TampaYankee

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/04/scotland-gay-marriage-legal_n_4725199.html

A little more Nick...

Can the WWE be far away?

Nick Jonas rises after a dip....

Not nude but still beautiful...

What's New On Netflix In February 2014: 'Queer As Folk,' 'Bates Motel,' 'Breaking Bad' Join The List Netflix's arsenal of ready-to-watch TV shows and movies changes every week. Titles run out of contract, and new ones are brought into the fold. This month, Netflix adds the final season of "Breaking Bad," the highly anticipated "House of Cards" Season 2, cult classic "Flashdance" and the Cannes Film Festival's 2013 Palme d'Or winner, "Blue Is The Warmest Color." Here's a complete list of movies and TV shows new to Netflix in February 2014. TV Shows "Bates Motel" Season 1, available Feb. 1 "The Borgias" Seasons 1-3, available Feb. 1 "Queer as Folk" The Complete Series, available Feb. 1 "House of Cards" Season 2, available Feb. 14 "Burn Notice" Season 7, available Feb. 15 "Breaking Bad" Season 5, available Feb. 24 "The Returned" Season 1, available Feb. 24 Movies "Failure To Launch," available Feb. 1 "Flashdance," available Feb. 1 "Harold and Maude," available Feb. 1 "Mash," available Feb. 1 "Adore," available Feb. 3 "The Fabulous Ice Age," available Feb. 3 "30 for 30: The Price of Gold," available Feb. 6 "Somewhere," available Feb. 16 "Jesus Camp," available Feb. 21 "Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor," available Feb. 24 "Blue Is The Warmest Color," available Feb. 25 See the original article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/01/new-netflix-february_n_4708386.html

Not sure if this has been posted before. If so then enjoy again or not. Not only has The Bieb been hiring Pros and hanging with strippers, he's taken to a bit of stripping himself, to song.

Interesting historical photos. Thanks for sharing.

I too have wanted to attend the Palm Springs Bash ever since they began. I assume it is still organized by Oliver? He and his co-organizers seem to have done a wonderful job from day one as far as the reports I've heard. Missing out on attending has always been my loss as far as I am concerned. It's a curse of being an East Coaster, at least this East Coaster. Just because I had issues with Daddy's site doesn't mean I have issues with those who participate there. I was always interested in meeting several of the guys who participate there and who used to attend. Bringing escorts along for a social setting was a nice addition too. It always sounded like a fun weekend to me. I'm not sure why some people have to piss in the street when the Circus comes to town. If you do not like the circus, big deal. No body else gives a damn. Why anyone feels compelled to share an opinion no one sought or cares about is pointless except to raise a little dust and spread a little unwanted negativity, both better done without.

It is a sad state of affairs that so many people are in desperate straights. The fact is that there are many hundreds of thousands, and really much much more than that depending on the scope of geographic consideration. While porn, in some ways like escorting, may not be the most desirable way to supplement or create an income, it does beat theft, starvation, dying of exposure, or possibly even working for minimum wage part time not to mention more lofty goals like putting oneself through college or a trade school.

Known as Noel.

This title read as a Rentboy ad.

Gay Juror Was Taken Off Panel Improperly, Federal Court Rules01/21/14 02:05 PM ET EST SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that potential jurors may not be removed from a trial during jury selection solely because of sexual orientation. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion on Tuesday stating that striking someone from a jury pool because he is gay constitutes discrimination. The ruling came in an antitrust dispute between two rival drug companies and a popular AIDS drug. A lawyer for Abbott Laboratories used one of his allotted preemptory challenges to remove a potential juror who had referred to a male partner during questioning. The jury that was eventually seated mostly ruled in favor of Abbott. The 9th Circuit says that because the juror was taken off the case without justification, a new trial must be held. See original article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/gay-juror-discrimination_n_4638964.html

