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Latest Eiteljorg Exhibits Explore Gay Rodeo Scene
INDIANAPOLISThe role of gay cowboys is explored in a new show, Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo, as it opens at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art on 1st February and runs through the Summer. The opening marks the rst time this exhibition, which tells the story of an often ignored part of American Western culture, has been displayed anywhere. Blake Little will feature 41 black-and-white images of cowboys and cowgirls from the gay rodeo circuit, taken by award-winning, Los Angeles-based photographer, Blake Little. The Seattle native became captivated by the gay rodeo scene in 1988 and began documenting the lives of its contenders, victors and their devoted fans. The whole scene watching it - imagining that these guys were really doing this, and that Please Continune On Page 30
When it comes to gay marriage rights, its the younger voter who will make the difference between victory or defeat at the hands of the right wing. This group from the IYG and a lot of their friends took an active part during the recent stop HJR-3rally in downtown Indianapolis Artsgarden.
Photo Courtesy Annette Gross
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much less brick, plaster and dense materials. Plus theres the issue of which rooms he wants to reach. A kitchen with metal back-splash and microwaves plus signals of its own from appliance motors and controls (The appliances are also themselves metal.) wont be easy. So the other possible xes? The second easiest (after relocating the router back to where it was and trying that) would be to add an extender. There are many models and companies making such devices and they come in a number of avours. There are power extenders and there are powered antennas and there are combinations. Different ones work slightly differently, but with the same goal in mind to up the amount of signal from your WiFi which can reach the parts of your house or rooms you most often use to surf the net. To quote from one such devices description: Extends existing Wi-Fi coverage area so you can enjoy wireless networking on compatible devices, including Apple iPad and iPod, e-readers, mobile phones, tablets and more... In other words, to beef up coverage by being placed where the current WiFi signal starts to fade and retransmitting it with a second full power signal.
Theres also the other end of the scale one which we use at one spot in our house. Every device using WiFi has a small receiving antenna somewhere inside. You can try turning or reorienting your iPad or game console to grab more signal. Or, while this wont work for an iPad or iPhone, an internet radio I have kept cutting out until my partner opened the back, pulled out the receiving antenna for the WiFi and extended the cable. Now the antenna sits on a bookcase maybe not the prettiest but its only the size of a thumb drive and my reception is rock solid. Problem solved! Remember, too that there are some limitations to even the biggest, best and baddest antennas and boosters. Chief among them is just like your car has a limit of how fast it could go (even were there no speed limits) there is a limit to what you can cover and what is economical to be worth covering using your WiFi. If you are shooting a zillion watts out and still cant reach that favourite chair, you might consider moving the chair or going with a wired connection (for a laptop or desktop). I did warn this would be complicated. So what to do? Understand that there ARE limitations despite what your ISP has sold you. There will be times and spots where WiFi signals just will not work well. And there will be places where (despite all the claims from makers of extenders and helper antennas and boxes) that you will only be able to make things work reliably if you use a wire to connect. One such example is the computer this newspaper is composed on. Its wired. It has a WiFi connection, but in the spot where my desk sits and in the downtown area where I live (with a lot of signals from mobile phone antennas to police dispatchers, radio and TV stations and more) theres just no totally reliable WiFi made that will guarantee what my wired connection does. Is this a x-all for everyone? Not hardly, so two nal suggestions to check. For one, make sure its your WiFi and not your device thats got issues. Remember that iPads and computer WiFi connections and built-in receiving antennas DO sometimes fail. If in doubt, go to a friends or coffee shop and see if it connects reliably there. Finally, if things work just ne now, ask a lot of questions before you consider or make a change. While my Kentucky friend gets four times the speed he used to with that new cable modem, in his chair he gets nothing and what funs a nap while enjoying radio or Netix if you have to sit in a hard seat somewhere and not relaxing?
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Blake Little, Rodeo Partners Gene Hubert and Rick Ferreira, Sun Valley, California, 1991. Image courtesy of Blake Little.
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realities. If and when they do enact a fantasy, they often nd the fantasy would have been better left a fantasy. I see no other way to handle this situation but to confront it head on, gently but rmly. Tell your friends how much you love them and value their friendship, but make clear that you are not interested in having sex with them so it will never happen so you need them to stop hinting about it. Finally, you mention frequently that many of your friends quirks manifest after multiple cocktails have been consumed, so you might suggest to them that you all drink non-alcoholic beverages more often. Fred Schloemer, Ed.D., LCSW is a gay psychotherapist in Louisville. Write him at FredSchloemer@aol.com .
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many are asking. Almost every political movement faces stern post-mortem. When the history of this movement is written, look for two unlikely states to be the beginning of the end for our opponents. Utah and Oklahoma. Whoda thought? And in the written history of our movement Indiana could be equally important. Stay tuned. This is where it gets interesting. Please Continue On Page 29
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The Word is published the last week of every month at 110 E. Washington St., Suite 1402, Indianapolis, 46204. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and fairness, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors. Liability is limited to the cost of said ad. Ads not cancelled by published deadlines will be billed at agreed-upon price. Ads may be edited or rejected for content at the discretion of the publisher. All items appearing in The Word, as well as the name, logos and design are copyright 2014 by BBS, A division of High Speed Delivery Fork Ltd. & Ted Fleischaker and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written approval. National Advertising Representative: Rivendell Media, 212/242.6863 Local Phones: Indy: 317/632.8840 * Louisville: 502/454.4877 e-mail: ted@midwestword.com
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83%
the above demographic breakdown reflects support for employment discrimination protections only; support for housing & public accommodations protections have slight demographic variations but average 83%
87%
90%
ACLU-KY . FAIRNESS CAMPAIGN . KENTUCKY COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS KENTUCKY FAIRNESS ALLIANCE . LEXINGTON FAIRNESS 2263 Frankfort Avenue . Louisville, KY . 40206 . (502) 893-0788
FRANKFORT, Ky.A record 16 co-sponsors have joined Rep. Mary Lou Marzian's (D-Louisville) Statewide Fairness House Bill 171, led in the Kentucky General Assembly. Six new representatives, including Rep. Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort), Rep. Rita Smart (D-Richmond), and Rep. David Watkins (D-Henderson), signed on to the bill, illustrating the rapid growth of support across the commonwealth for anti-discrimination protections in employment, housing, and public accommodation including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Last month, Morehead's passage of a city-level version of the law rounded out a year in which Kentucky doubled the number of municipalities with Fairness ordinances, adding Frankfort and the Appalachian town of Vicco to Covington, Lexington and Louisville, which passed protections more than a decade ago. Grassroots movements to pass local Fairness laws are afoot in nearly a dozen other cities in the commonwealth, including Bowling Green, Danville, Elizabethtown, Owensboro, Shelbyville and Berea, where the city council has appointed a task force to draft a local Fairness law. "This type of unprecedented support at the statewide level is clear and compelling evidence that Kentucky is moving in the right direction--towards Fairness," shared Fairness Campaign director Chris Hartman. "Coupled with the tremendous progress across the whole commonwealth, these new co-sponsors should compel house leadership and the judiciary committee to nally hold a hearing on the legislation, which they have avoided the past 15 years." More than 25% of Kentucky's population now lives in a city with lesbian, gay, bi & trans Fairness protections and 83% of all registered Kentucky voters support a statewide Fairness law, according to a recent survey by The Schapiro Group. A statewide Fairness rally will be held in the Capitol Rotunda Wednesday, 19th February at 1.30 p.m. The address is 700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, 40601.
