A Day Without Breakfast....

There are not too many days where I do not get to eat breakfast, but this morning was one of those days.

It was perfect sleeping weather so the windows were left open all night, which aided in me not getting up on time. If I had a car, it would not have mattered too much, but since I am catching the METRO for the time being, I am sort of on a schedule. So my lazy attitude afforded me the opportunity to skip breakfast this morning.

When I got to work, I could not bare the hunger any longer so I scrounged a buck out of my wallet and visited the gut machine a floor below me. I usually am disgusted by all of the options that they have, but since I missed breakfast, I really could not be too choosy.

After several minutes of staring blankly, I decided that Pop Tarts were the healthiest of choices (considering what else were being offered).

Just as I got back to my desk and started chomping on the Strawberry Pop Tart, I started to dread what I was going to do for lunch.

Lesson Learned---be sure not to skip breakfast.

I found the following pic and post on Towleroad and I had to post it.

Pressured by right-wing religious groups like the Concerned Women for America who object to the parody of Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" in the Folsom Street Fair's promotional materials, the event's primary sponsor, Miller Brewing, has asked Fair organizers to remove its logo from all promotional materials.

Miller released the following statement: "While Miller has supported the Folsom Street Fair for several years, we take exception to the poster the organizing committee developed this year. We understand some individuals may find the imagery offensive and we have asked the organizers to remove our logo from the poster effective immediately."

A representative from Miller told the Bay Area Reporter that they were not withdrawing their sponsorship, however: "We are and will continue to be supportive [of Folsom Street Fair and the LGBT community]."

Joe.My.God posts a statement from Folsom board of directors president Andy Copper: "There was no intention to be particularly pro-religion or anti-religion with this poster; the image is intended only to be reminiscent of the 'Last Supper' painting. We hope that people will enjoy the artistry for what it is - nothing more or less. Many people choose to speculate on deeper meanings. The irony is that da Vinci was widely considered to be homosexual. In truth, we are going to produce a series of inspired poster images over the next few years," Copper said. "Next year's poster ad may take inspiration from 'American Gothic' by Grant Wood or Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' or even 'The Sound of Music! I guess it wouldn't be the Folsom Street Fair without offending some extreme members of the global community, though."
And Dan Savage over at SLOG has been collecting other parodies of "The Last Supper".

Typical Gay Cincinnati Weekend

Well, I guess for me it was.

I guess a typical gay weekend would be hitting up all the gay establishments like Subway, The Dock and Universal Grill downtown in the business district. Some may even venture to the outskirts of the city and patron Golden Lions in Clifton or Adonis all the way out in on the East side.


Due to the fact there this is a bit too much drama in Cincinnati's gay scene (or the fact that everyone seems to know everyone else), my roommate and I opted not to go the regular route.

Though Cincinnati's October Fest was alive and kicking all weekend, I really did not feel like drinking kegs of beer and snarfing down multiple mets and brauts in the 90+ degree weather. Plus a few on my friend from New York were in town and they had already had a visit to the yearly "Beer Fest" so it was more of an excuse to skip it.

Instead, we danced into the wee hours of Sunday morning and the dance club Adonis, where representatives from Logo and Cadillac were on had giving free rides in their 2007 Escalade and giving away free stuff. Though the acting is not the best in Noah's Ark, I was able to score the entire first season for free from the hot Logo rep.

After a well needed lazy Sunday afternoon, we all met at the Comet for quesadillas and blue grass music, capped off with a few glasses of wine on the banks of the Ohio river.

All weekends should be like that!

I Feel Emancipated

This was the first thing I told my supervisor when I walked into the office this morning.

For the past three days, I have been in a day long Microsoft classes. The first two days I had instruction on Access and the last day was a day long class going over the wonders of PowerPoint. I was sceptical about taking these classes, because I used to give instruction on each one of these products several years ago. Not to my surprise, I knew most of what was be taught, but there were a few tricks that I learned that I have know added to my repertoire. Good thing the instructor was a mix between a Greek God and a Roman soldier, otherwise, I think I may have slept through the entire training.

Tonight, hopefully I will be treated to a dinner at the Green Papaya, a Thai restaurant here in the Queen city. I am being treated by a friend of mine because I watched her house this past weekend while she was traipsing around North Carolina.

Saturday, a friend of mine Jester, will be flying in from, i think he lives in Spain now, to visit some family with his boyfriend Javier and my roommate and I will be taking them out on the town for a gay night in the Nasti Nati.

So what do you all have planned for the weekend?

The Weather Gets Cooler, The Balls Go Flying

As of this morning, the drought that has plagued the Ohio Valley has caused serious concern about global warming and the consequences of economic globalization on the world.

OK...this a bit too deep for a Monday morning, but I wanted to set the scene.

Our area is currently about 13 inches short of rain for the year. The effects of the drought has been set back (just a little) but by the fact that cooler weather had set in this past weekend (although its going to reach the 90's again this week).

It never fails, the cooler weather, reminiscence of high school football comes waifing back into my mind and I have an uncontrollable urge to play with balls (no pun intended).

In recent years, I was on a softball team, originally called Shaby Chick, but a change in sponsorship afforded us to be called Team Adonis (which I liked alot more). Thought softball was not really my sport, I was asked to participate on a volleyball team in gay volleyball league here in Cincinnati.