UN to launch legal challenge against Malawi anti-gay laws January 21, 2014 6:12 AM LILONGWE (Reuters) - The United Nations' AIDS taskforce and human rights groups will launch a court battle against Malawi's laws criminalising homosexuality, in a rare challenge to rising anti-gay legislation in Africa. The legislation has strained relations between President Joyce Banda's government and international donors, whose aid is desperately needed in the impoverished country. UNAIDS, the Malawi Law Society and local rights groups will ask the high court on March 17 to overturn as unconstitutional laws banning same-sex relationships. They will also challenge the convictions of three men jailed in 2011. Homosexuality carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years in the southern African country. "Our argument is that as long as same-sex relationships are consensual and done in private no one has business to get bothered," law society spokeswoman Felicia Kilembe said. Anti-gay sentiment and the persecution of homosexuals is rife in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan this month provoked ire from the United States and the U.N. after signing a bill criminalising same-sex relationships. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said the Nigerian law could fuel prejudice and violence and risks obstructing an effective HIV/AIDS response. In Malawi homosexuality became a contentious issue in 2009 when two men were arrested and charged with public indecency for getting married in a traditional ceremony. They were later pardoned by the late President Bingu wa Mutharika after pressure from donors and the United Nations. See original article at: http://news.yahoo.com/un-launch-legal-challenge-against-malawi-anti-gay-111251498.html

Probably a bad case of cabin fever responding to a new face.

Thanks for the B&D tip. You've probably cost me $45.

The Definitive Guide to Reheating Leftovers Rachel Tepper Jan 17, 2014 Leftovers: the same food you had last night, except a little grosser! Well, it doesn’t have to be that way. Strategically choosing the stovetop over the microwave could reinvigorate countless pizza slices. And microwaving your rice the right way could make leftover Chinese food a lot more appetizing. See attached article to learn how to reheat almost everything languishing on those refrigerator shelves. http://www.yahoo.com/food/the-definitive-guide-to-reheating-leftovers-73647466122.html

<p>It used to be that homosexuals were viewed as weird deviants that inhabited the lower depths of society engaged in never-ending debauchery and drugs. So it was news worthy at some level when public figures accepted by society were outed showing that queers passed for real people, loved by real people, at least until the were found out. It gave example to the fact that most queers are normal people in most every-day aspects of their lives - the children and siblings, and in some cases parents, of so many 'straight' families. That was beneficial to killing the stereotypes and bogey man pictures of gay people.</p> <p> </p> <p>However, you'd think that where we have come today with regard to broad acceptance of same sex relationships, marriages, adoption of children, etc, that outing individuals would have become passe' with the exception of instances of gross public displays of hypocrisy. This is mere lazy national-inquirer scandal-sheet journalism. What benefit is served by outing Ronan or anyone else these days, who hasn't traded in hypocrisy or other acts to defame the gay community? </p> <p> </p> <p>Leave good people's private lives private.</p>

Something I and no doubt countless others predicted when this law passed.