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Philadelphias Koresh Dance Company is renowned for their powerful stage presence and high-energy style, and has been hailed as an extraordinary newcomer to the national stage. Founded in 1991 by Israeli-born choreographer and Artistic Director Ronen Koresh, this troupe presents an exciting and emotional blend of ballet, modern and jazz molded into a style of choreography that is both eloquent and explosive. There really is something for everyone in Koreshs exhilarating performances. Visit our Great American Songbook Gallery, Basile Caf and Basile Gift Shop. More events on our website.
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Finances In Focus
By Michael Wright / Edward D Jones
If youre a football fan (and probably even if you arent), you are aware that were closing in on the Super Bowl. This years event is unique in that it is the rst Super Bowl held in an outdoor, cold-weather site New Jersey, to be specic. However, the 2014 game shares many similarities to past Super Bowls in terms of what it took for the two teams to arrive at this point. And some of these same characteristics apply to successful investors. Here are a few of these shared traits: A good offence Most Super Bowl teams are adept at moving up and down the eld and crossing the goal line. And good investors know how to choose those investments that can provide them with the gains they need to keep moving toward their own goals, such as a comfortable retirement. Thats why, at every stage of your life, you will need to own a reasonable percentage of growth-oriented investments, such as stocks and stock-based vehicles. A strong defence Even a good offence usually isnt enough to vault a team into the Super Bowl, which is why most participants in the big game also have strong defences. Similarly, the best investors dont just put all their money in a single type of aggressive instrument and then forget about it they know that a downturn affecting this particular asset class could prove extremely costly. Instead, they defend their portfolios by diversifying their holdings among a range of investments: stocks, bonds, government securities, certicates of deposit and so on. And you can do the same. Keep in mind, however, that although diversication can help reduce the impact of volatility on your portfolio, it cant guarantee a prot or always protect against being thrown for a loss. Perseverance Every team that makes it to the Super Bowl has had to overcome some type of adversity injuries to key players, a difcult schedule, bad weather, playoff games against good opponents, etc. Successful investors have also had to overcome hurdles, such as bear markets, bad economies, political battles and changing tax laws. Through it all, these investors stay invested, follow a long-term strategy and continue to look for new opportunities and their perseverance is often rewarded. You can follow their example by not jumping out of the market when the going looks tough and not overreacting to scary-sounding headlines. Good coaching Super Bowl teams contain many ne players, but they still need coaches who can analyse situations and make the right decisions at the right times. Smart, experienced investors also benet from coaching in the form of guidance from nancial professionals. Its not always easy for busy people to study the nancial markets, stay current on changing investment-related laws, monitor their own portfolios and make changes as needed. By working with a nancial professional who knows your situation, needs, goals and risk tolerance, you will nd it much easier to navigate the increasingly complex investment world. As weve seen, some of the same factors that go into producing a team capable of reaching the Super Bowl are also relevant to investors who want to reach their own goals. By incorporating these behaviours and attitudes into your own investment strategy, youll be following a pretty good game plan. On another game related topic, have you considered your game plan for the long haul? Many readers of The Word are guys and gals in their 20s, and while retirement seems a zillion years away, please do not stop reading... in fact, read on and make some notes. You will thank me in 40 or 50 years! See, when you start out in your career, youre probably not thinking much about retirement. At this point, your picture of a retirement lifestyle may be, at best, hazy, hidden as it is behind a veil of experiences youve yet to encounter. But as you move through the years, your view of retirement comes into clearer and closer focus and this vision will have a big impact on your savings and investment strategies. Consequently, to create and implement those strategies effectively, youll need to dene your retirement vision by identifying its various parts. Here are some to consider: Travel If youre like many people, you may dream of travelling during your retirement. But what does travel mean to you? Do you envision taking a cruise or an international trip every year? Or is your idea of travel just a short jaunt to a popular destination, such as a lake or the Smokies or Lauderdale or P-Town? The difference in costs between global and U.S.-based travel can be enormous, so youll need to dene your goals and estimate your expenses.
Second home Once you retire, youll have to make some housing-related decisions. Should you sell your home and downsize? Or do you want to keep your current residence and possibly purchase a second home, such as a condominium, say in Palm Springs or Key West? Obviously, youll need to factor in these choices when you think about how to invest before you retire and how to manage your withdrawals from your 401(k), IRA and other accounts during your retirement. Volunteer activities You might think that your volunteer activities during retirement wont affect your nances much. But if you are particularly ambitious, and your volunteerism involves travel, renting space, purchasing equipment and so on, you might be looking at some large cash outlays. Furthermore, if you host people at your house, you may be incurring some types of liability risk, which you might need to address through appropriate insurance coverage. Dont shy away from helping the Damien Centre, House of Ruth or your local pride, but do be aware if you really, truly get into it, there can be costs. Hobbies During your working years, you may pursue hobbies with the thought and hope that you could devote a lot more time to them after you retire. However, expanded hobby activities may involve expanded costs. For example, if youre good with cars, you might decide to invest in that sports car of which youve dreamed. Or, if you like motorcycles you might buy several. Same for sailboats or anything else one can collect from watches to stamps. Or, if youre fascinated by genealogy, perhaps youll start travelling to places once inhabited by your ancestors. These types of activities can be expensive, so youll have to evaluate your saving, spending and investing habits to determine how to accommodate your increased expenditures on those hobbies you wish to pursue in retirement. Second career Many people look forward to retiring from one career so they can start another. Maybe you want to open a small business, consult or even take a part-time job. Clearly, if you were to start your own business, some expenses would be involved, so youll have to plan for them. Even if you become a consultant or work part time, you could incur various costs, including travel. And, in relation to these types of work, you may also have insurance and health care issues to address. By identifying the various components of your retirement vision, and estimating their respective costs, you can make those saving, spending and investment choices starting now that can help you work toward your retirement dream.
