Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Hancock Tower has new owner
The Hub’s John Hancock Tower, New England’s tallest skyscraper, sold at auction this morning for $660.6 million, about half what it sold for nearly two years ago.
Normandy Real Estate Partners, which owns two buildings on Summer Street in Boston, and Five Mile Capital Partners combined to make the winning bid for the Back Bay trophy property.
The companies agreed to pay $20.1 million for the mezzanine debt on the 60-story building and assume the mortgage of $640.5 million, according to a statement issued at the auction.The price shows how far real estate values have fallen since their peak in 2007. (Continue Reading-Source/BostonHerald)
April Fool's Virus Alert
Via JMG: "CNET, Symantec, Microsoft and other computer sites are warning of an April Fool's Day virus which is supposed go global tomorrow. A giant computer worm is set to take effect on April Fools' Day and your computer may already be infected. The Conficker computer worm is estimated to have already infiltrated between 5 and 10 million computers across the country. Tech experts said many of the infected machines are set to begin "phoning home" to the worm's creators over the Internet on April 1. When that happens, the people behind it will be able to get the rogue program to send spam, more viruses, clog network traffic or even crash Web sites." (Continue Reading-JMG)
WGB: I better update my anti-virus tonight! Btw, here is an excellent article on what to do if you own a PC.
Wicked Warning :: The next food to avoid: pistachios
In another food scare sure to rattle consumers who watched the national salmonella outbreak in peanuts unfold, federal food officials are now warning people not to eat any food containing pistachios, which could carry contamination from the same bacteria.
The Food and Drug Administration said central California-based Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc., the nation’s second-largest pistachio processor, was voluntarily recalling more than 2 million pounds of its roasted nuts shipped since last fall.
"Our advice to consumers is that they avoid eating pistachio products, and that they hold onto those products," said Dr. David Acheson, assistant commissioner for food safety. "The number of products that are going to be recalled over the coming days will grow, simply because these pistachio nuts have then been repackaged into consumer-level containers." (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)
WGB: My husband is gonna have a stroke when he reads this as he is addicted to Pistachios!
In Wake of Suit, eHarmony Launches Gay Site
Last year, after running afoul of anti-discrimination laws, the heteros-only online dating service eHarmony agreed to provide a similar service for men and women seeking those of the same gender.
Now eHarmony has brought a separate service, called Compatible Partners, online.
But the new service is not oriented to casual encounters. "Serious relationships for the gay and lesbian community," the new site’s home page declares, adding that the service is a "site for singles seeking a long-term same-sex relationship."
However, the site also carries a disclaimer: "The Company’s patented Compatibility Matching System was developed in the basis of research involving married heterosexual couples," text at the site informs readers.
"The Company has not conducted similar research on same-sex relationships."
The new service resulted from eHarmony being sued by a gay man in New Jersey who claimed to have been denied service by the dating site, which was founded by psychologist and author Dr. Neil Clark Warren, who formerly had ties to the anti-gay organization Focus on the Family. (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)
WGB: I can't imagine this site doing very well. They didn't even want to start a gay site and were forced by a silly lawsuit. Besides, everyone I know is on Manhunt.
Today in Progress(ive) Politics
66 percent: President Obama’s approval rating, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Forty-two percent of the public believes the country is on the “right track,” the “highest percentage saying so in five years and marks a sharp turnabout from last fall, when as many as nine in 10 said the country was heading in the wrong direction.”
As President Obama leaves for the G20 summit in London today, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said there is only “a very small gap” between the United States and Europe on “how to make the [global financial] system more robust and stable.” Geithner told the Financial Times regulation would be a sovereign issue, rejecting the idea of a global systemic risk regulator.
Today, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) will “unveil draft legislation to reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 20 percent,” with the ultimate goal being to reduce emissions to “83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.” The draft “will be missing crucial details for a cap-and-trade program, including how emission credits would be either given to businesses or sold to them via auction.” Yglesias explains why auctions are preferable.
More »
Spring Break Week Across the US
He seems excited! Looks like he has done a little too much studying!
