around 11 p.m. when he was on his way back to his Minsk home. According to Mr. Tarletski, he was attacked by three young persons between 20 and 25 years as he arrived at his apartment building. “I was approaching the entrance, when I saw young people smoking nearby,” he said. “One of ...

It's no secret that I loved Arrested Development - it was a brilliant show, sadly, for whatever reason it didn't make it past season three.  Over the years I've tried to rent the dvd's in an attempt to catch all of the episodes, but they were always out - apparently I'm not the only fan. Well, I no longer have to worry about that.  Some fabulous angel named Glen got me all 3 seasons for my birthday!  I'm in absolute heaven. I was also super pumped to recently discover that an Arrested Development movie is in the works - fuck yeah. Thank ...

Since the SCOTUS 2nd amendment decision came down, gun issues are much in the news, and two recent stories I think are interesting to consider together. Story 1. A 71 year old marine, with a concealed weapon was in a Subway when it was robbed. When the two thiefs tried to force the man into a bathroom, he pulled out his gun and shot both of them, killing one. Story 2. In Texas, a man noticed two people stealing things from his neighbor’s house, and shot them both, killing both. Now, legally, it appears both men were in the right. Morally, ...

rich and well to do suburbanites think their 'solitude' is so much more important than addressing pressing needs for improved civic infrastructure. sudbury, ma residents are fighting the conversion of an old railroad into a bike trail. the bullshit-laden tantrums from grown adults is just hysterical:Looking out at a lushly wooded area beyond a stone wall on her 100-acre estate, Carole Wolfe's face darkened. There, in the distance, she said, nervously pointing a finger, stretches a former rail corridor that, if some have their way, could bring trouble upon this town where her family's roots date to Colonial times."Instead ...

We are saddened to learn of the passing of former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina. While his professional life was filled with animosity toward those different than him, his personal life appears to have been paradoxically compassionate. (Many people outside of North Carolina are not aware, for instance, that more than twenty years into their marriage, the Helmses adopted their nine-year-old son, Charles, who had cerebral palsy.)Senator Helms was one of the last politicians (to date) to explicitly appeal to bigotry and resentment without fear of reprisal. He steadfastly fought for rights of those who had power ...

A ...

This my latest installment for Photo Friday! This picture was taken during a spring walk in Boston, while on a business trip. This building is in the heart of Boston's financial district, but the average person would not take the time to look up and see this gem. ...

You know it's your 50th birthday when...~ The oldest looking, most worn, coin in your pocket is dated the same year you graduated college.~ You had to learn ventriloquism in order to own a toy that talked.~ You remember the Hula-Hoop® the first time it was invented. And Super Balls®, and Frisbees®.~ Your childhood friends sent you birthday cards that mention that their kids are graduating college this year.~ When Greenwood Cemetery mails you an invitation to come tour their Tranquility Garden Columbarium. ~ You remember having relatives with actual names like: Claude, Earl, Mavis, Camilla, Walter, and Emmadohl.~ ...

By guest author, Maris Sants Here’s my plea to the people of Britain: Today, take pride in Pride London. The event will see thousands of people – gay and straight – flock onto the streets of the capital in a joyous celebration of love. The day will be marked by colour, glitz and glamour. It will be a wonderful advert for the tolerant nature of the people of the United Kingdom and will show how far lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights have come. Now that for me is reason enough to install a sense of pride. I should ...

From: Wired.comOn July 4, 1966, the Fab Four were in the Philippines, afraid for their lives. You see, they were there to play a concert. But when manager Brian Epstein declined the band's invitation to a luncheon with Imelda Marcos, it was broadcast as a snub by the fabled shoe obsessive and her nation's media. Just like that, The Beatles' police protection disappeared, and the band was hounded out of the country, and roughed up along the way.Varying versions of the infamous event have gone viral as time (and memory) has faded. But that's where YouTube ...

From CNN:WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, a North Carolina Republican who became an icon to conservatives, died Friday at age 86, the Jesse Helms Center said. Helms once said his job was to derail the freight train of liberalism. Conservatives admired him for his opposition to abortion and what he called "indecent art," while liberals accused him of using race as a wedge issue to defeat black opponents. Helms opposed civil rights and a holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He was one of a small number of senators who opposed extending the Voting ...

Have Fun... and don't Drive If You are ... ;o)http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping ...

By Paul Armentano, AlterNet.While the the American Medical Association claims pot has no medical value, Big Pharma is busy getting patents for marijuana products.The US government's longstanding denial of medical marijuana research and use is an irrational and morally bankrupt public policy. On this point, few Americans disagree. As for the question of "why" federal officials maintain this inflexible and inhumane policy, well that's another storyOne of the more popular theories seeking to explain the Feds' seemingly inexplicable ban on medical pot goes like this: Neither the US government nor the pharmaceutical industry will allow for the use ...

The hotel has a free breakfast and dinner. I went down to get a cup of coffee and found this huge buffet. All free. You really can't see much of it here, but it is a huge place. You eat in this area that looks like a gentleman's club or library. Really nice. I snapped this picture to blog it. See the cop the left there? Well, I think he was not supposed to be there, because as soon as I snapped the pic, he jumped up and started following me. Guess he didn't want to be ...

Marcus Patrick.Yeah...I admit it.I want tobe him. And...I want - to do that.Eat chips.I mean.Not do Reese Rideout.But then - You knew that.Right? ...

Please do not feed the howler monkeys. Please keep your arms, legs, Funyuns, Cheetos and cans of Natural Light inside the Mart-Cart at all times. Thank you for reading "Behind the Counter." If you liked this post, please come to the site and leave a comment-type thing. Or, if you have some spare coin, earn some good karma and send me something off my Amazon.com Wish List. ...

Four years ago, Chris Vincent and Ken Molsberry flew to San Francisco on a whim, waited all night in a drenching downpour and bawled when a city commissioner said the words they had waited years to hear: "I now pronounce you spouses for life." It was a powerful validation of their longtime love for each other, and the first time they felt equal to other Americans. "It was glorious," Molsberry said. Then it was gone. That same year -- 2004 -- California's high court voided the marriages performed in San Francisco, crushing hundreds of gay and lesbian couples who ...

A ...

oh my goodness what with all the teaching and pilates and swimming and visits from bloggers who were friends before blogging was invented and duran duran concerts and birthday celebrations and setting up my new toy and my other new toy and trying to reconfigure my home wi-fi network (WEP, WPA, waaaaah) I haven't blogged since the posting the scary lady picture but now I have to meet the prodigal friend for the Pride Parade and then lure him back to Walthamstow (Walthamstow? I know!) for a surprise welcome ...