Category: News

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News Round-Up: August 27, 2020

L-R Michael Caprio, Matt Zarley, Chad Quintero, Randy Slovacek, Greg Chase
Some news items you might have missed: • TBT: Remembering sunsets at our pool (above) when we could actually have a group of folks over for summertime cocktails in our Olivia Newton-John cups. Ah, good times… • The Advocate: The city of Anchorage has become the first in Alaska to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ for minors. This makes Alaska the 40th state where some jurisdiction has taken action against the harmful practice. • New York Times: More than 100 former staff members for Senator John McCain are supporting former Vice President Joe Biden in a show of support across the political divide. The list of signatories includes a range of people — from chiefs of staff in Mr. McCain’s Senate office to junior aides on his campaigns — who worked for him over his 35 years in Congress and during two presidential bids. Republican Voters Against Trump also released this ad today in McCain’s home state of Arizona.

• OUT: A bodybuilding gay couple in Malta were brutally slain in their home on August 18. Police are looking for three persons captured on security cameras leaving the residence, as well as a suspected driver in an awaiting vehicle. • JoeMyGod: After GoFundMe canceled a crowdfunding campaign for legal costs for accused 17-year-old murderer Kyle Rittenhouse, ‘Christian’ crowdfunding site GiveSendGo raised over $59,000 in the first few hours. • ABC News: Cocky North Carolina congressional candidate Madison Cawthorn, 25, got it wrong during his four-minute speech during the Republican National Convention last night when he boasted the accomplishments of other youthful politicians in history, like James Madison, who he mistakenly announced signed the Declaration of Independence. “If you don’t think young people can change the world, then you just don’t know American history. George Washington was 21 when he received his first military commission. Abe Lincoln, 22 when he first ran for office. And my personal favorite: James Madison was just 25 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence.” Today, Cawthorn says he was just testing the fact-checkers.

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News Round-Up: August 26, 2020

Snoopy doing his best turned-in Fosse leg
Some news items you might have missed: • National Dog Day: Celebrating all of the furry family members that make our lives liveable. That’s the amazing Snoopy above, and yes, he is giving you turned-in Fosse leg 🙂 • NY Times: Just over two months before Election Day, Donald Trump is trailing in almost every poll to former Vice President Joe Biden, whom activists credit with pushing President Obama to support gay marriage. And Trump’s advisers are suddenly talking about LGBTQ people as they scramble to find new voter support. • Washington Blade: A federal appeals court on Wednesday once again ruled in favor of Gavin Grimm, a transgender man who challenged his Virginia school district’s bathroom policy. • The Advocate: Well-known homophobe and pool boy/personal trainer aficionado Jerry Falwell Jr. will receive a $10.5 million severance package from Liberty University as he heads out the door amid controversy. • CNN: A sudden change in federal guidelines on coronavirus testing came this week as a result of pressure from the upper ranks of the Trump administration, a federal health official tells CNN – “It’s coming from the top down.” The new guidelines raise the bar on who should get tested, advising that some people without symptoms probably don’t need it — even if they’ve been in close contact with an infected person. • New Music: Rising pop artist MkX has released his latest single “Fall” – an escapist pop bop that wrestles with the feeling of falling in love. “I wrote “Fall” about the three stages of falling for someone,” says MkX. “The first stage is apprehension and wanting to protect yourself from getting hurt. The second stage is realization and coming to terms with the fact that you’re starting to fall in love. The third stage is owning it and switching roles by making that person fall for you. Each chorus has the same melody, but slightly different lyrics that reflect each of these stages.” MkX is a new artist for me but I definitely like mixing up synth-pop and R&B on a very modern, ‘now’ soundscape.

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17-Year-Old Charged With Murder Of Wisconsin Protesters

Kyle Rittenhouse (image via Twitter)
Kyle Rittenhouse, 17,  has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after opening fire on a group during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin last night, killing two people and injuring a third. From CBS News:

The post did not name the 17-year-old, who they said is an Antioch resident. But the Lake County, Illinois State’s Attorney’s office said Kyle Rittenhouse was in bond court this morning regarding being a fugitive from justice in Wisconsin, and is being held on no bond. He was due back in court for an extradition hearing on Friday.

Cellphone video that circulated on social media showed what appeared to be a White man with a semi-automatic rifle opening fire on a group of people during demonstrations over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The man with the gun is then seen walking toward responding police vehicles, at times with his hands in the air, as some police vehicles drive past him.

Sheriff David Beth said one victim was shot in the head and another in the chest, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The third victim’s wounds were not believed to life-threatening.