Porn Production Moves To Vegas After LA's Condom Law By HANNAH DREIER 01/17/14 11:41 AM ET EST LAS VEGAS (AP) — Lee Roy Myers has everything you'd expect to find in the nation's porn capital in Southern California: sets of a classroom, hospital room, locker room and a bedroom, as well as a list of porn stars waiting to perform. But his plywood universe is not in the San Fernando Valley. It's a few paces away from the glittery casinos of the Las Vegas Strip. "Las Vegas is a fresh town, and it's where people need the business," said Myers, whose new studio is part of a boom in X-rated production in Sin City sparked by a Los Angeles law requiring male actors to wear condoms. The rule and potential opportunities in Nevada were the talk of the Adult Entertainment Expo this week. The annual sex industry trade show culminates Saturday with an awards ceremony for adult films. "It's not really an option to change the way we make our movies, and moving production isn't that hard," said porn purveyor Jules Jordan, who hid out behind nearly naked models at his booth. Jordan warned reporters not to ask him about condoms. The voter-approved Los Angeles regulation survived a constitutional challenge, but other lawsuits are ongoing, and the industry is still waiting for the first big prophylactic bust. The number of permits requested to make porn films in Los Angeles County has declined by an estimated 95 percent since the law took effect, according to Film LA, a private nonprofit that issues the licenses. The number of applications fell from about 480 in 2012 to just 24 through the first nine months of 2013. For Myers, who co-owns Mission Control studios and also directs web films, the condom police are just the start of his troubles with Los Angeles. The region had also gotten too expensive for him. With DVD sales continuing to plummet, the bounce provided by the mommy-porn series "Fifty Shades of Grey" wearing off, and no solid business model in sight, producers in this notoriously low-budget industry are looking for new ways to cut costs. While Los Angeles charges hundreds of dollars for location permits and requires health checks as well, Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, gives out location permits for a nominal fee and does not require health permits. The warehouses are cheaper, and it's also more affordable to rent out mansions and put actors up in hotels. The hardest part, Myers said, is making sure the stars leave at the end of the shoot. Myers has also found that Las Vegas, a town already suffused with commercialized sex, is less squeamish about his line of work. "They're used to it here because they already kind of have it," he said, sitting among rows of desks in his studio's classroom set. "Figuring out how to make these things more cheaply won't include shooting in Los Angeles." The studio sits in what was once another empty building on blighted Industrial Road behind the town's tourist corridor. Local officials appear content with the arrangement and have no plans to pass additional rules. "It's a legalized industry and properly regulated, so I don't see it as a problem," said Clark County commissioner Chris Giunchigliani. "I think the city and the county will benefit from any expansion of the film industry. It's economic diversification." Las Vegas is home to some major porn players, including Brazzers, Bait & Tackle, Corbin Fisher, VCX Ltd. and newcomer Bluebird Film. Several producers with top porn purveyor Evil Angel are talking about moving to Las Vegas, according to owner John Stagliano, and enough porn stars have settled down in the area to supply all the extras a film could need, if not all the stars. Derek Hay, owner of adult talent agency LA Direct Models, opened an office here last fall. He estimates that 20 percent of the industry will have moved to Las Vegas by the end of the year. Some contrarians believe the boom will eventually lead Clark County to adopt the same regulations that are scaring the industry in Los Angeles. This September, the same group that championed the 2012 condom law started a similar campaign in Florida. For now, concerns about an eventual condom showdown in the desert are not stopping producers from making investments. Myers has several producers coming through his studio this week. After that, he will turn his attention to repurposing the cave set featured in the high fantasy spoof "Game of Bones" for another pornographic parody, based on The Hobbit. The star of both films, James Deen, a millennial porn icon who acted alongside Lindsay Lohan in "The Canyons," said moving the industry to Las Vegas is just a band aid. "The issue with running to Vegas is it doesn't actually fix anything," he said, taking refuge near a stairwell at the convention hall to avoid interruption by a constant stream of fans. "We should explain to the people who put that law in place why it's unnecessary, and appeal it the same way any community would appeal any asinine law." ___ Hannah Dreier can be reached at http://twitter.com/hannahdreier See original article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/17/porn-production-vegas-condom_n_4619987.html?ir=Gay+Voices&ref=topbar

Yummm.... smoked trout.

Bet business in Faraday cages is booming, in certain quarters anyway. I recommend renting 'Enemy of the State' with Will Smith for a look at the technology that no longer looks as far fetched as at the time that movie was made. About the only thing that movie missed or misled about was satellite-on-demand technology. Orbital mechanics still must be obeyed, even when NSA or NRO calls. That and competition for access to limited eye-in-the-sky resources. There is a long line. Electronic gathering from space is a whole different proposition. More like strip mining or large ships trawling that scoop up many fish varieties by the tons to be sifted for processing or discarding back into the ocean.

