In January 2008 I posted about the Christmas Eve 'internet date' killing of a 41-year-old man, Thomas Szadowski, in Southington, Connecticut. Yesterday, a video confession from that man's killer was played for jurors in a courtroom. Reports the Hartford Courant: "The video is of an interview with police in which he admits shooting Szadkowski in Szadkowski's apartment in Southington. 'I always say I ain't scared anymore, but I was kind of scared,' he says in the video. He wondered if Szadkowski would rape him or if the drinks he was offered were drugged. Mercado said Szadkowksi touched his ...

Oh, dear... Dude claims that on Christmas Eve in 1973, Madonna issued him forth from her loins. He also apparently shares her interest in hanging out on crosses, and hitchhiking in the nude. Watch the trailer for Material Boy, AFTER THE JUMP... (via boy culture) (possibly nsfw) ...

It started on Thanksgiving and then continued on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then continued on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day -- text message greetings.I don't remember it in previous years, but all this holiday season, people sent me nice greetings via text. Many people I would not even have thought of doing it, sent greetings this way.It's very nice.One odd thing is that I got quite a few greetings from numbers I didn't recognize. They are not punched into my phone or linked to anyone's name, so they just came in as "Merry Christmas" or "Happy ...

I saw this report on Christmas Day, but I'm only getting around to posting it here. Fuji Fabric lead singer Shimura Masahiko died from yet-unknown illness on Christmas Eve, Bounce.com reports. He was 29 years old. Shimura was the last remaining original member of the band, and he was responsible for all the songwriting. An announcement on the band's web site states Fuji Fabric's remaining members will announce later if they will continue. The band's upcoming performances at RADIO CRAZY and COUNT DOWN JAPAN 09/10 have been canceled. I've been meaning to get Fuji Fabric's previous album, TEENAGER, and I forgot ...

Shit! I meant to post this on Christmas Eve but of course I forgot like the total idiot I am. Still, it's almost New Year's, and Henrietta and Merna are really perennials anyway. We've probably posted this before, but I say let's make it a holiday tradition. (Thanks to de Cosmos for the reminder.) ...

Christmas is over, right? Not quite. Since we were going to Florida for actual Christmas, Shane and I went to my mom's to celebrate Christmas with her and my sister and her family the weekend before Christmas. It was also the weekend of the blizzard in DC. I had Friday off, so I took the train up Thursday night (a week before Christmas Eve) and Shane drove up Friday night. The storm came later Friday night and all day Saturday. We managed to drive ourselves and my mom over to my sister's house (about 5 miles away). We ...

Today, I heard from a second friend that his mom refused to have him over for Christmas Eve dinner because he wanted to bring his boyfriend. On grounds that it’s against the Bible. On Christmas. Christmas! What is the calculation in a mother’s mind that says, “I’d rather be apart from my child on Christmas than to meet the man he’s sharing his life with?” What could be so powerful that it would neutralize the bond between mother and child? By what balance of scales do you choose an abstraction (”The Bible says homosexuality is wrong”) over flesh and blood (your ...

As of Thursday afternoon, I am off through the end of the year. Folding for Erie Gay News went rather well on Wednesday, and I figured that I would drop off the Jamestown copies, since I had time and I might save a bit on postage. So, GPS in hand (or rather, on the windshield), I set out. There were 5 places to drop off at, and the first 4 were closed. Okay, not a big surprise on Christmas eve. I ended up at Club Sneakers. Not only were they open, but they were having a Christmas party. ...

Today, I heard from a second friend that his mom refused to have him over for Christmas Eve dinner because he wanted to bring his boyfriend. On grounds that it’s against the Bible. On Christmas. Christmas! What is the calculation in a mother’s mind that says, “I’d rather be apart from my child on Christmas than to meet the man he’s sharing his life with?” What could be so powerful that it would neutralize the bond between mother and child? By what balance of scales do you choose an abstraction (”The Bible says homosexuality is wrong”) over flesh and blood (your ...