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person that youre attracted to. The comparison of what weve seen online or how we should go about initiating it is a drastic departure from what could be considered normal human behavior, and everyday behavior takes the control out of the hands of someone who has become increasingly dependent on porn as a sexual touchstone. Scientically, porn doesnt prevent you from lusting after living, breathing men, but it can provide easy access to sex with multiple partners without commitment. No need to talk after sex, just turn off your laptop. The aftereffects, however, run much deeper. I wont bore you with a science lesson in the middle of a column on porn, but scientists theorize that humans possess something called mirror neurons. This is a neurological response that tells us to perform actions that we see other humans performing. In other words, the more porn we watch, the more we want to re-enact it with another person. Take away the threat of disease or god forbid delity, and it makes porn and all of its twisted positions even more desirable. This is followed by the expectation that what happens in XXX entertainment is what we will begin to dene as normal sex. But in the kaleidoscope of sexuality what exactly is normal? The truth of the matter is this: porn is an escape. Just like video games, porn puts you in control and it allows you to feel more in control of your sexuality. When youre faced with a real person with real feelings in a real world environment, it can jolt you back to the cold actuality of human interaction. Thats when you have to make a decision: do you see how this plays out or do you go home to your computer and turn on the guys that do what you want when you want? Are you willing to risk rejection when you have RocketTube at your service? So what of those rampant porn acionados that try to balance their porn use with a real, human relationship? Its easier when you arent cohabitating, but when two people become one household, do you hide it? Do you only watch it when your partner isnt home? Do you watch porn together? All these scenarios come into play, but the real question is, how does it make you view your partner? Many men whose partners watch a buttload (get it?) of porn tend to develop feelings of inadequacy and lack of intimacy. If they dont measure up to the horse-hung himbots of the worldwide web they may instinctively draw away and feel substandard in the eyes of their partner. The key here is to accept that porn is merely a fantasy. You wouldnt begrudge your partners desire to fantasize that hes a vampire or a spy or the captain of a spaceship, so why worry that porn will affect how he thinks of you? As a matter of fact, porn can be used as a reference point to experiment with things you never thought possible. Whether its bondage, dirty talk, domination or role-play, nding the perfect balance to incorporate what your mirror neurons have stored up can make your sex life even more exciting than you thought. The beauty of porn is that you can experience all the oh-so-nasty avours of sex safely and without sacricing your loyalty to an existing partner. And the beauty of real sex is that even when its hot, it can be clumsy and funny and a safe place for deciding if what you see onscreen or in your mind is truly something you want to do. Now if youll excuse me, the two guys from the lacrosse team who mow my yard need to be paid and I dont seem to have any cash on me. Maybe we can work out a deal...
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THE KINSEY INSTITUTE JURIED ART SHOW 2014 THE GRUNWALD GALLERY OF ART; MAY 16-JULY 12, 2014
Eligibility
Open to all artists 18 years and older creating work exploring sex, gender, sexuality, eroticism, reproduction, romantic relationships, and/or the human figure. Entries must be original works in any media including: painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, video, sculpture, ceramics, fibers, mixed media, and performance pieces. Proposals for installations may be submitted, but artists are responsible for installing the work and for all expenses involved. Models must be 18 years or over, with model release forms provided upon request. Artists should keep in mind they are responsible for the shipping costs to and from the exhibit, and take this into consideration when submitting larger works. The jurors reserve the right to disqualify any work that varies from the submitted image including: artworks that are a different size than stated on the application, artworks that differ in quality from the submitted image, and artworks that arrive damaged.
Established in 1947, The Kinsey Institute now houses one of the worlds largest and most renowned collections of historical and contemporary art, artifacts and photography dealing with sex, gender and reproduction. The more than 100,000 items span 2000 years of history, and range from ancient Egyptian artifacts to contemporary erotic photography. Because The Kinsey Institute does not have funds for new acquisitions, the collection is dependent upon donations to continue its growth. The Institute encourages participants to consider adding their works to this historic collection. Please contact the Institutes Curator of Art, Artifacts and Photographs at catjohns@indiana.edu or 812-855-7686 for information about the collections or to inquire about donations.
Awards
All works selected by the jurors will be included in the The Kinsey Institute Juried Art Show 2014 at the Grunwald Gallery of Art, May 16-July 12, 2014, and included in a virtual version of the exhibit on The Kinsey Institute website. An opening reception will take place at the Grunwald Gallery on May 16, 6-8 P.M. A cash prize of $300 will be awarded to the artist whose work is selected as Best in Show. A $200 prize will be awarded to the work voted Gallery Visitors Choice on the night of the opening reception.
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Sheila's Column
Call this months column On the Banks of the Wabash. Ah, Indiana! When everyone else is going one way, my home state can usually be counted on to march in the opposite direction. Last year, we saw the number of states recognising same-sex marriage double. So naturally, the Indiana legislature has decided to double down on the states existing ban on such marriages. It isnt enough, evidently, that we already have a statutory ban that has survived scrutiny by those fearful activist judges. No our lawmakers, egged on by our home-grown culture warriors want to add an even more draconian measure to the states constitution. The language of the proposed constitutional amendment would not only dene marriage as a union between one man and one woman, it would outlaw any relationship substantially similar to marriage. That language would clearly apply to civil unions, but beyond that, no one really knows what it means. The most effective of the Hoosier culture warriors promoting this display of homophobia is a character named Eric Miller. Miller has made himself a nice living over the years by creating a not for prot that charges a group of very conservative Hoosier churches dues. Those dues support an organisation composed of Miller and his small law rm. His power comes from his ability to get the members of those churches to vote in GOP primaries, and historically, Indiana Republicans have been terried of him. The local media has reported that Miller and his cohorts have been rallying their troops by claiming that a failure to constitutionalize the ban will lead to authorities jailing ministers who preach against homosexuality. He also claims that merchants would be forced to do business with gay, lesbian, bi & trans customers or face stiff nes, and Wait for it! Indiana restrooms will have to be unisex!! All of this, of course, is utter bullshit. Although his willingness to tell humongous bs does raise the possibility that Miller didntreallygraduate from an accredited law school (or listen to church lessons about bearing false witness), Ive always presumed that he did, and that somewhere along the way he had to encounter the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment and specically, the Free Exercise Clause clearly allows pastors to preach whatever they believe without fear of punishment by big, bad government. Think about it: If bigotry from the pulpit were a criminal offense, a lot of racist pastors would be ministering from behind bars. Millers other assertions are equally bogus. A ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions in the Indiana Constitution would have absolutely no effect on merchants decisions about what customers to serve. Protection of gay customers against discrimination in commerce would only take effect if Indiana amended its state civil rights laws to include gay, lesbian, bi & trans folks. Unless and until that happens (around the time pigs y), homophobic business owners with establishments not located in one of the few municipalities that have local antidiscrimination ordinances remain free to refuse service to gay people, to re people for being gay and to refuse to hire people they suspect may be gay. Im not going to dignify the restroom accusation, except to point out that most public restrooms are used by one person at a time, and dont tell Miller a lot of establishments today only haveone facility for both men and women. Ive never understood the rights hysteria over toilets. Speaking of hysteria, these latest, patently ridiculous accusations are the latest sign that Miller and his merry band of culture warriors are beginning to panic. They are not going softly or gracefully into the dustbin of history. But hysterical or not, thats where theyre going.