13 Words You Probably Didn't Know Were Invented By Shakespeare Like Precalculus and Newton's laws, Shakespeare's plays are among the most groaned-about high school topics, begetting the complaint: "When will I ever need to know about this in real life?" Turns out, pretty often. Shakespeare can be credited for the invention of thousands of words that are now an everyday part of the English language (including, but not limited to, "eyeball," "fashionable," and "manager.") In addition to his being a particularly clever wordsmith, Shakespeare's word invention can be credited to the fact that the English language as a whole was in a major state of flux during the time that he was writing. Colonization and wars meant that English speakers were borrowing more and more words from other languages. It's hard to say whether or not Shakespeare was the first to use many of these words, but in most cases he has long been believed to be the first to write them (although the widespread digitization of books has lead to a few interesting discoveries from earlier sources.) So before you dismiss Shakespeare as a stodgy, boring alternative to more contemporary writers, remember that you have him to thank for the popularization following words...and around 1,700 in total! Gloomy Definition: Somewhat dark: not bright or sunny Origin: "To gloom" was a verb that existed before Shakespeare converted the word into an adjective in a number of his plays. Quote: "Forced in the ruthless, vast, and gloomy woods?" - Titus Andronicus Laughable Definition: Bad in a way that seems foolish or silly Origin: Derived from the verb "laugh." Quote: "Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable." - The Merchent of Venice Majestic Definition: Large and impressively beautiful Origin: From "majesty," which appeared in the 1300s, meaning "greatness." "Majestical" was first used in the 1570s. Quote: "This is a most majestic vision" - The Tempest Lonely Definition: Sad from being apart from other people Origin: "Alone" was first shortened to "lone" in the 1400s. Quote: "Believe't not lightly – though I go alone / Like to a lonely dragon that his fen -Coriolanus Radiance Definition: A quality of brightness and happiness that can be seen on a person's face Origin: Derived from the Latin "radiantem," meaning "beaming." Quote: "For by the sacred radiance of the sun" - King Lear Hurry Definition: Move or act with haste; rush Origin: Likely derived from the verb "harry" Quote: "Lives, honors, lands, and all hurry to loss." - Henry VI Part 1 Generous Definition: Freely giving or sharing money and other valuable things Origin: From the Latin "generosus," meaning "of noble birth." Quote: "Free me so far in your most generous thoughts / That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house / And hurt my brother." - Hamlet Frugal Definition:Careful about spending money or using things when you do not need to Origin: From the Latin "frugi," meaning "useful, proper, worthy, honest." Quote: "Chid I for that at frugal Nature's frame?" - Much Ado About Nothing Critical Definition: Expressing criticism or disapproval Origin: From the Latin "criticus," which referred specifically to a literary critic. Quote: "For I am nothing if not critical" - Othello Courtship Definition: The activities that occur when people are developing a romantic relationship that could lead to marriage or the period of time when such activities occur Origin: "Court" was first used to mean "woo" in the 1570s; prior, it was used to mean "king's court, princely residence," derived from the French "cort." Quote: "To courtship and such fair ostents of love" - The Merchant of Venice Zany Definition: Amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic Origin: Derived from the Italian "zani," which came from "Zanni," a version of the name "Giovanni." Quote: "Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany" - Love's Labour's Lost Undress Definition: To take your clothes off Origin: "Dress" comes from the Old French "dresser," meaning "prepare, arrange, straighten, put right." Shakespeare was the first to add the prefix "un-." Quote: "Madam, undress you and come now to bed." - The Taming of the Shrew Rant Definition: To talk loudly and in a way that shows anger: to complain in a way that is unreasonable Origin: Derived from the Dutch "randten," meaning "talk foolishly." Quote:"I'll rant as well as thou." - Hamlet CLARIFICATION: This post has been modified to reflect varying views about the nature of word origins. Definitions are from Merriam-Webster. Origin information is from Online Etymology Dictionary. Check out the original article for embedded artwork at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/14/shakespeare-words_n_4590819.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