From my experience being in the gay softball league, there are not too much eye candy, as I thought there would be, but I met some of the most extraordinarily nice, intelligent and funny people during those games, so I am expecting some of the same with the volley ball league.

Tonight is our first meeting/practice, so I will let you know how it goes in coming posts

Cincinnati Puts Freeze On Free WiFi Service

In fine Cincinnati form, the city has planned to squelch its plans to increase the number of free WiFi hot spots around town.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Civitium, a Georgia company that has worked for Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, among others, was hired to advise local officials. According to the company's blog, the firm proclaimed that "capital-constrained muni WiFi operators have shifted their business models to require revenue commitments from local governments recently, as a condition for agreeing to build Wi-Fi networks."

In layman's terms, WiFi operators are now requiring up front monies from the city government's change purse before they make a commitment to come in and build WiFi networks, a snag that the city had not been expecting.

The Enquirer also reported that Milton Dohoney, Cincinnati's City Manger, said in a memo explaining the shifting of gears, that the city likely would not get a favorable response if it issued a request for proposals to build a network. The projects can cost millions.

Cincinnati, needs to bite the big one and pony up the money to do something innovative, that will bring in a varied clientele to the city. I know its easier said than done but if we were able to raise enough money to keep city pools open longer during the summer, I am sure that we can find money to get the WiFi project off the ground.

My Two Favorites...Lost In The Heat

Two of my favorite players went down in a blaze of glory at the US Open this past weekend.
Cheers to you...

Volunteering A-Go-Go

Well, another Monday is upon us. Looking back as to what my plans were for the weekend on Friday, there was not much on the agenda. For once, I was actually thankful. I could lay around in my boxer shorts and watch tennis all weekend.

Yeah...like that really happened.

Saturday, after a light breakfast and a run, I was summoned to Clifton Heights, to help Give Back Cincinnati beautify the street island located just in front of Hughes High School at Clifton and Calhoun Streets.

It was more fun that I had imagined. Of course I only worked the last hour while most of the people there had been there for 6 or 7 hours. The after party at Christy's has a huge success as well, with one of the most amazing DJ's that I have seen here in Cincinnati. I guess I should have got his name for my next party.

Sunday, I had all intentions of laying low and starting work on a business plan that I have been contracted to draft. On the way to breakfast at FirstWatch, I was summoned to help set up for Over-the-Rhine Chamber's Second Sunday on Main celebration. This was at 11am so I thought 30-45mins of work and then off to breakfast I could go.

Not the case in the least.

After an hour of setting up and socializing, I ventured to Kaldi's where I sat for 45 minutes before my order was taken. An hour and 15 mins later (without being served any food), I left and went to Rock Bottom where I ate a bit too much.

Cincinnati Makes National Headlines...For All The Wrong Reasons

It's a shame that with all the great things that are occurring in the "Nasty Nati", the Queen City is once again thrown into the throngs of the national media be one tragically devastating event.

On Aug 23, 2007, Cecelia Slaby, 2yrs old, was found dead, strapped in her mother's SUV after being forgotten there for over 8 hours. Apparently, the mother, Brenda Nesselroad-Slaby had simply forgotten that the child was in the car during her morning commute. It wasn't until later that afternoon, when a co-worker informed her that her child was shill in the back seat of her car, that she remembered.

To many resident's disbelief, county prosecutor decided not to prosecute the mother for the death of her two year old, citing that the circumstances surround this event do not warrant it.

Though I can understand these concerned resident's sentiments, I feel that the prosecutor has a valid point. This may be my naivety showing through, but if it was really illegal for local officials not to prosecute this woman for leaving her child in the car, I feel that there would be other law enforcement agencies and upper realms of the government investigating.

The Cincinnati Enquirer has done a job with coverage of the story. You can even watch the security camera video of the mother walking out of her car and into her place of work, while her child was left in the car.

Note: In the video, I saw at least two times where the SUV was moving in reverse before it was parked. I find it strange that in those two times, that she didn't look over her shoulder to see that her 2yr old daughter was still in the car. Like C&C Music Factory sang about..."Things that make you go mmmm.....

What Was BET Thinking?

Last Friday on National Public Radio, Keith Boykin and friends discussed the new BET television public service announcement called "Read A Book." The satirical profanity-laden PSA encourages viewers to read a book, raise your kids, buy some land, brush your teeth and engage in other socially responsible activities.

Some have described the PSA as a brilliant satirical parody that challenges pop culture by employing the same disturbing images of booty shaking video vixens and blinged out youth used to sell pop culture in the first place. Others find the language offensive and the video insulting for portraying more negative images of black culture for mass market consumption.

On his blog, Keith asks is it possible that for this PSA to do both? Could it be both brilliant satire and offensive caricature at the same time? And asks if it is both, do the ends (reaching pop culture devotees with an important message) justify the means (using the same language and images that you complain about to send the message)?

Staying with the discussion of weather or not this public service announcement aired on BET is appropriate for its audience; I would have to say that it is not.

While reading Keith's post (and before I actually watched the video) I was all for a cartoonish PSA that promoted brushing teeth, reading books and other "socially responsible" behavior. I also wondered why Keith had doubts about its appropriateness.

All of my questions were fully answered once I started to watch the video. Do not get me wrong. I like some type of rap music and adore hip-hop and R&B, but I could not stomach to watch this video in its entirety. I actually only watched about 30 seconds of it before I clicked "exit".

It would be socially irresponsible for BET to continue to air this PSA.