Call 800.849.4853
The Word February 2014 On The Web At: www.thegayword.com Page 43
Word Comment
The owner of a Midwest gay club called me the other day furious that hed heard I was spreading a rumour that he was about to close his doors. That rumour has been all over town since two Indianapolis clubs plus one in Ohio and one in Bloomington called it quits in 2013 two of them right at the New Year. The owner said hed heard I was starting a rumour he was going to join the closing parade and I told him the truth: He called us weeks ago to say he wouldnt be doing ads as he might be closing if things did not pick up and that a whole bunch of folks have heard the same thing and called The Word asking about his club, another club in Indiana and one in Kentucky. Rumours are ying that all are going to soon shutter and all I can tell anyone is the truth: Ask the respective owners and go patronise them if you go out because all of the clubs not just Club X or Club Y need our business now more than ever. It got me to thinking and in all the years (22 and counting) since I started The Word, I can never recall a time like this one where we as a community are seeing and feeling an unprecedented amount of acceptance and support in the world. Its what we old guys have fought for and written about and requested for many years now. Back in the day wed not have been welcome at a straight club so we couldnt go out except to the local gay bar. Back then we had no internet, Facebook, Grindr, cell phones, texts or any of that. If you wanted to meet someone you looked in the written personals The Word and other papers ran or you went out, which was dened as to a local gay bar, usually late on a Saturday night and hoped to nd a date, boyfriend or trick. Now times have changed. We have all of the pleasures mentioned above and we can meet folks through multiple channels. Theres not much meeting by the younger guys in dark alleys, in bathrooms or stairways anymore because there does not need to be. But the downside of all of these wonders is the call we got the other day. Just as personals disappeared from the newspaper when 900 number lines showed up and then they in turn vanished after the internet came along, forcing us to change to stay relevant and solvent, the same is true now of the traditional gay club. Also, and this is a major point of this editorial, we as a community seem to have forgotten the folks who for years and years have been our support and mainstay. Many readers have quit going to clubs and as owners have fought to stay ahead of the curve, sadly many of them have closed and others are indeed being rumoured close to the same fate for lack of prots to even keep their coolers lled with beer and staffs paid. We as a community need to not leave our friends like this....we are indeed welcome everywhere and thats a huge plus. But we also need to stop off and see our old friends and buy lunch, dinner, a beer, a drink or go to a show or dance awhile and support them. For all the years we had nothing else, they were there for us, so we owe it to them to return that favour now. Page 44
Meanwhile, to the club owners who remain locked in 1987, we have to say reinvention is going to be needed if you plan to make it in this changed climate. Look at clubs like Indys Metro and English Ivys and Louisvilles new Play. All of them (and others) get it and welcome and encourage anyone and everyone to come by. They are not gay or lesbian but merely clubs and restaurants with great events and staff. The best examples are at Metro where owner Jim and managers Duffy and Ruth work overtime to make sure there truly is something for everyone from food to shows, music and specials. Same is true at English Ivys where manager Brock does everything from good food & weekend brunch to a Cheers atmosphere. Go in at lunch and the gay girls and boys numbers will be eclipsed by folks from the nearby medical centre because everyone feels welcome. The same is true of the big clubs Daytons MJs (in the midst of a move and expansion), Louisvilles new Play and Indys Gregs and Talbott Street, where the base has been broadened to make sure everybodys welcome and feels valued. Unique niche clubs, too, have their loyal audiences, but the leather audience is changing, those wanting strippers and drag is shifting and everybody is watching their wallet in what have been (and continue to be) lean times. For there to be such a wide variety of choices catering to everybody, we need to give support anywhere and everywhere we can. And we need to thank those who offer unique opportunities by opening their doors to pageants, contests, community fundraisers and handing over part of their prots to those of us in the gay community. They have always done this and with any luck (and our support) they will continue. So back to the rumours: Yes, they are ying and yes they are out there about a number of places not just the one whose boss called with his voice in a wail before he slammed down the receiver. Only the passing of time will determine what, if any, of the gossip is true, but so long as we own a newspaper people will call, stop us and e-mail to ask which rumours may or may not be valid. And as long as we can we will be here to get and give answers as best and as accurately as we are able. To the furious club owner who yelled at us a few days ago, all we can say is you did phone us and so did your manager and you both said things were not looking good. Thats apparently a message thats been spoken elsewhere and made the rounds since we have had a lot of calls and inquiries. By yelling at us and slamming down the phone youve done nothing but shoot the messsenger. And to your customers I will say it again: If you want your favourite club, bar, restaurant or act to stay open and in business, instead of calling us to shout, whine or gossip, get out there and support them. Buy some food or drinks, tip generously and let these businesses know that even in todays myriad of choices, you choose to give them your support. Look for me and my crew out this weekend.... hope to see you as well!