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News Round-Up: August 25, 2020

Gustavo Naspolini in Santorini (via Instagram)
Some news stories you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Gustavo Naspolini (above) shares this shot from Santorini – which is where I was supposed to be today if it hadn’t been for COVID-19. #HowNiceForHim • NBC News: Brooklyn’s East River State Park was renamed Monday after Marsha P. Johnson on what would have been the transgender rights activist’s 75th birthday. Marsha P. Johnson State Park is New York’s first state park to honor an LGBTQ person and transgender woman of color, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. • Washington Post: Openly gay former US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, recently claimed Donald Trump to be the ‘most pro-gay president in history.’ The Post took a moment to debunk the ‘stew of misleading timelines and out-of-context quotes.’ • CBS News: Following 46 cases of bleach ingestions in the North Texas Poison Center region since the start of August, experts are again warning people that drinking the chemical won’t prevent COVID-19. #srsly • Theatermania: Now that the powers that be have announced the Tony Awards will happen digitally this fall, David Gordon breaks down how things might shakeout with the truncated Broadway season. For instance, it appears only two actors will be eligible in the Best Actor in a Musical category. • Election 2020: Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, says the Donald told officials to break immigration laws in order to enact his policies, and if there were problems he would pardon them. This new spot, from Republican Voters Against Trump, will be airing in battleground states on Fox News. Trumpers will probably be thrilled the Donald wanted to break immigration laws.

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Study: PrEP Users See Decrease In Sex Addiction & Party Drug Use

(image via Depositphotos)
A new study reveals gay and bi men who use PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) report lower levels of sexual addiction (“sexual compulsivity”) and notably lower use of so-called ‘party drugs.’ Researchers at the largest STI clinic in Amsterdam tracked PrEP users over a three year period to assess how longtime use might impact mental health and addiction issues. Those who took part in the study answered questions regarding levels of depression and/or anxiety, alcohol and drug use, and the levels (if any) they felt unable to control their sexual behavior. While levels of alcohol use and depression remained statistically the same, PrEP users reported a significant decline (from 38 percent at baseline to 31 percent at last visit) in the use of two specific drugs: ecstasy (MDMA) and nitrates (poppers). Sexual compulsivity also showed a notable decrease  – from 23 percent to 10 percent at last visit. The term refers to sexual fantasies or behaviors that cause folks to act out in ways that can be damaging to multiple aspects of life like work, friendships, and personal health. The researchers remarked that “the simultaneous decrease in drug use disorder and sexual compulsivity was unexpected.” Gus Cairns of AIDSMAP writes: “They hypothesise that PrEP relieved its users of the anxiety of catching HIV and that, in turn, this made them feel more in charge of their sexual behaviour (so less compulsive) and less in need of drugs to counteract the inhibiting effect of anxiety.” The researchers take care not to say that PrEP was specifically the cause of improvements in addiction and mental health. Rather, they note that just being a part of the study, and therefore paying attention to these indicators, probably impacted the participants’ outlook. (Source: AIDSMAP)

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News Round-Up: August 24, 2020

InstaHunk Petr Hollesch (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: I think what drew me to this photo of Czech fitness guy Petr Hollesch was his chill, subdued demeanor 🙂 Follow him on Instagram here. • Global News: Vancouver police are recommending charges of aggravated assault after a confrontation downtown Saturday that left a man with a broken leg. In a series of tweets, Sportsnet 650 host Justin Morissette said he “stood up to anti-gay evangelical bullies in the West End … and they purposely broke my leg for the trouble.” • Instinct Magazine: JLo recently released the trailer for the short film, Draw With Me. The film introduces the world to the pop star’s nibling, a non-binary term for a family member, Brendon Scholl. Scholl is the 19-year-old child of Jennifer’s sister, Leslie Lopez. • CNN: A California Superior Court judge has ordered Donald Trump to pay $44,100 to Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, to reimburse her attorneys’ fees in the legal battle surrounding her nondisclosure agreement. Clifford, an adult-film actress, went public in January 2018 with the news she had an affair with Trump from 2006 to 2007. • NY Times: Trump administration officials told congressional leaders last month they would probably give emergency approval to a coronavirus vaccine before the end of Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States, perhaps as early as late September. The move would be highly unusual and would most likely raise concerns about whether the administration is cutting corners on approvals for political purposes. • HBO: David Byrne’s critically acclaimed Broadway show American Utopia comes to HBO beginning October 17 in a one-of-a-kind film directed by Oscar and Emmy-winner Spike Lee. Recorded during its run at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre in New York City, David Byrne is joined by an ensemble of 11 musicians, singers, and dancers from around the globe, inviting audiences into a joyous dreamworld where human connection, self-evolution, and social justice are paramount.