Lesbian Refused Access to Dying Partner Meets Heart Recipient
Langbehn recently had a bit more closure to that horrific episode. At a reception in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, she was able to meet Jerry Lawrence (above, right, with wife Maxine), whose life was saved after receiving Pond's heart in an organ donation." (Continue Reading-Source/Towleroad)
WGB: Although this story has a positive outcome it truly saddens me that Janice was not able to be with her partner during her last days on earth because we are not "recognized" in some (most) states. It is stories like this that keep me pressing forward to electing people that will get us FULL equality.
Boston Gay Nightlife...
Club Cafe :: March 27 & 28
It was March Madness at Club Cafe this past weekend. Here are the pics to prove it.
Straights Get Gay-Bashed, Too
The horrific case of an Ecuadoran immigrant who was killed in Brooklyn, N.Y., has highlighted a little-known facet of the ongoing problem of gay hate crimes: Heterosexuals get gay-bashed, too.
When, however, they do chance to get mistaken as gay and become victims of anti-gay hate crimes, the media often gives them greater significance than gay victims.
It’s certainly frustrating for advocates and the rest of us when these mistaken victims garner more press attention and community outrage--especially considering acts of prejudice and violence perpetrated against gays are all too common. But, like it or not, they serve as teaching moments. They also can be a catalyst for divergent interest groups to find common ground in the fight against hate-based violence, as happened with the case in Brooklyn. (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)
Vermont gay marriage bill veto threat draws mail
Some called him a homophobe. Some accused him of spreading hatred. Some thanked him, or applauded him for showing "backbone" in the face of pressure from gay rights advocates.
In the first two days after he pledged to veto a same-sex marriage bill, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas’ mailbag and e-mail inbox runneth over, with about 1,500 letters and messages pouring in.
Some were critical:
• "(Vetoing the bill) would clearly show the deep feelings of discrimination, bigotry and hate you feel for a group of Vermont people who have already had to wait for equal marriage rights in our state too long," wrote a Newport man.
_"Being ahead of one’s time is what brought slavery and racial discrimination to an end ... please support the Freedom to Marry bill," wrote a Putney man.
• " ... your choice to veto is a slap in the face and a firm reminder that in your opinion, my partner and I are worth less than others simply because we are of the same gender," wrote a South Burlington man, saying he refuses to be "a second class citizen in this state." (Continue Reading-Source/Edge)
MADONNA'S STAFF WALK-OUT ON HER
Five of Madonna’s staff have walked out on her. The singer has been hit by the resignation of two personal assistants, two nannies and a chauffeur - who all cited long working hours as the reason for quitting.
Upon handing in her notice to the ‘Miles Away’ singer earlier this week, Australian nanny Angela Jacobson was immediately told to leave.
Another nanny, Elodie, who had worked alongside Angela looking after the singer’s three children - Lourdes, 12, Rocco, eight and adopted David, three - has also quit.
They are joined by personal assistants Denise Lambertson and Johanna Edholm, and chauffeur Alistair Mitchell, who was Madonna’s driver for seven years.
Telling of her strain at being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Angela, 29, wrote on her Facebook internet profile: ‘Not putting up with this s**t anymore. Never have, never will.
‘Standing up for my rights regardless of consequence. Sick of always being the one who compromises.’ (Continue Reading-Source)
Wicked Brave :: Sundays of Solidarity
Between May 17 and June 28, 2009, groups of LGBT and allied people around the country will attend worship services at a church of their choice - a church that is not welcoming and affirming of openly LGBT members and guests. Each group will wear a lapel button that reads "gay? fine by me." For less formal churches we also have a t-shirt with this message. The lapel button (or t-shirt) serves as a conversation starter - opening dialogue with people in the church about faith, sexual orientation, and gender identity. (Continue Reading-Source/QueersUnited)WGB: LOVES IT!