Standard Reviewer
By Bill Elliott / Word Critic
As with last years Silver Linings Playbook, I left the cinema feeling distinctly uncomfortable about David O. Russells new lm, American Hustle. Silver Linings Playbook tackled mental illness and played it mostly for laughs. This time the subject is criminal activity. Like its predecessor, the lm has been praised as a character study and a comedy. I am quite sure that American Hustle is meant to be satire. Channelling the past, Russell and writer Eric Warren Singer present America as a place where everyone is constantly hustling and being hustled. But, judging by the conversations I heard on exiting the cinema I am not sure others saw the lm in the same way. Most people seemed content to view the lm as a con artist caper that was entertaining and funny. Like most crime lms, American Hustle deals with blurred and often contradictory codes of social and interpersonal behaviour. In iconic lms about organised crime, Maosi have few qualms about whacking their enemies while maintaining a high regard for family values and personal honour. American Hustle seems to extend that morally ambiguous code to the whole of society. A man can ruin the lives of ordinary and desperate people and yet love his wife, son, mistress, and friends. Does that make him a decent person? Or just an ordinary American? Good satire should send a clear message. Its hard to glean any clear moral statement in this lm. American Hustle strikes me as tragic and rather depressing. Most, if not all, of the characters in the lm are self-deluded and rather pathetic. No one can be trusted. And every relationship is an opportunity for self-improvement. Self-promotion and selfinterest are at the core of American society. The problem is that in analysing moral ambiguity, American Hustle has no real moral centre itself. Who are we supposed to identify with? Who are the good or even reasonably decent guys here? Set in 1978, the lm is loosely based on the controversial FBI Abscam sting operation, which led to the conviction of several U.S. Congressmen, state ofcials and a New Jersey mayor. While names are changed the essence of the Abscam sting is at the heart of American Hustle. Christian Bale (gaining 50 pounds and wearing a comb-over hairstyle) plays Irving Rosenfeld, a small time New Jersey con artist who scams clients in need of money by promising a ve-fold return on a $5,000 investment. After depositing the $5,000 the client never sees a penny. He meets up with a young female hustler called Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), who adopts the persona of a British aristocrat. The two click professionally and personally, and the money starts pouring in. The FBI is soon onto the pair and Irving and Edith are collared in a sting operation led by agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper sporting a disco-era perm). In return for their cooperation in landing bigger sh, the two are roped into a much larger sting involving local and federal politicians as well as the Maa. American Hustle posits that everyone is corrupt already or is easily corruptible; whether a petty criminal, a seasoned politician, a popular and well-intentioned mayor, or an ambitious FBI agent, everyone is driven by self-centred motives, usually involving nancial gain. What makes American Hustle (like Silver Linings Playbook) so difcult to pin down is that the main characters are awed, sympathetic creatures. Whether that is due to good writing or solid acting, or whether it is simply a convention of Hollywood lm that the audience must identify with someone, I am not sure. As in Russells previous lm, the dialogue is snappy, the direction is slick, and the performances are noteworthy. But the lm still leaves me feeling uncomfortable and I am not sure if that is intentional. As a soft-hearted con artist, Bales Irving Rosenfeld is the character most audience members will identify with. He is earnest and affectionate. He is overweight and has a
heart condition. Groping on the ground for his spilled heart pills, you feel he could die any moment. Is it real or all for show? While he has feelings for his wife and adopted son and for his mistress and his friends, he clearly has no compunction in screwing money out of those who are desperate enough to seek his help. His partner and lover, Sydney Prosser, is frosty and less likeable. She is motivated by self-interest, even though she remains loyal to Irving. Irvings spouse, Rosalyn (a brassy bleached blonde Jennifer Lawrence), is a sad and lonely housewife. But we quickly realise she is passive aggressive and manipulative. Mayor Carmine Polito (sympathetically played by Jeremy Renner) comes across as a family man and a champion of the working class. He wants to bring jobs to the workers of New Jersey. But he is willing to take bribes in order to do so. At worst, Polito seems nave and gullible. But he still breaks the law for personal gain. As for Richie DiMaso he is the lms most ruthlessly manipulative and singularly unpleasant character. Yet by the lms end he has received such a comeuppance you almost feel sorry for him. It speaks volumes that the lms only truly incorruptible person, DiMasos ofcious, by-the-book boss Stoddard Thorsen (Louis C.K.), is viewed as an object of ridicule because he is unwilling to bend the rules even to catch criminals. And the lms truly bad guys organised crime represented by Victor Tellegio (an uncredited Robert De Niro)get away totally scot-free. In a pivotal scene from the lm, Irvings wife Roselyn ashes around her brightly polished nails at a restaurant. Smell my nail polish, she says. It smells like owers. But it also smells rotten, like garbage. This scene distils all the themes of American Hustle into an apt metaphor. Society, on the surface, may seem presentable, even pleasant. Underneath, as Shakespeare recognised, it is a dunghill. Had this and other scenes been executed more subtly, the nished product might have been more sophisticated and focused. As it stands, the lm feels overlong, sloppy and a little selfindulgent. The nail polish metaphor might even unwittingly describe the lm itself: glossy, slick, and supercially entertaining. But underneath there is something distinctly a little off-kilter about it. The original title of American Hustle was American Bullshit. In some ways that seems a more appropriate title. It would, at the very least, have more clearly positioned the lm as satire. Speaking of the 1970s, Daytons Human Race Theatre Company kicks off 2014 with Harvey Fiersteins award-winning and rarely-produced three-act play, Torch Song Trilogy. Poignant and lled with witty, sharp humour, Fiersteins deeply personal story of self-discovery redened an era in gay America. Torch Song Trilogy originated as a series of one-act plays that premiered Off-OffBroadway in 1978, when actor/writer Harvey Fierstein was just 23-years-old. The three plays were then united under the umbrella title Torch Song Trilogy and presented OffBroadway in 1981 at the Actors Playhouse, where it received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The production then transferred to Broadway in 1982, ran for 1,222 performances, and won Fierstein Drama Desk and Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor. Fierstein has been an icon for gay America since the 1980s. Torch Song was written in a time before AIDS, before the debate over Marriage Equality, says producing artistic director Kevin Moore. Revisiting this amazing script was not a political choice, it was a human choice. This story speaks volumes about our individual struggles for love and acceptance and it applies to any era. By setting the play in its original time periodthe late 1970s to early 1980s we are given a chance to see both how far we have come . . . and not come. Greater Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Indianapolis area patrons can get a 25% discount on full-priced tickets to all performances and a chance to support their regional Pride 2014 events by using special codes when ordering online, by phone, or in person. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold with these discount codes will go to the respective Pride 2014 event. Tickets for all performances from 31st January thru 16th February are $36 and $40 for adults, $34 and $38 for seniors and $18.50 and $20.50 for students. All performances are at the Metropolitan Art Centres Loft Theatre, located at 126 North Main Street in downtown Dayton. Showtimes for Torch Song Trilogy are 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday evenings. Performances on Sunday and Tuesday evenings begin at 7 and at theres also a weekly 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. A variety of packages and discounts are available. Tickets and performance information are available at www. humanracetheatre.org or by ringing 937/228.3630.