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Pool Boy: Falwell ‘Enjoyed Watching’ Me With His Wife

Jerry Falwell Jr and friend
After years of rumors and innuendo, Jerry Falwell Jr., the former president of Liberty University, has admitted his wife engaged in an affair with a ‘family friend’ who has been threatening to expose the secret. Falwell says he forgave his wife years ago, but in the ensuing years, he lost 80 pounds and experienced bouts of depression as the ‘family friend’ – who has been identified by numerous outlets as Miami pool attendant Giancarlo Granda – allegedly demanded money to keep the affair secret. Falwell was recently suspended by Liberty University after photos from a “costume party” surfaced earlier this month showing him with his pants partially unzipped and his arm around a female assistant. In a statement released to the conservative Washington Examiner, the virulently anti-LGBTQ Falwell said the affair between his wife Becki and their ‘pool boy’ occurred eight years ago and was short-lived. In May 2019, Reuters reported that a 2015 recording had surfaced between Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former attorney, and comedian Tom Arnold wherein Cohen shared Falwell had asked for his help in keeping “a bunch of photographs, personal photographs” from becoming public. In the recording, Cohen admitted to having seen the pics and described them as “terrible.” Falwell Jr. eventually endorsed Donald ‘Grab’em by the p*ssy’ Trump for president in the 2016 election. A year later, in 2017, Politico reported the Falwells had invested $1.8 million in a real estate deal involving their son Trey Falwell and Granda. In his statement to the Examiner, Falwell says he is relieved to have the secret out in the open sharing, “It was like living on a roller coaster.” Granda has publicly denied the allegations of extortion. “The Falwell’s attempt to sandbag me, and the Examiner, with a last-minute story without providing the Examiner clear evidence that this was not simply an ‘affair’ with concocted allegations of extortion reeks desperation,” wrote Granda in an email to the Examiner. “The WHOLE truth will come out.” Granda also reached out to Reuters and shared “emails, text messages and other evidence that he says demonstrate the sexual nature of his relationship with the couple, who have been married since 1987.” “Becki and I developed an intimate relationship and Jerry enjoyed watching from the corner of the room,” Granda told Reuters.

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Video: Kenosha Police Shoot Black Man 7 Times In The Back

An 18-year-old man in Jamaica is in critical condition after being ambushed in a fake dating app hookup where he was robbed, had his penis partially severed and set on fire.

Multiple reports this morning that Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot in the back 7 times by police after he broke up a fight between two women. In a video clip shot from across the street, you can see Blake walking away from police and attempting to get in his SUV where his three small children were when the officer grabs Blake’s t-shirt and begins shooting. From CBS News:

A large crowd of protesters gathered following the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. He was identified by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers as Jacob Blake. The county declared a state of emergency overnight curfew, according to CBS Milwaukee affiliate WDJT-TV.

The man was transported to the hospital in serious condition, according to police. His father said on Facebook that his son is alive and in stable condition. Family friend Daniel Poneman tweeted that Blake is out of surgery, in the ICU and is “expected to make it.”

Graphic video that purportedly shows the shooting began circulating on social media. The video, which appears to have been taken from across the street, shows the man walking around an SUV as police yell at him with weapons drawn, with one officer closely following him.

As the man opens the driver-side door of the vehicle, the officer grabs the back of the man’s shirt and appears to fire several shots into the man’s back. At least seven shots are heard in the video, but it was unclear how many officers fired.

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Snoop Watch: August 22, 2020

Driving Mr. Snoopy
Sorry for the light posting today, dear awesome readers, I spent my first day out of the house with hubby Michael and the awesome Snoopy together. Today marks our 2 month anniversary with the Snoop, and we continue to feel blessed he adopted us. Of course, I spent the day on chauffer duty as you can see above LOL… #DogsRule

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House Passes $25 Billion Support For Post Office

The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation on Saturday to give the U.S. Postal Service a $25 billion boost and to ensure November ballots will be delivered to and from voters in time for the upcoming November presidential election. By a vote of 257-to-150, House Reps also explicitly noted that no operational changes shall occur during the weeks leading up to the election. The Washington Post reports “the legislation would ban the removal of mail-sorting machines and public mailboxes, reverse any operational changes that could delay service and mandate that all official election mail be considered “first-class.” In that Donald Trump tweeted his opposition to the legislation prior to the vote today, don’t expect the Republican-led Senate to take up the legislation any time soon. Twenty-six Republicans broke ranks with Trump and the GOP leadership and joined Democrats in backing the bill.