Your Neon Lights Will ShineI took Christmas Eve off from work, the beginning of a much-needed five-day weekend. Sleeping in until 9am was a wonderful treat, but not half as much fun as what my Dad and I did a little later in the afternoon.A little tradition I started with my Mom a few years ago -- the two of us attending a play or a musical together for Mothers Day -- has grown to include taking my Dad to a show for Fathers Day. However, earlier this year, they both became fairly ill, forcing me to postpone any trips ...

The amazingly talented remixers over at the Remix Artist Collective (RAC) released a little holiday present right on Christmas Eve. Head over here to download four exclusive remixes they crafted of  The Gossip ("Heavy Cross") U2 ("Magnificent"), Honeythieves ("Reminder"), Hockey ("Too Fake"). Some very good stuff. The remix of "Heavy Cross" is my favorite - hearing Beth Ditto rock 'n roll over a tight, pacing beat is pure dancefloor bliss. ...

We had a great Christmas, lots of food, gifts, fun and family. I didn't overeat, I am able to pace myself so I feel great today.I sometimes think my mother is getting old and forgetful, but she came through with flying colors yesterday, preparing the Christmas day as usual, making three or four huge lasagnas and her famous meatballs. She could actually have a business just selling lasagna and meatballs if she ever needs to.My father had all the Christmas lights on the house, the tree was up, everything was perfect.The whole family came over.For Christmas Eve, we were at ...

The joys of technology… I typed most of this up at Ma’s yesterday once lunch was done and we were sitting down relaxing… I was surrounded by technology actually… laptop, iPhone (on charge via the laptop), and my digital camera (still on it's tripod). Oh and I kept a track of what we did throughout the day on my iPhone calendar (now if only I could get it to sync properly with either Google Calendar or some other program).Hehehe… I’m such a technoweenie…It was something of an odd day really… I can’t say that it really started to feel ...

Marc Jacobs and his significant other, Lorenzo Martone, have some fun in the St. Bart sun on Christmas Eve. "He is so in love with Lorenzo," says friend and muse, artist Rachel Feinstein. "It's such a unique, strong relationship that obviously looks like it's going to be a forever one." MORE PHOTOS on the next page plus a link to many, many more! 30+ pics of Marc and Lorenzo on Christmas Eve / St. Bart. ...

First Congregational Church of Los Angeles where one can find the world's largest church organ (depending on how you measure, of course). The entire performance was well up to Boston standards, but only a light jacket was required. More photos here. ...

Merry Christmas from Crossdresser Heaven Merry Christmas to all the readers of Crossdresser Heaven. May your Christmas be filled with the joy of special moments and the love of special people. With blessings to you and those you hold dear. -Vanessa Vicki has written some of her thoughts this Christmas, which I’d like to share with you as you celebrate the festive season. Crossdressing, Christmas Time and God’s Love Wow, what a year this has been. One year ago today, just home from work, snowbound on Christmas Eve, I chanced upon this wonderful little site called Crossdresser Heaven. It was just what I’d been looking for, ...

'Tis the Season! On this day I hope everyone received something they wanted from their "Santa". As you are celebrating the season with your closest friends, family, and/or significant other as I did last night. A new tradition began two years ago with my closest friends, Michael & Uli and their closest friends Kevin & Cheryl. Since I moved here now three Christmas' ago we get together on Christmas Eve and have several rounds of hor' dourves, a few drinks, and then exchange gifts. It started five years ago when Michael first moved here. He didn't have much furniture at first ...

Christmas Eve was awesome. I left work at about 2 pm and met up with Matty for coffee so that we could say Merry Christmas to each other. We ran into Darren as well, which was weird, because he didn't know Matty was finishing up early. After shopping with Matty for a while, we parted and I went home to get Sam, so we could go grocery shopping for our wine and cheese dinner with Iain and Joel in the evening. The weather was perfect - blue sky with blobs of white clouds providing occasional shade from the sunshine. It ...

To be perfectly honest, the stress hasn't really let up here with all of that stuff that I mentioned.And truly, in all of my memory, I cannot recall a year when it felt less like Christmas to me.But, we decided to go to church tonight for the Christmas Eve services and that was a really good thing. There's nothing like remembering the real reason for the season, singing hymns and listening to a message of peace and hope to get yourself re-centered. It helped me to realize a lot of things... not the least of which is that I miss ...