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Panthers Perspective
By Panther Daddy / Word Columnist
Lately, Ive been hearing a low rumbling echoing from the distant horizon. It is a sound that unless you are particularly detached and unaware, we typically hear at about this juncture of the Winter season. Initially, the scattered sound waves massage the ear drums, just enough to get your attention. We experience a strange, shared tugging as the familiar sounds stir nostalgic images. As the season wears on, the former infrequent sounds become stronger, more palpable, increasingly more difcult to ignore and increase in numbers. Finally, we have to make a choice to either turn our attention to the clamor on the horizon or pretend to be faintly unaware of its presence, ignoring that which used to bring us to the front gate to witness the object of all the commotion. The phenomena Im referring to is the annual build up to the International Mr. Leather Competition in Chicago in May. Here, in the next few months, we are going to see a spate of leather competitions that ultimately will be about having the glory of attending IML and representing a bar, organisation or a community. A trail of events and expectations have developed that all IML contenders must be a part of or witness their chances of representing the International Leather Community basically dry up and blow away. The rst leg in this sojourn was held last month in Washington, D.C. Mid-Atlantic Leather. Not only is this a competition to see who will represent the Mid-Atlantic States at IML, it is also the place where IML announces their slate of judges for the upcoming yearly competition. The newly chosen title-holders get to meet their competition, size each other up and learn the proper etiquette of the leather sash circuit and glad hand the chosen judges. They hang together like a group of young bucks, playfully sparring and rubbing antlers all with the hope of looking impressive to the judges without seeming like that is the intent of their play. This event has become a required stopping point of the hopeful IML contestants who wish to have a modicum of a chance at placing in the top 20 in the contest in May. The second of the attendance requirements will also have passed by the time this publication hits the newsstand. Mr. Chicago Leather, understandably so, has become another stop on the yellow brick to the Emerald City of the Leather World. After Mr. Chicago Leather, the road then makes its way east to CLAW, held in Cleveland in April. I remember the rst CLAW I attended. I happened to be in Cleveland for the weekend and heard there was a Leather Weekend. There were maybe 100 people. For CLAW 2014, they have booked and almost completely lled three rather large hotels. CLAW too has become the go to place for the IML hopefuls. Here they will shake even more hands, swagger around in jock straps and sashes, hoping to portray the ideal image of the quintessential leather man. To clarify, there is unequivocally nothing wrong with any of these events. Events such as these are important in that they bring the community together and remind us that we are not alone. There are many others out there like us who enjoy the smell and feel of our second skin, the pheromones released as we tuck, polish and zip ourselves into a mindset that only another kinkster will understand. We need that. We need that afrmation and the positive reinforcement of our peers. It is a necessary life force for all living beings the need for afrmation. In fact, we as a community have somewhat demanded it. The problem is that many in our community cannot afford the thousands of dollars in travelling expenses to enable them to attend these events. There are those who can afford the travel but choose not to for their own personal reasons. However what is the most unsettling about this is that there are many who believe that these events actually are the leather/ kink community. Those who do not or cannot attend end up feeling that somehow they are less than everyone else. Unfortunately, we as a community may be unwittingly stoking the res of inferiority in our brothers and sisters by placing such a strong emphasis on the big yearly events. Conversely, we lament about how the community has changed and doesnt have the spirit that used to be apparent before events became such an integral part of our fabric. We fear we are losing something vital and try to pinpoint the culprit(s)
and eradicate them. Like the villagers who scavenged the woods looking for the supernatural beasts of our childhood folklore, we want to expose it to sunlight, watch it wither up and have our sense of peace restored. There is no mysterious beast. There is no specter lurking in the shadows. The beast is in front of, beside and within us all. When we place so much importance on attending gargantuan events and put our energy, time and resources into developing an articial image of what a leather man or woman is supposed to be, we loose track of how to be basic leather people. Its not about how much leather/gear you own, where you purchase it, what event you attended or who among the leather celebrities are friends listed on your facebook page. It is about bringing your energy and your spirit to the local leather tables and sharing that energy with others, like-minded or not. There is a line from the movie, Field of Dreams that says, Create it and they will come. If this philosophy works for IML, MAL, Mr. Chicago Leather and CLAW, the same will hold true for our local venues, events and activities. Panther Daddy @ ebonypapa@aol.com
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Medical Matters
We have several sets of news for this February edition on the medical front. This rst is from the University of Cincinnati who note you can nd out more at www.healthnews. uc.edu HEALTH LINE: TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY THIS WINTER SEASON CINCINNATIFlu season has hit the Tristate, but it doesnt have to keep you or your family home sick if you use a little common sense and an ounce of prevention, a UC Health caregiver says. Mary Duck Robertshaw <http://uchealth.com/services/primary-care/> , MD, UC Health primary care physician and assistant professor in the division of general internal medicine at the University of Cincinnati (UC), recommends a u shot for most people to protect against inuenza a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages and a booster vaccine for adults to protect against pertussis or whooping cough. Pertussis, a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing, can be fatal for infants, explains Robertshaw, who suggests that expectant mothers and caregivers of newborns receive the pertussis booster to protect infants from the illness. Flu shots are still available and its recommended for everyone, although the young and old are at highest risk, says Robertshaw. Anyone with lung disease such as asthma, heart disease or weakened immune systems (and that includes HIV/AIDS) is also at highest risk for inuenza. When infants get pertussis it can be deadly, explains Robertshaw. Its recommended that grandparents or other caregivers get the booster vaccine because they are taking care of babies and can pass on the illness. Overall, remember that the recommended vaccines keep you safe, but also keep those around you safe. Some people are too young or have complicated medical conditions that make them ineligible to get fully vaccinated. Robertshaw also offers the following tips to protect against cold, u, pertussis and other seasonal woes: Wash your hands, especially before mealtimes or if you are sick; use soap and water when available and an alcohol-based rub otherwise. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth since openings in the mucous membrane allow germs into the body. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick to keep people who are around you from becoming ill. Stay home 24 hours after a fever has subsided. It doesnt count if you have used Tylenol to bring down the fever, which must ease on its own. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, stay active physically and stay hydrated. Use good hygiene at work and clean off phones, computers and doorknobs using alcohol rubs or disinfecting wipes. Make sure you get fresh air by spending even a few minutes outdoors during the Winter months when weather conditions allow. Sunshine will help against seasonal affective disorder. Meanwhile along the same line, our medical info source from United Health is about a related topic: Pneumonia and four facts everyone should know Michael W. Rosen, M.D. says 20,000. Thats the average number of breaths most of us take every day. And, each one helps move oxygen into our blood where it fuels our cells. Sometimes, however, your body cant get all the oxygen it needs. That may happen when you have pneumonia, for example. Its an infection that can cause coughing, fever and difculty breathing. Here are the doctors four facts about pneumonia he says everyone should know: 1.) Its common. Anyone can get pneumonia and millions of people do every year. Among those most at risk of developing it are children younger than two and people 65 and older. Your chances of getting the disease also go up if you smoke, have a lung disease, such as asthma or COPD, have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart failure, have recently had a respiratory illness, such as a cold or the u or have a weak immune system or are recovering from surgery.