The Best (and Worst) Airlines By Scott McCartney | The Wall Street Journal Travel is an ice-jammed nightmare now, but travelers have been getting used to more problems: Last year was one of the worst for airline reliability of the past five years. Delays went up and more flights were canceled in 2013 than 2012, even though airlines again reduced the number of flights crowding airports, according to FlightStats Inc., which tracked more than 8 million trips last year. About 78% of flights on U.S. airlines arrived on-time last year, down from 80% in 2012. The Middle Seat's annual scorecard of airline service is in. Razer launches a smartband aimed at the gaming set. That's a significant move, reflecting hundreds of flights each day. On-time performance is a barometer for airline performance, influencing baggage handling, cancellations, complaints and other areas. Two measures of extreme customer impact worsened sharply: The number of flights delayed excessively by 45 minutes or more increased 13% and the number of flights canceled jumped 15%, according to FlightStats. Associated Press Alaska Airlines placed first in our ranking of nine major carries for 2013. More luggage was lost or delayed last year, too, partly because Southwest Airlines, the lone major carrier to still offer two free checked bags to customers, stumbled. Southwest mishandled more bags than United Airlines and Delta Air Lines combined, according to the most recent Transportation Department data, which covers 12 months ending last October. The good news? Fewer passengers got involuntarily bumped from flights, according to the DOT, and fewer customers complained to the DOT about airline service. Airlines have gotten more aggressive about intercepting gripes with emailed surveys and social media. In the Middle Seat's annual scorecard of airline service, tracking seven different key measures of airline performance, Alaska Airlines performed best in 2013 among major carriers. At the top with Alaska was Delta, which for the past two years has posted far better operational results than big competitors. Worst among big airlines? United Airlines and American Airlines, again. On the whole, it was a mediocre year for airline reliability, the second-worst of the past five in terms of on-time arrivals (2011 was slightly worse), according to FlightStats. And it was the worst of the last five in delays over 45 minutes. That's surprising. There were fewer flights flown than any year of the past nine because of airline mergers and capacity reductions. Less-crowded skies and airports ought to yield speedier service. After benign weather in 2012, "2013 returned to a more normal weather pattern," said Bill Lentsch, senior vice president of airport customer service at Delta Air Lines. But several carriers ran into issues of their own making. Southwest, for example, wrote schedules based on better weather the previous two years. That shaved some minutes off flying time and shortened time between flights on the ground, allowing the airline to offer more flights and connections to customers without adding aircraft. Then bad weather, fuller airplanes that took longer to load and unload and the tight schedule combined to create more delays. "It did slow down our operation more than I'd like," said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest's chief operating officer. Schedules are being rewritten, he said, but the changes won't take hold until the second half of 2014. Seattle-based Alaska has the benefit of few flights on the East Coast of the U.S., where weather and airport congestion can be punishing. It does, though, face the challenge of sometimes harsh conditions in Alaska. The airline has been a pioneer in new-generation, satellite-based navigation that can let planes fly into and out of airports that otherwise would be shut down by low visibility. Delta, 2012's top-ranked airline by our analysis, led the industry with the lowest rate of canceled flights—just 0.34% of its schedule, according to FlightStats. The industry's average of canceled flights last year, 1.65%, was almost five times higher than Delta's rate. Delta worked last year to speed up trips by minimizing taxi times, as well as speeding up loading and unloading, Mr. Lentsch said. "It's fine-tuning. We've made some really targeted investments that give us back a few minutes in operations," he said. Meanwhile, United and American have occupied the bottom rungs of the industry ladder for the past three years. American canceled nearly 2% of its flights last year. That ranked worst among big airlines in that category. United had the highest rate among its peers of involuntarily bumping ticketed passengers from flights. United and American both promised big improvement in 2013 after major problems in prior years. And both saw some, especially in on-time performance. But it wasn't enough to catch rivals, even as those rivals' reliability declined. United, which saw on-time arrivals perk up to 79.4%, from about 76.5% in 2012, says its improvements are gaining momentum and internal customer-satisfaction surveys are showing big gains since mid-2012, when it was still struggling with its merger with Continental Airlines. Last year, 43,000 front-line employees took new customer-service training, including techniques borrowed from the hospitality industry. It was the first time United offered recurrent customer-service training to all front-line workers. United also began collecting more specific data on its operation, such as how often jet bridges get hooked up to planes right away after arrival. "We have had a material improvement but we know we have more to do," said Jeffrey Foland, executive vice president for marketing, technology and strategy. Vice Chairman James Compton, who oversees United's operations, said the airline also focused more on maintenance, recalibrating the number of spare planes available and the inventory of spare parts at key airports. Improving maintenance helped reduce long delays, he said. A spokeswoman for American said the carrier is intensely focused on its merger with US Airways, and improving reliability will be a fundamental goal of the new company. "In this next year, you'll see American step forward with a renewed focus on our customers' needs, as well as making safety and reliability part of the fabric of the new company," she said. Mr. Van de Ven said Southwest's baggage handling, worst among the nine carriers in the scorecard, reflects not only the heavy volume that comes from not charging baggage fees but also the airline's willingness to accept bags late for check-in. To reduce mishandled bags, the airline would have to get more restrictive with customers. Southwest is upgrading baggage sorters and equipment in the next year or two at its major airports, he said. And the airline can point to its industry-leading low rate of customer complaints filed at the DOT. Write to Scott McCartney at middleseat@wsj.com See original article at: http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/best-worst-airlines-041600845.html

Your Gmail Is About To Get Even Less Private The Huffington Post | By Alexis Kleinman If you're a Gmail user, you probably also have a Google+ account. Until now, that likely meant nothing to you. However, with a new Gmail update, random people on Google+ will be able to send emails to your Gmail account without you ever having given them your email address, according to a new post on the Official Gmail Blog. These messages from strangers will arrive in your Gmail inbox just like emails, but the stranger won't know your email address unless you respond. "Your email address isn't visible to a Google+ connection unless you send that person an email, and likewise, that person’s email address isn’t visible to you unless they send you an email," Google explains. Here's what an email from a stranger will look like: If you fear new people or believe that you're important enough that your inbox will get flooded once the new feature arrives, Google is offering an easy way to opt out. You'll have the option to limit who who can email you through your Google+ profile to "extended circles," "circles" or "no one": Don't worry, though. Google says it will email you with a direct link to that setting once the changes go into effect. Sure, strangers may be invading your inbox, but Google's been selling your email data to advertisers this whole time. It's up to you to decide which is scarier. See original article at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/09/google-email_n_4570818.html