Wicked Crazy :: Eric Balfour Rocks a Sock on his Cock
Via ManhuntDailyBlog: "Another Six Feet Under alum is showing off his goods. Eric Balfour was pictured wearing nothing but a sock on his cock (Anthony Kiedis style) while filming a new reality show, My Slutty Girlfriend." More here!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Obamas to pay for White House renovations out of their own pockets
Wicked Impressive: "At a time when people are having trouble holding on to their houses, Barack and Michelle Obama have sensibly decided not to use taxpayers’ money to renovate theirs. New presidents are allotted $100,000 to overhaul the White House residence and the Oval Office, and the Obamas hired Hollywood decorator Michael S. Smith (known, per his site, for mixing “Old World classicism with very contemporary settings”). But the First Couple isn’t spending that money. They “are not using public funds or accepting donations of goods for redecorating their private quarters,” says Camille Johnston, director of communications for the First Lady. Nor is the couple, who reported $4.2 million in household income in 2007 tax returns, using money from the White House Historical Association, a privately funded foundation that paid for a $74,000 set of china shortly before Laura Bush left town." (Source)
Wicked Hot :: Josh Duhamel Nude
Turns out Fergie isn't the only one who has seen her husband Josh Duhamel naked. He drops his drawer's in the movies Win A Date With Tad Hamilton and The Picture of Dorian Gray. He also gives us full frontal in some modeling shots."
Click here to see the photos!
This post sponsored by:
Wicked Cool Electric Car :: Telsa Model S
Via Sozo's Blog: "It's been a long and difficult road, but Tesla Motors has made it to unveiling No. 2. After a lot of hype and delivery of 250 Tesla Roadsters, the company's Model S has been unveiled. Tesla was incredibly careful about not leaking a lot of information – designing the Model S at a high-security rocket facility helped with that.With a 300-mile range and 45-minute QuickCharge, the $49,900 Model S can carry five adults and two children in quiet comfort – and you can charge it from any outlet, without ever stopping for gas. World's first mass-produced electric vehicle offers performance, efficiency and unrivaled utility with twice the energy-efficiency of hybrids, making Model S the only car you'll ever need."
Iraq To Begin Executing Gays
Via Joe.My.God: "The UK-based exile group Iraq-LGBT claims that the U.S.-installed government in Iraq is about to commence executing gay people for their sexuality."More than 100 prisoners in Iraq are facing execution – and many of them are believed to have been convicted of the ‘crime’ of being gay, the UK-based Iraqi-LGBT group revealed this afternoon." (Continue Reading-Source/JMG)
WGB: Billions of taxpayer money is being spent to "liberate" Iraq yet our own gay brothers and sisters are going to be executed? I am OUTRAGED and DISGUSTED!
Wicked Awesome :: Tyra Banks Receives GLAAD 'Excellence in Media' Award
Via Towleroad: "Clay Aiken presented Tyra Banks with GLAAD's Excellence in Media award at New York's GLAAD Media Awards over the weekend. In accepting the award, Tyra talked about how she began to realize how the discrimination she faced as a Black model was the same faced by the LGBT people who surrounded her in the fashion industry.
Said Tyra: "I didn't understand why they empathized with me so much...As I got older I understood that hate and discrimination and inequality was the same. And that the issues that I was going through as a Black woman were some of the issues that they had gone through as gays and lesbians and transgenders and bisexuals. And I want to thank all of those people whose shoulders I cried on, all of the people who embraced me....I have had a lot of success as a model, but I know I would not have had that success were it not for the gay community." (Continue Reading and watch the video clip -Source/Towleroad)
WGB: I just watched one of those biographies on Tyra and must admit I had no idea what an icredibly hard working, talented, open minded woman she is and she has my total respect!
Dennis Rodman and Joan Rivers battle to Win over the Gays!
Via GaySocialites: "It came down to who could win over the gays on "Celebrity Apprentice" Sunday night as the teams ran their own hotels.
You might think cleaning the toilets would be the hardest part, but Dennis Rodman and Joan Rivers ended up in a contest of who could impress their gays the best.
No big shocker, but gay icon Joan Rivers dominated the gay scene and the women's beat the men's team again. Dennis Rodman, the men's project manager, got the boot in the end. It started to look like Donald Trump might fire Rodman even if his team won after finding out he is a useless alcoholic.
I actually thought that Rodman might pull it off when he took some angry guests out to dinner giving them some VIP treatment after they failed to deliver a bottle of acacia chardonnay to their room. The men's team actually thought the homo was saying a case of chardonnay, not acacia chardonnay. Joan probably knows what the gays drink!
Very few people could beat Joan Rivers in a gay-off!"
Perez Hilton Has Ghostwriters?
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