2.) It can have different causes and treatments. Viruses, bacteria or even fungi can cause pneumonia. Chest X-rays and samples of blood or mucus are often used to identify the condition and its cause. These tests can help doctors determine what treatments to use. Antibiotics, for example, are used to treat pneumonia caused by bacteria. But other medicines may be needed for cases caused by a virus or fungus. 3.) It can be serious even deadly. Some people feel only mildly sick with pneumonia. Others can become severely ill. Its especially dangerous if the infection gets into your blood and spreads to other parts of the body, such as the brain. If your symptoms are severe, you may need emergency care. Serious illness is more likely in young children, older adults and people with chronic health conditions or weak immune systems. In these high-risk groups, report any signs of illness to a doctor. By the way, sometimes, a cold or the u can turn into pneumonia so seek medical care if you suddenly feel worse or you dont improve after an illness. 4.) Vaccines may help protect you. If you have health insurance check your benets plan to see what services may be covered and then take advantage of them. In adults, the u virus is the most common cause of viral pneumonia. The u can lead to bacterial pneumonia, too. Thats one reason why yearly u vaccines are so important. The good news: If you havent already, its not too late to get one this year. Check with your doctor or pharmacy about availability. There are also vaccines for pneumococcal disease. Its a bacterial infection that can lead to pneumonia, blood infections or meningitis. Ask your doctor if a vaccine is right for you and, if so, get that shot! Finally a few stay-well tips which can also help lower your risk of pneumonia: Try to avoid people who are sick. Wash your hands regularly. If water and soap arent available, use hand sanitizer and choose one thats at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid tobacco smoke. Smoking and secondhand smoke makes it harder for your body to ght disease. Practice healthy habits. Eat a variety of healthy foods. And, get plenty of sleep and regular exercise. 2013, United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from Healthy Mind Healthy Body where you can register for your own monthly newsletter: www.uhc.com/myhealthnews
To keep our lawyers happy, be advised that the recommendations which are contained in this column are suggestions, but are not to be taken as medical advice. Always consult your physician or a healthcare professional before undertaking any physical fitness or other exercise programme.
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Music Corner
By DJ "Miss" Hill / MJ's Cafe / Dayton
Catch DJ Hill every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at MJs Caf in Dayton. Hills Top 10. Based on dance oor results and requests (Not what he thinks is hot) 1 - Pitbull feat Ke$ha - Timber 2 - Katy Perry - Roar (Jump Smokers Mix) 3 - Enrique Iglesias - Turn The Night Up (Laidback Luke Mix) 4 - Lady Gaga feat. R. Kelly - Do What U Want 5 - Daft Punk - Get Lucky (Hot Mouth & The Frederik 6 - Robin Thicke feat. T.I. & Pharrell - Blurred Lines (Keegan & Powers Mix) 7 - Britney Spears - Work Bitch 8 - Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull - Live It Up 9 - Cher - Womans World (Danny Verde Rmx) 10 - Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness (Dark Intensity Remix) Hey, kids!!! DJ Hill here. Im still sayin the YAY! Its a cold ass month and you can tell by the lack of new stuff out there just how frozen it is, but Ill try my best. Keep in mind these are just suggestions for those who want to get away from the usual Top 40 radio mixes. Deborah Cox feat. Paige - Higher: Lets start off with the divas. Shes back. This one falls kind of at. No real energy or Tell me how it is attitude vocals. I was hoping for the Hex Hector treatment but none to be seen. We do get the DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio Mix to keep us jumpin. Cher - Take It Like A Man: Again a so-so hit. The usual Cher vocals but not a bad song. But whats that??? A Tony Moran mix? Woo hoo! What a difference. Now were clubbing it up with more house energy. The 7th Heaven mix isnt bad, either, with more of a pop feel. Kristine W - So Close To Me: Im a little late bringing out our gay club lady but better late then never. The original actually sounds like a dub mix with all the stuttering vocals but I can live with it. However we get to club mixes by Tony Moran and Cosmic Dawn. You know what to expect from Tony...hard hitting bass for house beat. Yes! And the Cosmic Dawn mix takes you on a Feel Good trip with a high energy sound. Both good mixes. Demi Lovato - Neon Lights: The original can stand on its own but its basically just a bubble gum radio dance tune. My favourite little DJ girl Tracy Young does it the way it should have been done. She gave it a house/club feel. If you want the cracked electro thing then Jump Smokers is the way to go. Pitbull feat. Ke$ha - Timber: This has been out there for awhile but I had to say something about it. Why in the hell is Pitbull doing bluegrass country? And then he has to stick Ke$ha all up in it. Oh well. Good thing we get the Bassanova Mix. They trick you into thinking its the original and then it gets a little more energy. And before you know it...Surprize!... it goes all electro on you. My Crazy Girlfriend - Go Fuck Yourself: I love the crazy bitches stuff. This reminds of Kay and Back Off Bitch. White dude rapping with a chick blurting out expletives. The best mix is the Richard Vission Mix. Theres the Ken Loi Mix but its a bit mellow. In either case be sure to get the explicit versions. No one likes a bleep in their music. Serebro - Mi Mi Mi: OK... Heres a silly one. Chock full of mixes but theyre all nuts. Youll have to check them out for yourself to believe it. All bouncy in their own way. Here are your choices: Avantinova Club Mix, Gary Caos Mix, Max Marani Extended Mix, followed by the Rudeejay & Da Brozz Mix. Wow! Thats it for now. I cant wait for March. Basically because I get an excuse to drink green beer (like I need an excuse to drink anything) and a ton of new stuff should start owing in. Lets hope so! See ya then. Check me out at MissHillDJ.com or nd me on Facebook under DJ-Douglas Hill. Id love to hear from you. Happy clubbing!
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Cars stop across the street. The motel offers free parking (although you dont need a car), plenty of nearby neighbourhood shops and restaurants, and you walk almost everywhere. Rates from $99 (415/621.8212 or www.becksf.com). The city has a lot of other great hotels including all of the big names. Check out www.tripadvisor. com for reviews and ideas then book for less on one of the internets hotel sites like Priceline or Hotwire.. What to do: A visit to Golden Gate Park is a must, especially for the Winter-weary Midwesterners. Prefer indoors? Visit the new (albeit I felt pricey) California Academy of Sciences (great cafeteria too with local foods). Walk through the park to the ocean or better yet rent a bike. See the Botanical Garden (the ceanothus or blue owered California Lilac will be in bloom).Also visit The Presidio, a new park in the northwest corner of the city. From the Castro, take the F Street historic street car down to the Ferry Building (You can even hop a ferry over to Sausalito from the Ferry Building.) to enjoy the indoor farmers market (outdoor on Saturdays). They run street cars from all over the world on this line. The fare is $2. The street car also runs all the way to Fishermens Wharf (where you can ride a ferry out to Alcatraz or Angel Island State Park). While there, visit historic Fort Point (underneath the Golden Gate Bridge) as well as Cliff House and Ocean Beach. From the Castro (the historic gay neighbourhood), you can walk up to Twin Peaks (hills just west of the Castro) for some great views of the city and the bay. Want to meet folks? Take a hike with the San Francisco Hiking Club (www.sfhiking. org). The group goes to regional parks like the Marin Headlands and Pt. Reyes National Seashore on Saturdays and Sundays. Also run or walk with the Frontrunners which meet at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park on Saturdays at 9 a.m. If you have a car, drive out to Mt. Diablo State Park (in the East Bay) or up to Muir Woods National Monument (in the North Bay). The latter has the famous redwoods. Also in the North Bay is Mount Tamalpais which features great hiking and mountain biking trails. Head down the coast on Highway 1 (and the new Devils Slide Tunnel) for a day trip to Santa Cruz along theMonterey Bay. Drive back via 280, a beautiful freeway that runs north from San Jose to San Francisco through the green hillsides.And be sure to stop off in Palo Alto for lunch or dinner and tour the Stanford Campus. Dont leave anything but your heart in San Francisco. The already-high rents are even worse now that Google, Facebook, Genetech and other Silicon Valley high tech companies run free buses (and soon a free ferry) from the formerly-cheap neighbourhoods to their ofces 45 miles south on the Peninsula. Finally, if you have even more time, you can take Amtrak (and a connecting bus) to Yosemite or even Reno/Lake Tahoe. The latter offer great skiing. For more information, pick up a copy of The Bay Area Reporter or read it online. Also good are The Bay Times and SF Weekly as well as the local daily, The San Francisco Chronicle.
By the way a pet peeve: Frontier Airlines is under new owners who impose a carryon bag fee of $50 per bag each way. A diet coke will apparently cost you $1.99. See the reviews of the new fee-happy Frontier at www.yelp.com and bring your wallet if all I have read and heard has any validity. Not in Indianapolis? Thats easy: For other city pairs, check www.southwest.com (for Southwest) or www.orbitz.com or www.priceline.com for all other airlines. There are fares from Cincinnati, Chicago and Louisville though watch which day you travel to get the best deals. Once in the Bay Area, You can take the BART into the city from any of the areas airports (including San Jose). Stay: If you like mingling with the locals, you cant beat Becks Motor Lodge on Market Street near the Castro/Noe/Upper Market neighbourhoods. The historic Muni F Street
Gossip Cats
By Gossipcats Britain & Sydney
Ah February! The month of Valentines...of love...of lust...and of a lot of knives going into lots of backs from what these pussies have been hearing. Lets see whose hearts are broken... What a month on the club scene as we hear tell at least one Midwest club owner ew into (another) rage recently and told off one of his employees by comparing him to someone they no longer had working there. Said employee who was, were told, tired of rudeness and tantrums instead of taking what was said happily (we heard what it was and from what we understand it was NOT very nicely stated) decided to clock out and call it a day, a week and a job all at once. Trouble for the club was that his partner also was working there and he, too, decided to follow his husbands lead and hit the clock and the door at the same time. All of the above would not be a lot of news except that the same guy (the one who was raging) has lately been rumoured to be doing so a lot. And as of last report that temper means hes down two employees and has two folks running all over town telling their story of what went down. By all over we mean all over as these cats rst read it on Facebook (complete with a rebuttal from the boss) and it was none-too-kind, not to mention it also had to do with paycheques being supposedly incomplete and folks not being paid what they felt was right. It got too confusing for we catty brains after a few exchanges, but its still not too much fun when you make it all a big show in public. To the owner who ew off the handle wed say cool it and to the employees who are now ex our owners will miss you guys as we cats hear you two were the life of the party at your former workplace. Let us know where you land (Maybe a pet shop with lotsa catnip and cat food?) and we will visit!... Moving right along, we cats hear tell that we forgot to wish a congrats for graduating from IU to our good friend Steven Junkersfeld. The cutie (formerly of the staff at English Ivys, where he had a nickname we wont repeat) has his degree in psychology and a minor in religious studies. Now its off to IUPUI and we hear tell a degree in nursing. Congrats Steven!... Also on the congrats roll is a person we shall leave nameless who nally got paid. We hear tell this boy left a food service job for an ofce job and for whatever reason his name made every list at the new place but the payroll one! Anyway, we hear thats nally been corrected and the bucks are coming in on time. We were worried for a bit that hed end up as a pole dancer somewhere to pay the bills!... Speaking of bills, we are glad we do not pay them for another guy who always posts photos of fancy cars on his Facebook and brags that hes driving a Mercedes. Too bad when the big snow hit Indy a few days back he also posted that he was unable to go anywhere because that classy set of wheels was stuck in a drift and couldnt be moved. What was it our owner told him about buyin a Jeep instead? Maybe his Valentine will being one (or at least some tyre chains!)... Speaking of chains, weve been sworn not to divulge any names but we hear from one Ohio boy that once you are with someone, you are chained to them in some folks minds forever. And that includes folks trying to collect bills. To quote, Amazing. Im still getting calls from the hospital trying to collect from (name left out). He died in October. After informing them of his death, they asked if he had an estate. Vultures. What can we add to that except nothing much... Speaking of nothing much, we hear friend Chris who lives in Vegas now had to nd a new room mate after an Indy friend who was going to head west and live with him changed his mind at the last minute. Last these cats heard, the Indy boy was considering Columbus, Ohio instead. The weather will sure be colder, but hey, he will be saving a bundle on his moving van!... Speaking of moves, we hear tell there are some big ones afoot at an Indy gay business (not a bar, we can say that) though we been sworn to total secrecy under pain of castration as to where. We do know if the rumoured changes happen the town and business will both be way better off for it. Details when we are allowed to tell. Meow!
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